Navy Body Fat Calculator

Estimating body fat with a tape measure

The US Navy method estimates body fat percentage from simple circumference measurements rather than requiring specialized equipment like skinfold calipers or a DEXA scan - a practical, accessible alternative that remains reasonably accurate for most body types.

Worked example

For a male with an 85cm waist, 38cm neck, and 178cm height:

Estimated Body Fat = 16.44%

Frequently asked questions

Why does the formula differ for men and women? Men and women naturally distribute fat differently, which is why the female formula also incorporates hip circumference, a measurement not needed in the male formula, to better account for typical female fat distribution patterns.

How accurate is this compared to other methods? It performs reasonably well for most people but tends to be less reliable for very lean athletes or unusual body compositions compared to direct measurement methods like DEXA scanning or hydrostatic weighing - treat it as a convenient estimate, not a clinical measurement.