Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
Calculate your waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios and compare them with WHO risk cut-offs for men and women.
Tool guide
What this tool does
The Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator divides waist circumference by hip circumference and checks the result against the WHO 2008 thresholds of 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women. It also reports waist-to-height ratio against the 0.5 boundary and waist circumference action levels.
Where your body stores fat matters as much as how much there is. Fat around the abdomen, especially visceral fat around the organs, is more strongly linked to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease than fat on the hips and thighs. BMI cannot see that difference, but a tape measure can.
This calculator computes three related measures. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is waist ÷ hip; the WHO 2008 expert consultation treats 0.90 or more in men and 0.85 or more in women as substantially increased risk. Waist-to-height ratio is waist ÷ height, where staying below 0.5 ("keep your waist to less than half your height") is a simple, widely used rule. Finally, waist circumference is compared with the European action levels of 94 and 102 cm for men and 80 and 88 cm for women.
How to use Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
- Choose metric or imperial units and select your sex.
- Measure your waist midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, after breathing out normally.
- Measure your hips around the widest part of the buttocks.
- Enter both measurements and your height.
- Read your waist-to-hip ratio and risk band in the main card.
- Compare all three measures with their thresholds in the reference table and chart.
Tips for better results
- Stand with feet together and arms relaxed; keep the tape horizontal and snug without pressing in.
- Repeat each measurement twice and use the average if they differ by more than 1 cm.
- Waist-to-height ratio works for people of different heights and ethnicities, which makes it a useful second check.
Common use cases
- Checking central fat when BMI is in the healthy range.
- Tracking progress during a training or diet programme when weight barely changes.
- Health screening in workplace wellness programmes.
- Comparing results with the lower waist thresholds suggested for South Asian populations.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Measuring the waist at the belly button rather than midway between rib and hip bone, which changes WHO comparisons.
- Mixing units, such as waist in inches and hip in centimetres.
- Measuring over thick clothing or straight after a large meal.
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
Under the WHO cut-offs, below 0.90 for men and below 0.85 for women. For example, a 84 cm waist and 100 cm hips gives 0.84.
Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?
Several studies found it predicts cardiometabolic risk at least as well as BMI and works across ages and ethnic groups. Keeping it below 0.5 is a simple target.
What do apple and pear shapes mean?
Apple-shaped bodies carry more fat around the waist (higher WHR), linked with higher health risk. Pear shapes store more fat on the hips and thighs.
Do the thresholds differ by ethnicity?
Yes for waist circumference. The IDF and WHO suggest 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women of South Asian, Chinese and Japanese origin.
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