Body Shape CalculatorPear body shape is a figure where the hips are clearly wider than the bust and the waist is only moderately smaller than the hips. The pear rule is hips at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the bust and a waist less than 9 inches (22.9 cm) smaller than the hips.
Pear body shape, also called triangle, is one of the all body shape types. Pear body shape places width at the hips and thighs, while the shoulders and bust stay narrower. You can check your body shape with four measurements to confirm a pear body shape.
What Are the Pear Body Shape Measurements?
The pear body shape measurements are hips at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the bust and a waist less than 9 inches (22.9 cm) smaller than the hips.
| Measurement comparison | Rule (in) | Rule (cm) | Example (in) | Example (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hips − bust | ≥ 3.6 | ≥ 9.1 | 39 − 34 = 5 | 99.1 − 86.4 = 12.7 |
| Hips − waist | < 9 | < 22.9 | 39 − 31 = 8 | 99.1 − 78.7 = 20.4 |
The pear rule is the triangle rule of the FFIT classification by Lee, Istook, Nam and Park (2007).
How Do You Know If You Have a Pear Body Shape?
A pear body shape shows four signs.
- Wider hips: the hips are wider than the shoulders from the front.
- Narrower shoulders: the shoulders and bust look smaller than the hips.
- Soft waist: the waist is visible but not sharply defined.
- Lower-body weight gain: weight gain goes first to the hips and thighs.
Measuring confirms the signs, following measuring guide.
What Are the Types of Pear Body Shape?
Pear body shape has two common variations.
- Petite pear: a pear body shape on a shorter frame, where the hip-to-bust difference looks larger.
- Skinny pear: a pear body shape on a slim frame, where the hips stay wider than the bust at a low weight.
What Should You Wear With a Pear Body Shape?
Clothes for a pear body shape balance the hips with the shoulders. Boat necklines and structured jackets widen the upper body, and A-line skirts and bootcut jeans flow over the hips. The guide to pear body shape outfits lists dresses, jeans and tops.
How Does Pear Compare With Other Body Shapes?
Pear body shape differs from every other body shape by hips at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the bust with a less defined waist.
- Pear vs hourglass: an hourglass has bust and hips within 1 inch (2.5 cm) and a much smaller waist. The comparison of pear vs hourglass body shape shows example measurements.
- Pear vs spoon: a spoon has a high-hip shelf (high hip ÷ waist of 1.193 or more) and a more defined waist.
- Pear vs bottom hourglass: a bottom hourglass has hips larger than the bust, like a pear, but a waist at least 9 inches (22.9 cm) smaller than the hips.
- Pear vs apple: an apple carries width at the waist, while a pear carries width at the hips.
- Pear vs inverted triangle: an inverted triangle is the reverse of a pear, with the bust at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the hips.
- Pear vs rectangle: a rectangle has bust and hips within 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) of each other.
What Is the Waist-to-Hip Ratio of a Pear?
The waist-to-hip ratio of a pear body shape is moderate, because the waist is only moderately smaller than the hips; the example 31-inch waist and 39-inch hips give a ratio of 0.79. The waist-to-hip ratio tool returns your own ratio.
Can Men Have a Pear Body Shape?
Yes, men can have a pear body shape, which the male calculator labels triangle when the hips are at least 2 inches wider than the chest.
Can Your Body Shape Change?
Your body shape can change when weight gain, weight loss or muscle gain changes your bust, waist or hips by different amounts, because the pear rule compares these measurements with each other.
Is Pear Body Shape Chubby?
No, pear body shape is not chubby by definition, because the pear rule compares hips, bust and waist with each other, not body weight.
Is a Pear Body Shape Healthy?
A pear body shape carries weight around the hips rather than the waist, which keeps the waist-to-hip ratio lower; the World Health Organization defines abdominal obesity as a ratio above 0.85 for women. The guide to body shape and health explains this ratio.