Your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) compares the circumference of your waist to that of your hips. It’s a long-standing measure of how fat is distributed — an "apple" shape (more around the middle) carries more risk than a "pear" shape (more around the hips). Pick your sex, enter both measurements in centimetres, and the tool returns the ratio and its risk band. It all runs on your device.
Enter your waist and hip measurements to see your ratio.
The waist-to-hip ratio is an educational screening estimate, not a diagnosis. It doesn’t account for age, muscle or overall build. Consult a doctor for a full assessment.
How it works
The ratio is waist ÷ hip, so a 90 cm waist and 100 cm hips give 0.90. Because the thresholds differ by sex, you select male or female first. The tool uses the commonly cited WHO-derived cut-offs: for men, up to 0.95 is low risk, 0.96–1.0 moderate, and above 1.0 high; for women, up to 0.80 is low, 0.81–0.85 moderate, and above 0.85 high.
Measure the waist at its narrowest point (or midway between ribs and hip bone) and the hips at their widest point over the buttocks, tape level and snug. The tool guards against obviously swapped values — a ratio far above 1 usually means waist and hip were entered the wrong way round. It’s a screening estimate, so it doesn’t account for age, muscle or overall build.
Practical examples
A man in the low-risk band
Waist 88 cm, hips 100 cm → ratio 0.88. For men, anything up to 0.95 is low risk, so this sits comfortably inside it.
A woman near the threshold
Waist 82 cm, hips 100 cm → ratio 0.82. For women that lands in the 0.81–0.85 "moderate" band — a nudge to watch the trend.
Why sex matters
A ratio of 0.86 is high risk for a woman but still low risk for a man. Selecting the wrong sex would give a misleading category, which is why the tool asks first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure my hips correctly?
Stand with feet together and wrap the tape around the widest part of your buttocks, keeping it horizontal all the way round. Don’t pull it tight enough to compress. Measuring over thin clothing or bare skin both work — just be consistent between checks.
What’s the difference between WHR and waist-to-height ratio?
WHR compares your waist to your hips and captures fat distribution (apple vs pear). Waist-to-height compares your waist to your height and is a more direct screen for central fat. They answer slightly different questions, so many people track both.
Why are the thresholds different for men and women?
Men and women store fat differently — women naturally carry more around the hips and thighs. The risk cut-offs are set separately so the same ratio isn’t judged identically for both, which would misclassify a lot of healthy women.
Which cut-offs does this use?
The widely used WHO-derived bands: men low ≤0.95, moderate 0.96–1.0, high >1.0; women low ≤0.80, moderate 0.81–0.85, high >0.85. Different bodies publish slightly different numbers, so treat the band as a guide, not a verdict.
Is WHR better than BMI?
For judging fat distribution and related risk, WHR adds information BMI can’t — two people with the same BMI can have very different ratios. But BMI is still a useful overall measure. Neither alone tells the whole story; used together they’re stronger.
Can athletes get a misleading result?
Sometimes. Very muscular hips or a lean, narrow waist can shift the ratio in ways the general cut-offs don’t anticipate. As with any circumference method, treat the number as a screen and consider your overall build.
My ratio is above 1 — did I do something wrong?
Possibly the waist and hip figures were swapped. A waist genuinely larger than the hips is uncommon; if the ratio jumps well above 1, re-check that you entered waist in the waist field and hips in the hip field.
How often should I measure?
Every few weeks to a month. These measurements change slowly, so frequent checks mostly capture noise. Measure at the same time of day under the same conditions and follow the trend.
Is my data stored?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser. Your measurements are never uploaded and analytics doesn’t receive them.
Related tools
Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator
Divide your waist by your height for a quick health-risk screen and see your healthy waist range. An educational estimate, not a diagnosis.
Health & fitness
BMI Calculator
Calculate your Body Mass Index from height and weight, with the WHO category and your healthy-weight range. An educational estimate.
Health & fitness
Body Fat Calculator
Estimate body fat percentage from tape measurements using the U.S. Navy method, with fat and lean mass. An educational estimate.
Health & fitness
Aspect Ratio Calculator
Find the simplified aspect ratio of any width and height, and resize while keeping that ratio. Runs in your browser.
Developer tools
Color Contrast Checker
Check the WCAG contrast ratio between a text and background colour, with AA and AAA pass or fail.
Developer tools
Circle Calculator
Enter any one of radius, diameter, circumference or area and get the other three instantly.
Math & education