What body fat percentage is healthy for women?

Essential fat for women is 10–13%. Athletic women typically range 14–20%, fitness level 21–24%, and the acceptable average is 25–31%. Above 32% is generally classified as obese for women.

Why do women have higher essential body fat than men?

Women require more essential fat to support hormonal functions, including oestrogen production, bone health, and reproductive capacity. This is normal and healthy.

Where should I measure my hips?

Measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks, keeping the tape horizontal. Take the measurement at the same time each day (morning is best) for consistency.

Does the calculator keep what I enter?

The values exist only in the open page and are not written to browser storage, so reloading the page clears them. All calculations run in your browser. Our servers are not involved at any point.

Body fat calculator for women

Estimate your body fat percentage using the US Navy circumference method. For women, you need four measurements: neck, waist, hip, and height. No calipers or body fat scales needed, just a measuring tape. Everything runs in your browser.

Sex

Units

Neck (cm)

Waist (cm)

Hip (cm)

Height (cm)

Measure neck below larynx, waist at narrowest point, hips at widest point.

Results are for informational purposes and do not constitute medical advice.

How it works

The US Navy circumference method uses a logarithmic formula to estimate body fat from tape measurements. For men: BF% = 495 / (1.0324 − 0.19077 × log₁₀(waist − neck) + 0.15456 × log₁₀(height)) − 450. For women: BF% = 495 / (1.29579 − 0.35004 × log₁₀(waist + hip − neck) + 0.22100 × log₁₀(height)) − 450. All measurements are in cm; inch inputs are multiplied by 2.54 first. All logarithm and arithmetic operations run locally in your browser using JavaScript.

Processing runs in your browser

The entire calculation runs in the browser page using pure JavaScript. Our servers are not involved at any point.

Technical specification

The US Navy circumference method was developed by Hodgdon and Beckett at the Naval Health Research Center (1984) and validated against hydrostatic (underwater) weighing. The formula uses circumference measurements and the logarithm of measurement differences. Accuracy is ±3–4 percentage points, similar to skinfold caliper methods. DEXA scanning remains the gold standard for body composition measurement.

Method: US Navy circumference method (Hodgdon & Beckett, 1984)
Accuracy: ±3–4 percentage points
Men inputs: Neck, waist, height
Women inputs: Neck, waist, hip, height

Related operations

For a general weight category from your height and weight, try the BMI calculator. To split total weight into estimated lean and fat mass, use the lean body mass calculator. For a reference weight range for your height, see the ideal weight calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What body fat percentage is healthy for women?: Essential fat for women is 10–13%. Athletic women typically range 14–20%, fitness level 21–24%, and the acceptable average is 25–31%. Above 32% is generally classified as obese for women.
Why do women have higher essential body fat than men?: Women require more essential fat to support hormonal functions, including oestrogen production, bone health, and reproductive capacity. This is normal and healthy.
Where should I measure my hips?: Measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks, keeping the tape horizontal. Take the measurement at the same time each day (morning is best) for consistency.
Does the calculator keep what I enter?: The values exist only in the open page and are not written to browser storage, so reloading the page clears them. All calculations run in your browser. Our servers are not involved at any point.

Last reviewed September 30, 2026

Other pages for this tool

Related tools

Background reading: Complete guide to health tools