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Body Proportions Calculator
Body Shape Calculator —
Discover Your Body Type Instantly
Enter your measurements to find out whether you are an Hourglass, Pear, Apple, Rectangle, or Inverted Triangle body type. Get personalised style, fitness, and health tips tailored to your unique shape.
5Body Types
100%Free to Use
InstantResults
Measure around the fullest part
Measure at the narrowest point
Measure around the fullest part
Measure across both shoulder tips
Your Body Shape Results
Based on your bust, waist, and hip measurements
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Waist-to-Hip Ratio
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Health risk indicator
Bust-to-Hip Ratio
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Top-to-bottom balance
Waist-to-Bust Ratio
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Waist definition
👔 Style Tips
🏃 Fitness Tips
Body shape is determined from measurements and serves as a general guide for style and fitness planning. It does not indicate health status. Consult a healthcare professional for personalised health advice.
What is a Body Shape Calculator?
A Body Shape Calculator analyses the proportions between your bust, waist, and hips to classify your figure into one of five recognised body types. Each shape has unique characteristics that inform clothing choices, fitness strategies, and health insights.
Style Planning
Knowing your body shape helps you choose clothing cuts and styles that flatter your natural proportions and create visual balance.
Targeted Fitness
Different shapes respond differently to exercise types. Knowing your shape helps you choose workouts that sculpt and balance your frame most effectively.
Health Awareness
Your waist-to-hip ratio — a key output of this calculator — is a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular risk.
Track Changes
Recalculate regularly to monitor how diet, exercise, and life stage transitions shift your proportions over time.
The 5 Body Types Explained
Each body type is defined by the relationship between the bust, waist, and hips. Here is how to recognise each one.
Hourglass
Bust ≈ Hips, significantly narrower waist. The most balanced silhouette.
Bust – Hips ≤ 5 cm
Waist ≤ 75% of Hips
Waist ≤ 75% of Hips
Pear
Hips noticeably wider than bust. Fuller lower body with a narrower top.
Hips > Bust by > 5 cm
Apple
Wider midsection. Waist equals or exceeds bust and hips in proportion.
Waist ≥ 80% of Hips
& Waist ≥ 80% of Bust
& Waist ≥ 80% of Bust
Rectangle
Bust, waist, and hips are in similar proportion. Straight, athletic silhouette.
All measurements within ~5%
of each other
of each other
Inverted Triangle
Bust/shoulders noticeably wider than hips. Broad upper body, narrower lower half.
Bust > Hips by > 5 cm
How to Take Your Measurements
Accurate measurements are key to a correct result. Use a flexible measuring tape and measure over light clothing or directly against the skin.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Bust / Chest
Measure around the fullest part of your chest. Keep the tape parallel to the floor and do not pull it tight. For women, measure over the bra.
2. Waist
Measure at the narrowest point of your torso, usually about 2–3 cm above the navel. Stand relaxed — do not suck in.
3. Hips
Stand with feet together and measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks, keeping the tape level.
4. Shoulders (Optional)
Measure from the outer tip of one shoulder to the outer tip of the other, across your back. Helps identify Inverted Triangle shapes more accurately.
Measurement Tips
Consistency matters: Always measure at the same time of day (morning is best) and under the same conditions for reliable comparisons over time.
| Measurement | Where to Measure |
|---|---|
| Bust / Chest | Fullest part of chest |
| Waist | Narrowest point, above navel |
| Hips | Widest point of buttocks |
| Shoulders | Tip to tip across the back |
Avoid common mistakes: Do not measure over bulky clothing. Do not hold your breath or pull the tape too tight. Round to the nearest 0.5 cm for best accuracy.
Style Tips by Body Shape
The goal of dressing for your shape is not to hide it — it is to create visual balance and feel confident in what you wear.
◆ Hourglass
- Wrap dresses and fitted tops highlight the waist
- Belted coats and high-waisted bottoms
- Pencil skirts and tailored trousers
- Avoid overly baggy or boxy silhouettes
◆ Pear
- Bright, bold, or embellished tops to balance proportions
- A-line and flared skirts that skim the hips
- Straight-leg or wide-leg trousers
- Avoid skinny jeans and tight hip-hugging skirts
◆ Apple
- Empire waist and V-necklines elongate the torso
- Flared and A-line skirts draw attention downward
- Structured jackets that nip slightly at the waist
- Avoid clingy fabrics and wide horizontal stripes
◆ Rectangle
- Peplum tops and ruffled skirts create curves
- Belts worn at the natural waist add definition
- High-waisted bottoms with cropped or tucked tops
- Avoid boxy, shapeless cuts that emphasise a straight line
◆ Inverted Triangle
- Fuller skirts and wide-leg trousers add lower-body volume
- V-necks and scoop necks soften broad shoulders
- Bright or patterned bottoms to balance a fuller upper half
- Avoid boat necks, shoulder pads, and heavy horizontal stripes
Waist-to-Hip Ratio & Health Risk
The Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) is one of the most clinically validated predictors of cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk — independent of BMI.
