Body Shape CalculatorTo measure your body shape, measure your bust, waist, high hip and hips with a soft tape while standing straight with your arms at your sides.
Body shape measurements are four circumferences: bust, waist, high hip and hips. Each body shape measurement has a fixed point on the body, so the same point gives the same result every time. The steps below cover the tools, the five measuring points, what to do with the numbers, and how accurate home measurements are.
What Do You Need to Measure Your Body Shape?
You need three things to measure your body shape.
- Soft tape measure: a flexible tape that wraps around the body.
- Mirror: a mirror to check that the tape stays level.
- Fitted clothing: a properly fitted bra and thin clothing, so fabric does not add width.
How to Measure Your Bust
Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your breasts. Wear a properly fitted bra. Keep the tape level across your back. Read the number where the tape meets.
How to Measure Your Waist
Find the smallest circumference of your natural waist, just above the belly button. Wrap the tape around that point. Keep the tape snug without pulling it into the skin. The World Health Organization measures waist for health risk at a different point, midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, so health tools may ask for a different waist number.
How to Measure Your High Hip
Find the upper swell of your hip over the pelvis, about 7 inches (18 cm) below your natural waist. Wrap the tape around that line. The high hip separates spoon body shape from pear and bottom hourglass, so the calculator requires the high hip.
How to Measure Your Hips
Find the widest part of your buttocks. Wrap the tape around that point with the tape parallel to the floor. Check the side view in the mirror to keep the tape level.
How to Measure Your Shoulders
Measure straight across the back from the tip of one shoulder to the tip of the other. Shoulder width is shown with your result but is not part of the body shape rules.
What Do You Do With Your Measurements?
You enter your bust, waist, high hip and hip measurements in the body shape calculator to get your body shape type. Use the same unit for all four measurements.
How Accurate Are Home Measurements?
Home measurements are accurate when you measure each point twice and use the average when the two readings are within 1 cm (0.4 in), following the World Health Organization measuring practice. Remeasure when the two readings differ by more than 1 cm.
Should You Measure in Inches or Centimeters?
You can measure in inches or centimeters, as long as you use one unit for every measurement; 1 inch equals 2.54 cm.
Can You Use the Same Measurements for Waist-to-Hip Ratio?
Yes, you can use the same hip measurement for waist-to-hip ratio, but health guidelines measure the waist midway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone. The waist-to-hip ratio calculator explains this waist point.