Knowing your body type can help you choose more flattering clothes, plan a targeted workout routine, and better understand how your proportions relate to health. This Body Type Calculator places your silhouette into one of five common categories — hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle, or inverted triangle — using just four simple measurements: height, bust or chest, waist, and hips.
Alongside your shape, the tool calculates your waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio, two widely used indicators of central obesity and cardiometabolic risk. It supports both metric and imperial units, includes quick-fill presets for common profiles, and shows the classification logic step by step.
Grab a flexible tape measure, take your readings with the tape snug but not tight, and enter your numbers below to see your body type and what it says about your proportions.
🧍 Your Body Metrics
How to Measure Correctly
Use a flexible, non-stretchable tape measure and take measurements over bare skin or thin, close-fitting clothing. Stand tall and relaxed with your feet together, and breathe normally. The tape should sit snugly against your skin without compressing it.
- Bust or chest: measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape horizontal.
- Waist: find the narrowest point between your ribs and hip bone, usually just above the navel.
- Hips: measure around the fullest part of your buttocks, with the tape parallel to the floor.
- Height: stand barefoot with your back against a wall and measure from the floor to the top of your head.
How Your Body Shape Is Determined
The calculator classifies your silhouette using two main ratios:
- Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) = waist ÷ hip, which shows how defined your waist is.
- Upper-to-hip ratio = bust or chest ÷ hip, which shows whether your upper or lower body dominates.
If your upper body is at least 5% larger than your hips, you are classified as an inverted triangle. If your hips are at least 5% larger than your upper body, the result is a pear/triangle. When the upper and lower halves are roughly balanced, the waist-to-hip ratio makes the final call: below 0.75 gives an hourglass, 0.75–0.85 gives a rectangle, and above 0.85 gives an apple/oval.
The tool also reports your waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), a useful screening measure for central obesity. A WHtR below 0.5 is generally considered healthy, 0.5–0.6 indicates increased risk, and above 0.6 indicates very high risk.
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Hourglass. A 5'6" woman with bust 36 in, waist 26 in, hip 38 in. WHR = 26 ÷ 38 = 0.68; upper-to-hip = 36 ÷ 38 = 0.95. Her upper and lower body are similar and the waist is clearly defined, so she is classified as hourglass. WHtR = 26 ÷ 66 = 0.39, which is in the lean range.
Example 2 — Inverted triangle. A 5'8" woman with bust 40 in, waist 32 in, hip 36 in. Upper-to-hip = 40 ÷ 36 = 1.11, so the upper body clearly dominates. WHR = 32 ÷ 36 = 0.89, but top-heaviness takes priority, so the shape is inverted triangle.
Example 3 — Rectangle. A 5'10" man with chest 40 in, waist 34 in, hip 40 in. Upper-to-hip = 1.00; WHR = 34 ÷ 40 = 0.85. His upper and lower body match and the waist is only moderately narrower, giving a rectangle/straight shape. WHtR = 34 ÷ 70 = 0.49, just inside the healthy zone.
Reference Table: Body Shapes & Key Ratios
| Body Shape | Defining Pattern | Typical Ratios |
|---|---|---|
| Hourglass | Bust and hip similar; waist clearly narrower | WHR < 0.75; upper ≈ hip |
| Pear (Triangle) | Hips wider than bust/chest | Hip > upper by 5%+; WHR < 0.85 |
| Apple (Oval) | Waist poorly defined; weight around midsection | WHR ≥ 0.85 |
| Rectangle | Sides fairly straight; waist modestly narrower | WHR 0.75–0.85; upper ≈ hip |
| Inverted Triangle | Shoulders/bust wider than hips | Upper > hip by 5%+ |
Waist-to-height ratio reference: <0.4 underweight, 0.4–0.49 healthy, 0.5–0.59 increased risk, ≥0.6 very high risk.
Tips for Using Your Body Type Results
Body shape is most useful as a styling and training guide, not a medical diagnosis. If your WHR or WHtR falls in the elevated range, treat it as a prompt to increase physical activity, improve sleep, and eat a balanced diet.
Styling: Hourglass figures look great in fitted, waist-defining clothes; pear shapes can add volume on top with structured shoulders; apple shapes suit open necklines and A-line cuts; rectangles can create curves with belts and layered silhouettes; inverted triangles look balanced when volume is added below the waist.
Fitness: Use compound movements and core work to maintain muscle balance. A pear shape with a strong lower body can add upper-body pulling work; an inverted triangle can benefit from lower-body and glute-focused training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is body type the same as somatotype? No. Somatotype (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph) is a broader body-composition framework based on leanness and muscularity. This calculator focuses on your current silhouette, which can change with weight loss, muscle gain, and posture.
Can my body shape change? Yes. Your skeletal frame stays the same, but fat distribution and muscle mass can shift your shape. Many people move closer to a rectangle or hourglass with targeted training and fat loss.
Which is a better health marker: WHR or WHtR? Both are useful. Waist-to-height ratio is often preferred because it adjusts for body size; a waist above half your height is linked to higher cardiometabolic risk in large studies.
Why did I get a different result from another calculator? Classification rules differ. Some tools include shoulder breadth, while others use only bust, waist, and hip. A difference of an inch or two in how you measure can also push you across a boundary.
For more background, see the Wikipedia article on body shape and the WHO obesity and overweight fact sheet.