Body Fat Percentage Calculator

A quick, clinically-grounded estimate of your body fat, using just a tape measure.

Estimate Your Body Fat %

U.S. Navy method, all measurements in centimetres

How to use this calculator

  1. Choose your gender, formulas differ for men and women.
  2. Measure height, neck (just below the larynx), waist (at navel), and for women hip (at widest point).
  3. Enter all values in centimetres and tap calculate.
  4. Read your body fat % and category band, then check what it means for your nutrition.

What is body fat percentage?

Body fat percentage is the share of your body weight made up of fat tissue, both essential fat (needed for organ and hormone function) and storage fat. Unlike body weight or BMI, it speaks directly to body composition: two people at the same weight can have very different fat-to-muscle ratios.

The U.S. Navy method uses circumference measurements and height to estimate body fat without skinfold calipers or scans. It's accurate to within roughly 3-4% for most adults, great as a screen, not a definitive medical reading.

What your result means

Body fat bands (ACE guidelines):

  • Men: essential 2-5%, athletes 6-13%, fitness 14-17%, average 18-24%, obese 25%+.
  • Women: essential 10-13%, athletes 14-20%, fitness 21-24%, average 25-31%, obese 32%+.

Very low body fat (below essential) is a red flag for hormone disruption and bone-density loss; high body fat raises risk of insulin resistance, fatty liver and cardiovascular disease. The healthiest target for most adults is the fitness or low-average range.

How body fat relates to your diet

Lowering body fat requires a sustained calorie deficit while protecting lean mass, that means adequate protein (1.6-2.2 g/kg of goal body weight), strength training, and prioritising whole foods with high satiety per calorie. Crash dieting drops weight quickly but mostly in muscle and water, which raises body fat % over time.

Our weight loss program is built around body-composition outcomes, not just scale weight. Pair this estimate with our TDEE calculator to set a sensible calorie target.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who this helps

This calculator is most useful if you're working on:

  • Weight Loss

    Structured programs for sustainable fat loss with balanced Indian meals.

  • Sports Nutrition

    Performance nutrition for athletes and active adults.

Body fat % tells you what to do, but a personalised plan tells you how. Book a free consultation to translate your reading into a weekly protein, training and meal strategy.

Book Free Consultation