WHR for Women
| WHR | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| Below 0.80 | Low risk |
| 0.80 – 0.85 | Moderate risk |
| Above 0.85 | High risk |
Apple-shaped women typically have WHR > 0.85, placing them in the higher-risk category for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
WHR for Men
| WHR | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| Below 0.90 | Low risk |
| 0.90 – 0.95 | Moderate risk |
| Above 0.95 | High risk |
Why it matters: Abdominal (visceral) fat is metabolically active and more harmful than subcutaneous fat. WHR captures this better than BMI alone.
Fitness Tips by Body Shape
The most effective workouts vary by body shape. Targeting specific areas helps create balance and supports metabolic health.
Hourglass
Full-body workouts maintain balanced proportions. Swimming, yoga, Pilates, and moderate strength training preserve your natural symmetry.
Pear
Focus on upper-body strength (rows, shoulder press, chest press) to build balance with your wider hips. HIIT cardio burns overall fat effectively.
Apple
Core strengthening (planks, dead bugs) reduces visceral fat. Combine with HIIT and swimming. Avoid exercises that bulk the waist.
Rectangle
Build curves with glute-focused training (hip thrusts, squats) and upper-body definition. Resistance training creates the shape that cardio alone cannot.
Inverted Triangle
Prioritise lower-body strength: lunges, deadlifts, step-ups, and hip abductor exercises build the hips and thighs to balance broader shoulders.
For All Shapes
Aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week plus 2 sessions of resistance training. Combine with adequate sleep and hydration for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about body shapes and how to use this calculator.
Your shape is calculated by comparing the ratios between your bust, waist, and hip measurements. The key metrics are the waist-to-hip ratio and the bust-to-hip difference. Hourglass: bust ≈ hips with a significantly smaller waist. Pear: hips > bust. Apple: waist ≥ 80% of both hips and bust. Inverted Triangle: bust > hips. Rectangle: all three measurements in similar proportion.
Yes. Body shape can shift due to weight changes, strength training (which builds muscle in specific areas), hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause), and ageing. Many women transition from Pear to Apple after menopause as fat redistributes from the hips to the abdomen.
Body shape alone does not determine health. However, from a metabolic risk standpoint, Apple shapes (high waist-to-hip ratio) carry the highest cardiovascular and diabetes risk because they store more visceral fat. Pear shapes tend to have relatively lower metabolic risk. The most important health indicator is the waist-to-hip ratio, not the shape label itself.
Yes. Select "Male" in the gender field. The same five shape categories apply to men, though the distribution is different — most men fall into Rectangle, Inverted Triangle (V-shape), or Apple. The waist-to-hip ratio health thresholds are also adjusted for men (< 0.90 is low risk, > 0.95 is high risk).
The three core measurements — bust, waist, hips — are sufficient to classify most shapes. Shoulder width is used as a supplementary input to more accurately distinguish an Inverted Triangle (where shoulders are the widest point) from a Rectangle or top-heavy Hourglass. If you provide it, the result will be more precise.
Body shape exists on a spectrum, so borderline results are normal. If you find yourself between Hourglass and Pear, for example, you can look at tips for both shapes. The ratios shown in your results help you understand exactly how close to each category you are.
BMI measures weight relative to height and indicates whether your overall weight is healthy. Body Shape Calculator measures your proportions — how your weight is distributed across your bust, waist, and hips. Both are useful but measure different things. Your BMI could be healthy while your WHR is elevated (indicating abdominal fat), or vice versa.
Conclusion
Your body shape is a reflection of your natural proportions — not a measure of health or beauty. Understanding your shape helps you make smarter choices about clothing, exercise, and health monitoring. Use this calculator as a starting point for self-awareness, not as a rigid category.
Pair your shape results with your waist-to-hip ratio for a more complete health picture, and recalculate every few months to track how your proportions change with fitness progress or life transitions.
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