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Army Body Fat Calculator (Waist-to-Height Ratio)
Written by the GymStreak coaching teamUpdated
The Army standard since 7 July 2026: waist at the navel ÷ height must be below 0.55. Same rule for every age and sex.
5 ft 10 in = 70
The short answer
The Army no longer uses a tape test or a body fat percentage. Since 7 July 2026 (Army Directive 2026-13), the only body composition check is the waist-to-height ratio: waist at the navel ÷ height, both in inches, cut off (not rounded) at three decimals, and it must be below 0.55. At 5 ft 10 in (70 in), a 38 in waist gives 0.542 and passes; a 38.5 in waist gives 0.550 and fails.
01 / How it works
How the army body fat calculator works
For years, “Army body fat calculator” meant the tape test. Soldiers who were over the screening weight for their height were taped, and the result was a body fat percentage checked against a limit for their age and sex. From June 2023 that became a one-site tape around the waist at the navel. All of that has now gone. Army Directive 2026-13, effective 7 July 2026, made the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) the Army’s sole body composition assessment. The height and weight screening tables and every tape test were rescinded, and Soldiers cannot ask for a tape test or another body fat method to challenge a WHtR result.
WHtR is simple: measure the waist at the navel (belly button) in inches and divide it by height in inches. The ratio is recorded to three decimals and is not rounded: any digits after the third decimal place are dropped, so .549 passes and .550 fails. There is no age or sex adjustment and no weight in the calculation. The same rule applies to every Soldier, and to USMA and Senior ROTC cadets.
The calculator does exactly that. Enter your height and waist in inches (or both in centimetres; the ratio is the same in either unit) and it shows your ratio to three decimals, pass or fail, and the waist that would put you under 0.55 at your height. The second tab keeps the retired one-site tape estimate for anyone looking back at an old result; it is no longer used for any Army decision.
This is not an official Army assessment. Your unit’s recorded measurement is what counts.
02 / Formula
The Army body composition formulas
Waist-to-height ratio (current Army standard)
WHtR = waist ÷ height Pass: WHtR < 0.55 (truncated to 3 decimals: 0.549 passes, 0.550 fails)
- waist = circumference at the navel (belly button), in inches
- height in inches
- the ratio has no units, so centimetres give the same answer if both are in cm
Rearranged, you pass when your waist is under 0.55 × your height. The army.mil FAQ refers to the policy as Army Directive 2026-06; the signed directive on armypubs.army.mil is numbered 2026-13. The rule is the same.
Retired one-site tape test (June 2023 to July 2026, no longer used)
Men: %BF = −26.97 − 0.12 × weight + 1.99 × abdomen Women: %BF = −9.15 − 0.015 × weight + 1.27 × abdomen
- weight in pounds
- abdomen = circumference at the navel, in inches
- result rounded to the nearest whole percent
Introduced by Army Directive 2023-11 and the only authorised tape method from 8 June 2024. Rescinded by Army Directive 2026-13 on 7 July 2026.
03 / Worked example
Worked examples
Passing: 5 ft 10 in with a 38 in waist
Height 70 in, waist measured at the navel 38 in.
- 1WHtR = 38 ÷ 70 = 0.542857…
- 2Truncate to 3 decimals: 0.542
- 30.542 < 0.55
- 4Fail line at this height: 0.55 × 70 = 38.5 in
0.542: meets the standard. Any waist under 38.5 in passes at 70 in tall.
Failing by a little: 5 ft 5 in with a 36 in waist
Height 65 in, waist 36 in.
- 1WHtR = 36 ÷ 65 = 0.553846…
- 2Truncate: 0.553
- 30.553 is not below 0.55
- 4Needed: waist under 0.55 × 65 = 35.75 in
0.553: does not meet the standard. Taking the waist from 36 in to under 35.75 in, a little more than a quarter of an inch, would pass.
Exactly on the line: 70 in tall, 38.5 in waist
The truncation rule only ever drops digits; it never rounds down to a pass.
- 1WHtR = 38.5 ÷ 70 = 0.550
- 20.550 is equal to 0.55, not below it
0.550: fails. The standard is “less than, but not equal to” 0.55.
Old one-site tape test (for reference only)
A man weighing 210 lb with a 35 in abdomen, the sample from the Fort Jackson IG newsletter.
- 1%BF = −26.97 − (0.12 × 210) + (1.99 × 35)
- 2= −26.97 − 25.2 + 69.65 = 17.48
- 3Rounded: 17%
17% body fat under the retired method, below the old 22% limit for ages 21–27. This number no longer decides anything; only the waist-to-height ratio does.
