Health & Fitness

Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator

Keep your waist to less than half your height.

By TheCalcTools Updated Formula checked and tested

Your numbers

Your results

Waist-to-height ratio
Waist-to-height ratio
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Half your height (cm)
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Category
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Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator by TheCalcTools

How the Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator works

Enter your waist circumference and height.

Divide the waist by the height.

A ratio below 0.5 is the commonly used target for adults.

The formula

WHtR = waist ÷ height

Worked example

Using the default values shown in the calculator:

Waist (cm)90
Height (cm)175
  1. WHtR = 90 ÷ 175 = 0.514.
  2. Half your height is 87.5 cm, so a waist under that is the target.
  3. Category: Increased risk (0.5 to 0.59).

Result:

Waist-to-height ratio0.514
Half your height (cm)87.5
CategoryIncreased risk (0.5 to 0.59)

Frequently asked questions

Why use height rather than BMI?

Waist-to-height ratio reflects abdominal fat and has been found to predict cardiometabolic risk at least as well as BMI in several studies.

Does the same cut-off work for children?

A 0.5 boundary is also used for children, but growth-chart tools are better for individual assessment.

Sources and further reading

Waist-to-Hip Ratio CalculatorMeasure your waist and hips to get your ratio BMI CalculatorCalculate your body mass index (BMI) from your height and weight, see which adult… Body Fat CalculatorEstimate your body fat percentage from a tape measure, using the U.S Ideal Weight CalculatorSee what four classic formulas suggest for your height Healthy Weight Range CalculatorWhat weights fall in the normal BMI range for your height? Body Surface Area (BSA) CalculatorBSA is used to scale drug doses and cardiac output

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This calculator gives general estimates for information and education. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Talk to a qualified health professional about your own situation. See our disclaimer.