Your body shape is not about weight alone. Two people with the same height and weight can carry their build very differently: one may wear wide on the shoulders and narrow on the hips, another may be full through the middle, and a third may have a sharply defined waist. This body shape calculator takes three simple tape measurements — shoulder or bust, waist, and hip — and classifies your build as an apple, pear, hourglass, ruler (rectangle), or inverted triangle, while also reporting your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and its health interpretation.
The classification uses the standard three-girth rules used in fashion and anthropology. Enter your measurements in centimeters and the result updates instantly.
How to Use
- Stand naturally in front of a mirror, keep your feet together, and relax your belly — do not suck it in.
- Measure your Shoulder / Bust Circumference. For women, wrap the tape across the fullest part of the bust. For a shoulder-focused reading, measure across the shoulder blades under the arms. Keep the tape horizontal.
- Measure your Waist Circumference at the narrowest part of the torso, usually just above the belly button. The tape should be snug but not compressing the skin.
- Measure your Hip Circumference at the widest part of the hips and buttocks, keeping the tape level.
- Choose your Biological Sex. It does not change the shape letters, but it sets the WHO waist-to-hip ratio risk threshold (0.90 for men, 0.85 for women).
- Read the result card. The engine compares the three girths: if the waist is the widest measurement you are an apple; if the hips are at least 5% wider than the shoulders you are a pear; if the shoulders are at least 5% wider than the hips you are an inverted triangle; if shoulders and hips are within 5% of each other and the waist is at least 25% narrower you are an hourglass; otherwise you are a ruler.
The Three-Girth Rules Explained
Every shape letter comes from comparing ratios, not guesswork:
- Apple (Round) — your waist girth is 99% or more of both your shoulder and hip girths. The middle is the widest part.
- Pear (Triangle) — your hips are at least 5% wider than your shoulders (hip ÷ shoulder ≥ 1.05).
- Inverted Triangle (Strawberry) — your shoulders are at least 5% wider than your hips (shoulder ÷ hip ≥ 1.05).
- Hourglass — your shoulders and hips are within 5% of each other and your waist is at least 25% narrower than both (waist ≤ 0.75 × the smaller of shoulder and hip).
- Ruler (Rectangle) — none of the above: the three girths sit within roughly 5–10% of one another and the waist is not sharply defined.
The waist-to-hip ratio itself is simply waist ÷ hip. WHO studies link WHR above 0.90 in men and 0.85 in women to higher cardiometabolic risk, which is why the result card also shows a Low-risk or At-risk note next to your number.
Examples
Example 1 — A classic hourglass. Shoulder 90 cm, waist 65 cm, hip 92 cm. Hips are only 2 cm wider than shoulders (within 5%), and the waist is 65 cm versus a 67.5 cm hourglass threshold — comfortably cinched. The engine returns Hourglass, a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.71, and a Low risk WHR note for a woman.
Example 2 — A pear build. Shoulder 85 cm, waist 70 cm, hip 105 cm. Hips are 23.5% wider than shoulders (well over the 5% trigger), so the result is Pear (Triangle) with WHR 0.67. Even though the waist is narrow, the hip-dominant silhouette decides the shape.
Example 3 — An apple build. Shoulder 90 cm, waist 100 cm, hip 95 cm. The waist is the widest of the three, so the engine labels this Apple (Round). For a man, WHR is 1.05 — above the 0.90 threshold, so the risk note reads At risk, flagging central adiposity rather than the silhouette itself.
Example 4 — A ruler build. Shoulder 90 cm, waist 84 cm, hip 94 cm. Hips are only 4.4% wider than shoulders (under the 5% pear trigger), and the waist of 84 cm is far above the 67.5 cm hourglass threshold. The result is Rectangle (Ruler); for a woman, WHR 0.89 sits above the 0.85 cut-point, so the health note is At risk even though the silhouette is straight up and down.
FAQ
What is the most accurate way to measure my waist?
Find the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the belly button and below the rib cage. Wrap a tape horizontally around the body, breathe out normally, and keep the tape snug without pressing into the skin. Measuring after a meal or while standing slouched can add 1–2 cm.
What body shape am I if my shoulders and hips are equal but my waist is not narrow?
That is a ruler (rectangle). The hourglass label requires the waist to be at least 25% narrower than the shoulder and hip girths. If your shoulders and hips match but your waist is within about 10% of them, the proportions are straight up and down — a ruler.
Is an apple shape unhealthy?
Apple shape describes a silhouette where the waist is the widest girth. It is not itself a disease, but a waist-to-hip ratio above 0.90 in men or 0.85 in women is associated by WHO with higher cardiovascular and metabolic risk. The shape letter and the WHR health note answer two different questions: one describes your proportions, the other flags central fat distribution.
What is the difference between a pear and an inverted triangle?
A pear means the hips are at least 5% wider than the shoulders. An inverted triangle means the shoulders are at least 5% wider than the hips. Both are defined by the same 5% rule, just in opposite directions; the waist measurement only matters once shoulder and hip are close to each other.
Can men use this body shape calculator?
Yes. Shape classification works the same way for men and women because it compares three girths. The only sex-specific part is the WHR risk threshold: 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women, per WHO guidance.
Why do two body shape calculators give me different results?
Cut-points vary. Some sources use a 10% hip-to-shoulder gap instead of 5%, or define the hourglass waist as 20% rather than 25% smaller. This calculator uses the common 5% and 25% rules consistently, so the same three measurements always map to the same letter.
Disclaimer
This body shape calculator is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It classifies silhouette from three self-reported tape measurements and estimates a waist-to-hip ratio; it does not diagnose any condition, body-fat level, or health risk. Self-measured girths vary by posture, tape position, and time of day. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized assessment of body composition, weight, or cardiovascular risk.