Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Measure your waist circumference at the narrowest point (belly button level, after exhale).
2. Enter your height in the same unit.
3. The calculator shows WHtR and risk category: <0.5 healthy, 0.5-0.6 overweight, ≥0.6 obese.
4. Use the Compare to BMI tab to see if WHtR and BMI agree.
5. Use the Professional tab for WHtR + WHR + BMI combined analysis.

Formula

Example

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio? ▼
  A WHtR below 0.5 is considered healthy for adults of all ages, sexes, and ethnicities. The simple rule is: "Keep your waist circumference to less than half your height." A WHtR of 0.5–0.59 indicates overweight, and 0.6 or above indicates obesity.
• Is WHtR better than BMI? ▼
  Multiple meta-analyses show WHtR is at least as good, and often better, than BMI at predicting cardiometabolic risk including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. WHtR specifically measures abdominal/visceral fat — the most metabolically dangerous type.
• How do I measure my waist correctly? ▼
  Measure at the narrowest point of your torso, typically at or slightly above the belly button, after a normal exhale. Stand relaxed with feet together. The tape should be horizontal and snug but not tight. Use the same unit as height for accurate WHtR.
• Does WHtR work for children? ▼
  Yes. WHtR uses a universal boundary of 0.5 that holds across different pediatric age groups and ethnicities, unlike BMI percentiles which require age/sex-specific charts.
• How does WHtR differ from waist-to-hip ratio? ▼
  WHR measures fat distribution between waist and hips. WHtR is considered a more accurate single cardiometabolic risk predictor because it normalizes waist circumference to total body size (height).

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