Army Body Fat Calculator

For males, you need height, weight, neck circumference, and abdominal (waist) circumference measured at the navel. For females, you additionally need hip circumference measured at the widest point. All measurements should be taken at least three times and averaged, then rounded to the nearest 0.5 inch.

For males, the formula is: %BF = (86.010 × log10(waist − neck)) − (70.041 × log10(height)) + 36.76. For females: %BF = (163.205 × log10(waist + hip − neck)) − (97.684 × log10(height)) − 78.387. Both formulas use circumference measurements in inches and are based on Army Regulation 600-9.

The maximum allowable body fat percentage depends on sex and age group. For males aged 17–20 it's 20%, ages 21–27 it's 22%, ages 28–39 it's 24%, and age 40+ it's 26%. For females, the limits are 30%, 32%, 34%, and 36% for the same age groups respectively. Soldiers who exceed these limits are referred to the Army Weight Control Program.

In June 2023, the Army introduced a simplified one-site circumference-based tape test that uses only the abdominal (waist) measurement along with height and weight for males, replacing the older multi-site method as the primary assessment. A soldier who fails the new test may still use the older multi-site method as a confirmation test for 12 months from the date of Army Directive 2023-11.

A soldier who fails the tape test may request a supplemental body fat assessment using DXA (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry), an InBody 770 scan, or a Bod Pod, if reasonably available. If the soldier does not request a supplemental assessment or also fails it, they are referred to the Army Weight Control Program (AWCP).

The circumference-based tape method is a practical field estimate and not as precise as laboratory methods like DXA or hydrostatic weighing. Accuracy depends on consistent measurement technique — using a non-stretchable tape, averaging multiple measurements, and following proper placement guidelines. Results can vary by a few percentage points compared to clinical methods.

It depends on the waist and neck measurements. For example, a 6-foot (72-inch) male with a 36-inch waist and a 16-inch neck would calculate as: %BF = (86.010 × log10(36 − 16)) − (70.041 × log10(72)) + 36.76 ≈ 18.6%. Results vary significantly based on actual circumference measurements.

This calculator includes both the updated 2023 one-site formula (waist + height for males) and the traditional multi-site formula (waist + hip + neck for females), in line with the Army Body Fat Assessment published on June 12, 2023, under the Army Body Composition Program.