What is a healthy body fat percentage?

For men roughly 8-19% and for women 21-33%. Essential fat is about 2-5% for men and 10-13% for women.

Why does the BMI method differ?

The BMI equation is a population regression — it ignores fat distribution, so individual results can deviate several percent from the Navy method.

Body Fat Calculator

Estimate your body fat percentage using the U.S. Navy circumference method (neck, waist and hips for women), with fat mass, lean mass and an age-adjusted ideal. A BMI-based estimate is included for comparison.

#body fat calculator#navy body fat#body fat percentage#lean body mass#fat mass

Live calculate

Presets

Unit System

Metric (kg, cm)Imperial (ft + in, lb)

Enter your values in the matching fields — the other unit set is ignored.

Gender

MaleFemale

Age

years

Weight

Height

Neck

Measure below the larynx, tape sloping down at the front.

Waist

Men: at the navel. Women: at the narrowest point.

Hip

Women only — largest horizontal measure.

Weight

Height (feet)

Height (inches)

Neck

Waist

Hip

Live mode: results update as you type.

Body Fat (U.S. Navy Method)

15.7%

Fitness · BMI-method estimate 16.1%

Body Fat Category (ACE): Fitness
Body Fat Mass: 11.0 kg (24.2 lb)
Lean Body Mass: 59.0 kg (130.2 lb)
Ideal for Age (Jackson & Pollock): 10.5%
Fat to lose to reach ideal: 3.6 kg (8.0 lb)
Body Fat (BMI method): 16.1%
BMI: 22.1 kg/m²

Body composition by weight

Fat mass (kg)11.00
Lean mass (kg)59.00

Body fat — men (ACE)

15.7%

Fitness

Essential< 6Athletes6–14Fitness14–18Average18–25Obese25–45

Tape-method estimates carry roughly ±3-4% error; DEXA or hydrostatic testing is more accurate. Estimates for informational purposes only — not medical advice.

Most useful next

Formula

Men: BFP = 495 / (1.0324 − 0.19077·log10(waist−neck) + 0.15456·log10(height)) − 450 · Women: BFP = 495 / (1.29579 − 0.35004·log10(waist+hip−neck) + 0.221·log10(height)) − 450 · BMI method: BFP = 1.20×BMI + 0.23×age − 16.2 (men) / − 5.4 (women)

• Measure neck below the larynx; waist at the navel (men) or narrowest point (women); hips at the widest point (women).
• Apply the Hodgdon & Beckett (1984) circumference equation for your gender.
• Fat mass = BFP × weight; lean mass = weight − fat mass.

Pro tips

• Measure to the nearest 0.5 cm (1/4 in) and take the average of three readings.
• Do not pull your stomach in when measuring the waist.

FAQ

Related Calculators

More Health tools you might need.

Body Fat Calculator

#body fat calculator#navy body fat#body fat percentage#lean body mass#fat mass

Live calculate

Presets

Unit System

Metric (kg, cm)Imperial (ft + in, lb)

Enter your values in the matching fields — the other unit set is ignored.

Gender

MaleFemale

Age

years

Weight

Height

Neck

Measure below the larynx, tape sloping down at the front.

Waist

Men: at the navel. Women: at the narrowest point.

Hip

Women only — largest horizontal measure.

Weight

Height (feet)

Height (inches)

Neck

Waist

Hip

Live mode: results update as you type.

Body Fat (U.S. Navy Method)

15.7%

Fitness · BMI-method estimate 16.1%

Body Fat Category (ACE): Fitness
Body Fat Mass: 11.0 kg (24.2 lb)
Lean Body Mass: 59.0 kg (130.2 lb)
Ideal for Age (Jackson & Pollock): 10.5%
Fat to lose to reach ideal: 3.6 kg (8.0 lb)
Body Fat (BMI method): 16.1%
BMI: 22.1 kg/m²

Body composition by weight

Fat mass (kg)11.00
Lean mass (kg)59.00

Body fat — men (ACE)

15.7%

Fitness

Essential< 6Athletes6–14Fitness14–18Average18–25Obese25–45

Tape-method estimates carry roughly ±3-4% error; DEXA or hydrostatic testing is more accurate. Estimates for informational purposes only — not medical advice.

Most useful next

Formula

• Measure neck below the larynx; waist at the navel (men) or narrowest point (women); hips at the widest point (women).
• Apply the Hodgdon & Beckett (1984) circumference equation for your gender.
• Fat mass = BFP × weight; lean mass = weight − fat mass.

Pro tips

• Measure to the nearest 0.5 cm (1/4 in) and take the average of three readings.
• Do not pull your stomach in when measuring the waist.

FAQ

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Body Fat Calculator

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Body composition by weight

Body fat — men (ACE)

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