Body Shape CalculatorSpoon, pear and hourglass body shapes differ by the high hip and the bust-to-hip difference. A spoon has hips more than 2 inches (5.1 cm) larger than the bust and a high-hip shelf. A pear has hips at least 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) larger than the bust without a shelf. An hourglass has bust and hips within 1 inch (2.5 cm).
Spoon, pear and hourglass are three of the female body shape types, and all three have curved hips. The comparison below shows which measurement separates each pair, a side-by-side table, a method to tell them apart and the mistakes that cause wrong results.
Which Measurement Separates Spoon, Pear and Hourglass?
The high hip separates spoon from pear, and the bust-to-hip difference separates both from hourglass. A spoon body shape has a high hip divided by waist of 1.193 or more, which creates a shelf right below the waist. A pear has no shelf, because its width sits lower at the hips and thighs. An hourglass has bust and hips within 1 inch (2.5 cm) of each other.
Spoon vs Pear vs Hourglass: Side-by-Side Comparison
The table below compares spoon, pear and hourglass body shapes.
| Feature | Spoon | Pear | Hourglass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hips vs bust | > 2 in (5.1 cm) larger | ≥ 3.6 in (9.1 cm) larger | within 1 in (2.5 cm) |
| Waist | ≥ 7 in (17.8 cm) smaller than hips | < 9 in (22.9 cm) smaller than hips | ≥ 9 in smaller than bust or ≥ 10 in smaller than hips |
| High hip ÷ waist | ≥ 1.193 | not required | not required |
| Example bust / waist / hips | 35 / 28 / 39 (high hip 34) | 34 / 31 / 39 | 38 / 27 / 38 |
| Main sign | shelf below the waist | width at hips and thighs | balanced curves |
How Do You Tell If You Are Spoon, Pear or Hourglass?
You tell spoon, pear and hourglass apart in three steps.
- Measure bust, waist, high hip and hips with a soft tape.
- Compare bust and hips: within 1 inch (2.5 cm) with a much smaller waist means hourglass.
- Divide high hip by waist: 1.193 or more with hips over 2 inches (5.1 cm) larger than the bust means spoon; otherwise hips 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) or more larger than the bust with a soft waist means pear.
The measure-based body shape calculator runs these steps automatically.
What Measuring Mistakes Confuse Spoon and Pear?
Three measuring mistakes confuse spoon and pear.
- Skipping the high hip: without the high hip, a spoon cannot be separated from pear or bottom hourglass.
- High hip measured too low: the high hip sits about 7 inches (18 cm) below the waist, not at the full hips.
- Tape tilted: a tilted tape adds inches at the back and changes the high-hip ratio.
How Do Spoon, Pear and Hourglass Dress Differently?
Spoon, pear and hourglass dress differently at the hips. A spoon defines the waist and skims the high hip, a pear widens the shoulders and lets fabric flow over the hips, and an hourglass follows the waist. The guides to spoon body shape outfits, what to wear for a pear figure and what to wear for an hourglass figure cover each wardrobe.
What About Bottom Hourglass?
Bottom hourglass shares the larger hips of spoon and pear but has a waist at least 9 inches (22.9 cm) smaller than the hips and a high hip divided by waist below 1.193.