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Body Fat Calculator

cm
cm
cm

Estimated Body Fat

17.0%

Method

US Navy (measurement-based)

Use this as a trend tool rather than a one-time number. Small changes week-to-week are often measurement noise; consistent direction over several weeks is more meaningful.

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Recommended next steps

After you get your result, compare a few scenarios or explore related tools.

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How it works

The US Navy body fat method estimates body fat percentage from a small set of tape measurements. It’s popular because it’s fast and repeatable without specialized equipment.

  1. Select sex and enter measurements.
  2. The calculator applies the Navy method.
  3. You get an estimated body fat percentage.

Because this method is sensitive to tape placement, it’s best used to track trends over time using consistent measuring conditions.

How to interpret your result

Body fat percentage is a composition metric: it estimates how much of your weight is fat mass versus lean mass.

  • Use the number for context, but prioritize multi-week trends.
  • If you strength train, you may see body fat change even when scale weight doesn’t.

Common mistakes

  • Measuring waist at different locations each time.
  • Pulling the tape too tight (or leaving it too loose).
  • Comparing a single reading day-to-day instead of tracking trends.
  • Mixing units (cm vs inches) unintentionally.

Comparison table

MethodProsLimitations
US Navy (tape)Fast, cheap, repeatableSensitive to tape placement
DEXADetailed composition snapshotCost and availability
Bioimpedance scaleConvenientHighly affected by hydration

Example

Measurements vary—take multiple readings and use the average for best results.

FAQ

It’s the percent of your total body weight that comes from fat mass. The rest is lean mass like muscle and bone.

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