Body Type Calculator

Female Body Measurements and Body Shape Guide

How to Take Accurate Measurements

Stand straight with your arms at your sides. Ensure the measuring tape is snug but not tight, to avoid inaccurate results.

• Bust: Circumference over the fullest part of the breasts while wearing a properly fitted bra.
• Waist: Smallest circumference above the belly button.
• High Hip: Circumference around the upper swell of the hip, ~7 inches (18 cm) below the waist.
• Hip: Largest circumference over the buttocks.

Female Body Shapes in Fashion

Body shapes are commonly categorized in the fashion industry:

• Apple / Inverted Triangle: Broader shoulders and bust compared to hips.
• Banana / Rectangle: Waist less than 9 inches smaller than bust or hips.
• Pear / Spoon / Triangle: Hips larger than bust.
• Hourglass: Bust and hips nearly equal with a narrow waist.

A study of over 6,000 women at North Carolina State University (2005) found:

• Banana-shaped: 46%
• Pear-shaped: ~20%
• Apple-shaped: ~14%
• Hourglass-shaped: 8%

Determining Your Body Shape

Body shape calculators often use bust, waist, and hip measurements to categorize shapes:

• Hourglass: (bust – hips) ≤ 1″ AND (hips – bust) < 3.6″ AND (bust – waist) ≥ 9″ OR (hips – waist) ≥ 10″
• Bottom Hourglass: (hips – bust) ≥ 3.6″ AND < 10″ AND (hips – waist) ≥ 9″ AND (high hip / waist) < 1.193
• Top Hourglass: (bust – hips) > 1″ AND < 10″ AND (bust – waist) ≥ 9″
• Spoon: (hips – bust) > 2″ AND (hips – waist) ≥ 7″ AND (high hip / waist) ≥ 1.193
• Triangle: (hips – bust) ≥ 3.6″ AND (hips – waist) < 9″
• Inverted Triangle: (bust – hips) ≥ 3.6″ AND (bust – waist) < 9″
• Rectangle: (hips – bust) < 3.6″ AND (bust – hips) < 3.6″ AND (bust – waist) < 9″ AND (hips – waist) < 10″

Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR)

WHR is the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference:

WHR = waist / hip

Health Implications of WHR

Higher WHR is linked to higher health risks:

• Women with WHR > 0.8 and men with WHR > 1.0 have increased risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions.
• WHR is a better predictor of obesity-related risks than BMI alone, especially in older adults.
• Abdominal fat, common in apple-shaped bodies, increases risk of heart disease more than peripheral fat.
• WHR also correlates with fertility: women with WHR > 0.8 may have lower pregnancy rates; men with WHR ~0.9 tend to have higher fertility and health.

Other Applications of WHR

WHR has been studied in relation to:

• Cognitive performance
• Perceived attractiveness
• Dietary composition and nutrition

References

• Lee, J.Y., Istook, C.L., Nam, Y.J., & Park, S.M. (2007). Comparison of body shape between USA and Korean women. International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, 19(5), 374–391.
• Yusuf S., Hawken S., Ounpuu S., et al. (2005). Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries: a case-control study. Lancet, 366(9497), 1640–1649.