04 / Reference
Army body composition charts and tables
| Height (in) | Height | Fails at or above | Largest passing waist (to ½ in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 4 ft 10 in | 31.9 in | 31.5 in |
| 59 | 4 ft 11 in | 32.45 in | 32 in |
| 60 | 5 ft 0 in | 33 in | 32.5 in |
| 61 | 5 ft 1 in | 33.55 in | 33.5 in |
| 62 | 5 ft 2 in | 34.1 in | 34 in |
| 63 | 5 ft 3 in | 34.65 in | 34.5 in |
| 64 | 5 ft 4 in | 35.2 in | 35 in |
| 65 | 5 ft 5 in | 35.75 in | 35.5 in |
| 66 | 5 ft 6 in | 36.3 in | 36 in |
| 67 | 5 ft 7 in | 36.85 in | 36.5 in |
| 68 | 5 ft 8 in | 37.4 in | 37 in |
| 69 | 5 ft 9 in | 37.95 in | 37.5 in |
| 70 | 5 ft 10 in | 38.5 in | 38 in |
| 71 | 5 ft 11 in | 39.05 in | 39 in |
| 72 | 6 ft 0 in | 39.6 in | 39.5 in |
| 73 | 6 ft 1 in | 40.15 in | 40 in |
| 74 | 6 ft 2 in | 40.7 in | 40.5 in |
| 75 | 6 ft 3 in | 41.25 in | 41 in |
| 76 | 6 ft 4 in | 41.8 in | 41.5 in |
| 77 | 6 ft 5 in | 42.35 in | 42 in |
| 78 | 6 ft 6 in | 42.9 in | 42.5 in |
| 79 | 6 ft 7 in | 43.45 in | 43 in |
| 80 | 6 ft 8 in | 44 in | 43.5 in |
Calculated from the standard: a waist of 0.55 × height or more fails. The last column is the largest half-inch step that still gives a ratio below 0.55; it is a guide, not an Army table, and your recorded height and waist may not fall on half inches.
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| 28 Jun 2013 | AR 600-9: weight-for-height screening table, then a multi-site tape (men: neck and abdomen; women: neck, waist and hip) against body fat limits by age |
| 15 Mar 2023 | AD 2023-08: ACFT score of 540+ with at least 80 in each event exempts Soldiers from the tape test |
| 9 Jun 2023 | AD 2023-11: one-site tape (abdomen at the navel plus body weight) phased in over 12 months |
| 8 Jun 2024 | One-site tape becomes the only authorised tape method |
| 4 Sep 2025 | AD 2025-17: a high Army Fitness Test score (465+) exempts Soldiers from the body fat standard |
| 7 Jul 2026 | AD 2026-13: waist-to-height ratio < 0.55 becomes the only assessment; tape tests, screening tables and the AFT exemption rescinded |
The Army is running a 180-day review of the waist-to-height standard. No Soldier will be separated for failing it until that review is complete and further guidance is issued.
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40 and over | 26% | 36% |
Shown for reference only. These limits applied to the tape test, which Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded. They are not part of the current standard.
05 / Training
How to bring your waist-to-height ratio down
Your height will not change, so the only lever is your waist. For most people the waist shrinks as abdominal fat comes off, and there is no exercise that burns fat from one spot. What works is a steady calorie deficit, enough protein, and regular training to keep your strength while the waist comes down.
- Know your number. Use the table above to find the waist that passes at your height, and measure yourself the same way each time: at the navel, tape level, relaxed. Remember the Army measures you at least twice a year and a commander can direct a check at any time.
- Set up a moderate deficit. Work out your maintenance calories with the TDEE calculator, then eat a little below it. See how to create and stick to a calorie deficit and the truth about spot reduction.
- Keep lifting. Strength training while you lose weight helps you keep muscle, and you still have the AFT to pass. Compound lifts such as the barbell deadlift and goblet squats give the most for your time. Strength training to lose weight: what matters.
- Add easy cardio and core work. Steady sessions on the treadmill or rowing machine add to your deficit and your 2-mile run. The plank and dead bug build the trunk strength the AFT tests, even though they will not shrink the waist on their own.
- More on belly fat in stubborn fat and how to reduce belly fat. Training for the fitness test as well? Use the Army Fitness Test calculator.
06 / Limitations
Limitations and safety
Not an official Army assessment. This page applies the published rule to the numbers you type in. Your unit’s measurement, recorded on DA Form 5500 and in ATIS, is what counts, and a failed first reading is always re-measured the same day by a different team before any action.
