Body Type Calculator – Find Your Body Shape for Women and Men

Wrap the tape around the area you're measuring so it sits parallel to the floor. It should be snug but not digging in. If it leaves a red mark, it's too tight. If it slides around, it's too loose.

Stand in front of a mirror if you can so you can check that the tape isn't riding up at the back. Measure each spot at least twice to confirm consistency. Small errors compound across multiple measurements, so being precise here matters more than it might seem.

Measure in the morning before eating if possible, since measurements can shift slightly throughout the day. Wear as little clothing as you can manage to keep things accurate.

These four measurements are the foundation of female body shape classification. Here's exactly where each one goes:

• Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, usually across the nipple line. Keep the tape level all the way around.
• Waist: This is your natural waist, which is the narrowest part of your torso. It sits above your belly button and below your rib cage. Bend slightly to one side if you're unsure where it is; the crease that forms is your natural waist.
• High Hip: About 3 to 4 inches below your natural waist, this measurement captures the upper hip area including the hip bones. It's especially useful for identifying spoon and pear shapes.
• Hip: Measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks. Stand with your feet together and wrap the tape around the fullest point.

Write down each number before moving on. Even a one-inch difference in where you place the tape can change your result, so take your time with each measurement.

The hourglass is probably the most talked-about body shape, and it has a very specific definition. Your bust and hip measurements are roughly equal, and your waist is significantly smaller, typically at least 9 inches narrower than both your bust and hips.

Both the upper and lower body are balanced. The shoulders and hips sit at about the same width, and the waist curves in noticeably between them. This balanced, defined-waist silhouette is what gives the hourglass its name.

Clothing tends to fit hourglass figures well when it's designed to follow the body's curves. Wrap dresses, belted styles, and fitted cuts generally work well because they follow the natural shape rather than fighting it.

A top hourglass is similar to a classic hourglass but with the bust measuring slightly larger than the hips, rather than being equal. The waist is still well-defined and noticeably narrower than both. The overall silhouette still reads as curvy and proportionate.

The key distinction is that the upper body carries slightly more volume. Shoulders and bust are the widest point, and the hips, while still rounded, are a bit narrower in comparison. The waist remains the visual focal point because it's clearly defined relative to both.

People with a top hourglass shape often find that tops and dresses fit beautifully in the upper body but may need adjusting at the hip, since most clothing is cut assuming the hip is the widest point.

The bottom hourglass is the mirror of the top hourglass. Here, the hips measure larger than the bust, but the waist is still clearly defined, giving the figure an overall hourglass appearance. The lower body carries a bit more volume than the upper body.

This shape is sometimes confused with the pear or triangle shape, but the defining difference is the waist definition. A bottom hourglass still has a noticeably narrowed waist relative to both the bust and the hips, while a true pear shape tends to have a less dramatic waist-to-hip contrast.

A-line skirts and dresses that skim the hips tend to work well for this shape because they accommodate the fuller lower body without hiding the waist.

The spoon shape is defined primarily by the high hip measurement. If your hips are significantly wider than your bust and your high hip measurement is larger than your bust, you likely fall into this category. The waist is defined but not dramatically narrow, and there's often a distinct shelf-like curve at the hip.

Think of it as a more extreme lower-body-dominant shape than the bottom hourglass. The upper body is noticeably narrower, and the hips flare out quite a bit. The high hip measurement is what separates spoon from pear: a spoon figure has more fullness starting higher up on the hip.

This shape often means that pants and skirts need to be sized for the hip and then taken in at the waist. Tops typically fit well off the rack because the upper body is smaller proportionally.

The triangle, often called the pear shape, is one of the most common female body shapes. Hips are wider than the bust, but unlike the spoon, the difference tends to be more gradual rather than dramatic at the high hip. The waist is defined but the overall silhouette widens as it moves downward.

The shoulders are narrower than the hips, which gives the figure a downward-pointing triangle look. Weight tends to be carried in the thighs, hips, and buttocks rather than the upper body.

From a health perspective, carrying weight in the lower body is generally considered lower risk than carrying it in the abdominal area. Clothing-wise, this shape benefits from styles that add visual weight to the upper body, like boat necks, structured shoulders, or bold prints on top.

