01What this calculator tells you
This calculator identifies your female body shape — hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle or spoon — from four measurements: bust, waist, high hip and hips. It uses the same industry-standard classification the leading tools use, then tells you which rule decided your shape instead of just printing a label. It also reports your waist-to-hip ratio for health context.
Body shape describes proportion, not fitness or health. It is genuinely useful for choosing clothes that flatter your frame, and the waist-to-hip ratio adds a quick health signal. For a weight-status screen, pair it with our BMI calculator.
02The female body shapes
The classification comes from a 2007 study by Lee, Istook, Nam & Park that grouped women by the differences between their bust, waist and hip measurements. Here is what each shape means.
Use a soft tape measure over light clothing or bare skin, kept snug but not tight, and stand relaxed. Accurate measurements matter because the classification turns on differences of a few inches.
- Bust: around the fullest part of your chest, tape level.
- Waist: the narrowest point of your torso, usually just above the navel.
- High hip: about 7 inches below the waist, over the upper hip bones.
- Hips: the widest part of your hips and seat.
For health-focused waist guidance, the CDC and NIDDK explain how waist size relates to risk, and the World Health Organization sets the waist-to-hip ratio thresholds this calculator uses.
03Related calculators
Working through a related project? Try our Protein Intake Calculator, Carb Intake Calculator, and Starbucks Calorie Calculator.
01How the shape is decided
The classification works entirely on the differences between your four circumferences, measured in inches (centimetre entries are converted first). The first test is whether you are “curvy” or “straight”: a waist at least about 9 inches smaller than the bust or hips signals a defined waist. From there, comparing bust to hips picks the specific shape. Waist-to-hip ratio is a separate health figure.
Where:
- bust= circumference around the fullest part of the chest.
- waist= circumference at the narrowest part of the torso.
- high hip= circumference about 7 in below the waist (separates spoon from pear).
- hips= circumference at the widest part of the hips.
02Worked example
Take measurements of 36 in bust, 28 in waist, 37 in high hip, 40 in hips and step through the rules:
So these measurements give a pear shape with a healthy 0.70 waist-to-hip ratio. The calculator shows both the shape and the ratio so you get the styling label and the health signal at once. To see how those choices fit a balanced diet, our water intake calculator covers daily hydration targets.