Health & Fitness · Body Metrics
Formula verified
Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Enter your waist and hip circumference (same unit for both) to see your waist-to-hip ratio and where it falls on the WHO's published risk scale.
Units
cm
cm
in
in
On-screen number pad
Tap to type into the highlighted field
Waist-to-hip ratio
0.80
Low risk
Step-by-step proofCheck by hand
Waist-to-hip ratio is a screening measure, not a diagnosis. It's one signal among several — body composition, family history and a clinical assessment all matter. Consult a doctor for a personal health evaluation.
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How waist-to-hip ratio works
Waist-to-hip ratio is simply waist circumference divided by hip circumference, both measured at their widest points. The World Health Organization publishes separate risk thresholds for men and women, since fat distribution differs by sex.
Thresholds, in full
Men: under 0.90 low risk, 0.90–1.0 moderate, 1.0 and above high. Women: under 0.80 low
risk, 0.80–0.85 moderate, 0.85 and above high.
Where, not how much
Unlike Body Fat Percentage, this doesn't estimate how much fat you carry — it measures
where it tends to sit, which research links to cardiovascular risk independently of
total body fat.
The formula
WHR = waist ÷ hip
Worked example
An 80 cm waist and 100 cm hip: 80 ÷ 100 = 0.80 — "Low risk" for a man, "Moderate risk" for a woman.
Frequently asked questions
What is waist-to-hip ratio?
It's your waist circumference divided by your hip circumference, measured at their widest points. Because it's a ratio, the unit doesn't matter as long as both measurements use the same one — centimeters or inches give the same result.
Why does the risk threshold differ by sex?
Body fat distribution differs by sex — men more often carry fat around the abdomen ("apple" shape), women more often around the hips ("pear" shape) — so the World Health Organization publishes separate thresholds for each.
How is this different from Body Fat Percentage?
Body Fat Percentage estimates how much of your total body weight is fat, using waist, neck, height and (for women) hip. Waist-to-Hip Ratio doesn't estimate a body fat percentage at all — it measures fat distribution (where fat sits) rather than total quantity, which research links independently to cardiovascular risk.
Sources and method
- World Health Organization (2008) — Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation.