Body Type Calculator
This calculator is designed for women to find their "body shape" from bust, waist, high hip, and hip measurements — handy for targeted outfit ideas. Some research links certain shapes with health risks, but the shape itself is a fashion convention, not a health verdict or an ideal to meet; the waist-hip ratio, also shown in the results, is the better health indicator of the two.
When measuring, stand straight with your arms to your sides. Keep the tape snug against the body, but not so tight that it compresses the body, which would make the measurement inaccurate.
Bust size — the circumference around the chest over the fullest part of the breasts, while wearing a properly fitted bra.
Waist size — the smallest circumference around the natural waist, just above the belly button.
High hip size — the circumference of the upper swell of the hip over the pelvic region, about 7 inches (18 cm) below the natural waist.
Hip size — the largest circumference around the hips over the largest part of the buttocks.
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Female body shapes in the fashion industry
Fashion usually sorts body shapes into four classes:
Apple, or inverted triangle — broader shoulders and bust than hips.
Banana, straight, or rectangle — the waist measures less than 9 inches smaller than the hip or bust measurements.
Pear, spoon, bell, or triangle — hip measurements greater than bust measurements.
Hourglass, X shape, triangles opposing, or facing inwards — hip and bust nearly equal, with a distinctly narrower waist; typically presented as the "ideal."
A study of more than 6,000 women conducted at North Carolina State University in 2005 found that 46% of women were banana-shaped; just over 20% were pear-shaped; just under 14% were apple-shaped; and only 8% were hourglass-shaped.
What is my body shape?
These shapes rest on societal standards that are subjective and vary by culture. The algorithm behind this calculator comes from a study in the International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology1 that divides women's body shapes into seven categories. Sizes range widely inside each shape, and some bodies fit none of them — the calculator says so when that happens. All differences below are in inches:
- Hourglass — if (bust − hips) ≤ 1" and (hips − bust) < 3.6" and (bust − waist) ≥ 9" or (hips − waist) ≥ 10"
- Bottom hourglass — if (hips − bust) ≥ 3.6" and (hips − bust) < 10" and (hips − waist) ≥ 9" and (high hip/waist) < 1.193
- Top hourglass — if (bust − hips) > 1" and (bust − hips) < 10" and (bust − waist) ≥ 9"
- Spoon — if (hips − bust) > 2" and (hips − waist) ≥ 7" and (high hip/waist) ≥ 1.193
- Triangle — if (hips − bust) ≥ 3.6" and (hips − waist) < 9"
- Inverted triangle — if (bust − hips) ≥ 3.6" and (bust − waist) < 9"
- Rectangle — if (hips − bust) < 3.6" and (bust − hips) < 3.6" and (bust − waist) < 9" and (hips − waist) < 10"
Waist-hip ratio
The waist-hip ratio (WHR) is simply waist circumference divided by hip circumference — a 34" waist over 40" hips gives 34/40 = 0.85. Where body shape is a fashion convention, WHR is used as an indicator of real health conditions: people carrying more weight around the waist ("apple-shaped") run higher risks than those carrying it around the hips ("pear-shaped"). The NIDDK puts the higher-risk line at WHR above 0.8 for women and 1.0 for men; the WHO defines obesity at above 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women, roughly a BMI over 30. WHR has outperformed both waist circumference and BMI at predicting mortality over age 75 and is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease; in the study by Yusuf et al.2, redefining obesity by WHR instead of BMI would triple the proportion of people classed at risk of heart attack. Abdominal fat is the driver — the higher the WHR, the higher the associated risk. WHR is also correlated with fertility: women above 0.80 show significantly lower pregnancy rates than those between 0.70 and 0.79, while men around 0.9 tend to be more fertile and healthier, with lower rates of prostate and testicular cancer. It has even been studied in relation to cognitive ability, attractiveness judgments, and diet composition. For the fat-distribution side of this, see the Body Fat Calculator.
- Lee, J.Y., Istook, C.L., Nam, Y.J., and Park, S.M., "Comparison of body shape between USA and Korean women", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 19, No. 5, 2007, pp. 374-391.
- Yusuf S, et al. (November 2005). "Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries: a case-control study". Lancet. 366 (9497): 1640-9.