A home tape measurement can differ from an official one: tape position, how tight it is and whether you have just eaten or trained all change the number. The directive also has units allow at least 7 days between an AFT or Combat Field Test and a WHtR screening, unless urgent operational needs require otherwise.
Existing medical exemptions for pregnant and postpartum Soldiers remain in effect. If you are enrolled in the ABCP, talk to your chain of command about what applies to you.
The standard is new and under a 180-day review, so it could be adjusted. This page reflects the rule as published on army.mil and armypubs.army.mil when it was last updated.
WHtR is a screening measure of health risk, not a body fat percentage. It says nothing about fitness, and a high ratio is a reason to act, not a diagnosis.
This calculator gives an estimate for general fitness education. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, or are new to hard exercise, check with a doctor first.
07 / FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does the Army still use the tape test?
No. Army Directive 2026-13, effective 7 July 2026, rescinded the tape test, the height and weight screening tables and every other body fat method. The waist-to-height ratio is now the only Army body composition assessment, and a tape test cannot be requested to challenge it.
What is the Army waist-to-height standard?
Your waist at the navel divided by your height, both in inches, must be less than 0.55. The ratio is recorded to three decimals and not rounded, so 0.549 passes and 0.550 fails. It is the same for men and women of every age.
How do I use this as an Army tape calculator or ABCP calculator?
Enter your height and your waist measured at the navel. The calculator gives your waist-to-height ratio, whether it meets the ABCP standard, and the waist that would pass at your height. The old one-site tape test is in the second tab for reference, but it no longer counts for anything.
What is the maximum waist size for my height?
Multiply your height in inches by 0.55: your waist has to be below that number. At 5 ft 6 in (66 in) that is 36.3 in, at 5 ft 10 in (70 in) 38.5 in, and at 6 ft 0 in (72 in) 39.6 in. The table on this page lists every height from 58 to 80 inches.
Is there still a body fat percentage limit by age?
No. The old AR 600-9 limits (20% to 26% for men and 30% to 36% for women, rising with age) only applied to the tape test, which has been rescinded. The waist-to-height standard has no age or sex adjustment.
Can a high AFT score exempt me?
Not any more. The exemption for Soldiers scoring 465 or higher on the Army Fitness Test was rescinded along with Army Directive 2025-17. Every Soldier must meet the waist-to-height standard regardless of fitness test score.
What happens if I fail the waist-to-height check?
A second measurement is taken the same duty day by a different team. If you still do not meet the standard, you are flagged and enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program, and you stay enrolled until you meet it. During the 180-day review of the new standard, no Soldier will be separated for a WHtR failure.
Sources
- Army Directive 2026-13 (Army Body Composition Program and Standards). Secretary of the Army, 1 July 2026.
- U.S. Army. Army Body Composition Program and Standards: FAQ (effective 7 July 2026).
- U.S. Army. Army modifies body composition program, adopts waist-to-height ratio. 7 July 2026.
- Fort Jackson Inspector General. FY23 4th quarter newsletter: one-site tape test (AD 2023-11) sample calculations.
- Eighth Army Inspector General. Guidance on changes to Army Directive 2023-11 (one-site tape test phase-in; AD 2023-08 ACFT exemption).
- Army Regulation 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program. 28 June 2013, Table B-2.
Related tools
- Army Fitness Test (AFT) CalculatorScore the Army Fitness Test, which replaced the ACFT: points for all 5 events from the official tables, with the general and combat standards.
- Body Fat CalculatorEstimate your body fat percentage with a tape measure, using the US Navy method in cm or inches.
- BMI CalculatorWork out your body mass index in kg/cm or lb/ft, see your category and the healthy-weight range for your height.
- TDEE CalculatorEstimate the calories you burn per day, then get a target for losing, keeping or gaining weight.
- Macro CalculatorGet daily calories and grams of protein, fat and carbs for losing fat, maintaining or building muscle.
From the blog
Exercises to try
- Barbell DeadliftIntermediate compound barbell exercise for the hamstrings, also working the glutes, abs and calves.
- Goblet SquatsBeginner compound kettlebell exercise for the quadriceps, also working the glutes.
- PlankBeginner compound bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.
- Dead BugBeginner isolation bodyweight exercise for the abs, also working the quadriceps.
- TreadmillBeginner cardio on the treadmill, for heart and lung fitness.
- RowingBeginner cardio on the rowing machine, for heart and lung fitness.
Bring your waist down without losing strength
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