Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
WHO waist hip ratio with cutoff verdict for men and women.
What it does
Waist to hip ratio divides belly girth by hip girth to describe fat distribution. Two people sharing one BMI can carry very different risk when one stores fat around the waist and the other around the hips.
The tool above takes waist and hips in centimeters or inches with sex. It returns the ratio with the WHO band and the cutoff it judged against.
The default woman at 80 cm over 100 cm reads 0.8 against the 0.85 cutoff: healthy range. A man at 90 over 100 reads exactly 0.9, sitting on the cutoff line and out of range.
Cutoffs follow the WHO expert consultation on waist circumference and ratio with government references such as Hong Kong health guidance matching them. Both use 0.90 for men and 0.85 for women as the action points.
How to use
- Pick metric or imperial to match your tape.
- Measure waist midway between lowest rib and hip bone.
- Measure hips at the widest buttocks point.
- Pick the sex band for the right cutoff.
- Read the ratio first, then the band.
Formula
- waist
- Midway rib to hip bone girth.
- hips
- Widest buttocks girth.
- 0.90 / 0.85
- WHO action cutoffs for men and women.
Imperial inputs convert to centimeters first (x 2.54), then run one ratio, so systems agree. Cutoff lines include the boundary: exactly 0.90 for men reads above.
Worked example
Example: woman 80 cm over 100 cm
Metric defaults: waist 80, hips 100, woman.
- Divide: 80 / 100 = 0.8.
- Cutoff for women: 0.85.
- Compare: 0.8 sits below 0.85.
- Band: healthy range.
- Tool shows 0.8, Healthy range, Cutoff 0.85 (women).
Reference table
| Group | Cutoff | At or above means |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 0.90 | Above cutoff |
| Women | 0.85 | Above cutoff |
| Example woman 0.80 | below 0.85 | Healthy range |
| Example man 0.95 | above 0.90 | Above cutoff |
Limits
- Screening bands, not diagnoses.
- Athletes and pregnancy read outside these lines.
- Tape placement moves results directly.
- Ethnic guidance varies; confirm local cutoffs.
Common mistakes
- Measuring waist at the navel instead of midway.
- Sucking in or pulling the tape tight.
- Using the men cutoff for women and reverse.
- Comparing clothed winter measures with summer ones.
- Reading one decimal as a health verdict alone.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
Man 90 over 100?
0.9, on the cutoff: above WHO cutoff.
Man 95 over 100?
0.95, above 0.90: above cutoff.
Woman 70 over 95?
70 / 95 = 0.74, below 0.85: healthy.
Questions
What is a healthy WHR?
Below 0.90 for men, below 0.85 for women by WHO cutoffs.
How do I measure?
Waist midway rib to hip bone, hips at widest buttocks, tape level after breathing out.
WHR vs waist to height?
WHR compares belly to hips; waist to height compares belly to stature. Both flag central fat.
Does muscle distort it?
Less than BMI, since lifters add hips with waist. Tape error matters more.
Why different cutoffs by sex?
Fat patterns and risk curves differ, so WHO sets 0.90 and 0.85 separately.
What if exactly on the line?
This page reads boundary as above cutoff: remeasure and watch the trend.