The inverted triangle is the opposite of the pear. The bust and shoulders are wider than the hips, and the waist is not dramatically narrowed. The silhouette widens as it moves upward, which is where the inverted triangle name comes from. This shape is sometimes called the apple, particularly when weight is also carried in the midsection.

Broad shoulders, a fuller chest, and narrower hips characterize this shape. The waist-to-hip ratio tends to be higher, meaning the waist is closer in measurement to the hips rather than much smaller.

From a health standpoint, this shape can be associated with higher abdominal fat storage, which is worth paying attention to over time. Clothing that adds volume or detail at the hip and keeps the neckline simpler tends to balance the proportions visually.

The rectangle, sometimes called the banana shape, is characterized by measurements that are all fairly close to each other. Bust, waist, and hips are within a few inches of one another, and there's no strongly defined waist dip. The overall silhouette is straight and relatively linear.

This doesn't mean the person is thin. A rectangle shape simply means the body carries proportions evenly without a pronounced curve at the waist. It's actually quite common across a wide range of body sizes.

Belts, peplum tops, and wrap-style garments can create the appearance of a more defined waist for people with this shape. Fit-and-flare silhouettes also work well because they add curve where the natural proportions are more uniform.

Ectomorphs tend to be lean, long-limbed, and naturally low in body fat. The frame is typically narrow, with slender shoulders, a small waist, and limited muscle bulk. Gaining weight, whether fat or muscle, tends to be difficult for this type.

Metabolism in ectomorphs is generally fast. They can often eat large amounts without gaining much weight, which sounds like a benefit but can make building muscle frustrating without targeted effort. High calorie intake and resistance training are usually necessary for noticeable muscle gain.

Ectomorphs tend to look lean naturally, but may lack the muscle definition that comes with a mesomorphic build. Endurance sports and activities with high caloric burn can sometimes work against muscle-building goals for this type.

The mesomorph is the body type most associated with athletic performance. This type tends to build muscle easily, maintain a relatively low body fat percentage without extreme effort, and has a naturally wider shoulder-to-waist ratio. The frame is medium to large, with defined musculature even without intensive training.

Mesomorphs respond quickly to resistance training and can see noticeable strength and muscle gains faster than other body types. They also tend to lose fat more efficiently when they adjust their diet and exercise.

That said, mesomorphs aren't immune to weight gain. Without consistent activity and reasonable nutrition, this type can still accumulate body fat, though they typically find it easier to reverse than endomorphs do. It's a favorable body type for many sports, but it still requires work to maintain.

Endomorphs tend to have a broader, rounder build with a higher natural body fat percentage. The frame is typically wider, with larger bone structure, fuller hips and waist, and a tendency to store fat easily, especially in the midsection and lower body.

Metabolism in endomorphs tends to be slower, meaning calories are used less quickly and weight gain happens more readily. Losing fat often requires more deliberate effort with both diet and exercise compared to the other two types.

The upside is that endomorphs often have solid strength and can build muscle well when they train consistently. The challenge is that the muscle can be harder to see beneath higher body fat levels. A combination of resistance training and cardiovascular work, paired with a moderate calorie deficit, tends to produce the best results for this type.

The math is simple. Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. That's it.

Formula: WHR = Waist circumference ÷ Hip circumference

Make sure both measurements are in the same unit, either both in inches or both in centimeters. For the waist, use your natural waist measurement, the narrowest point of your torso. For the hip, use the widest point around your hips and buttocks.

For example, if your waist measures 30 inches and your hips measure 40 inches, your WHR is 30 ÷ 40 = 0.75. You'd then compare that number to the healthy ranges below based on your sex.

The World Health Organization has established WHR thresholds for assessing health risk. Here's how the ranges break down:

Men carry more weight in the abdominal area by default, which is why the thresholds are higher for them. Women with a WHR above 0.85 and men above 1.0 are considered to have abdominal obesity according to WHO guidelines, which is associated with elevated cardiovascular and metabolic risk.

Keep in mind that these are population-level guidelines. Individual health is more complex than any single ratio can capture. If your WHR falls in the moderate or high range, it's worth discussing with a healthcare provider, but it's not a reason to panic. It's a reason to pay attention.