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Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Health

Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio and see your health risk category based on WHO guidelines. Enter waist and hip measurements for an instant result.

Gender
Waist Circumference
cm
50180
Hip Circumference
cm
60200

Measure your waist at the narrowest point above the belly button, and your hips at the widest point around the buttocks.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio

0.00

Risk Category (WHO)

Low Risk

✅

Low Risk

Thresholds: <0.90 low, 0.90–0.99 moderate, ≥1.0 high

For general guidance only. WHR is one of several health risk indicators — consult a healthcare provider for a full assessment.

What is a Waist-Hip Ratio?

A Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator divides your waist circumference by your hip circumference to produce a single number that the World Health Organization uses as a simple indicator of health risk linked to how body fat is distributed. Unlike BMI, which only considers overall weight relative to height, WHR specifically captures whether fat is concentrated around the abdomen (associated with higher risk) or around the hips (associated with lower risk).

This calculator applies WHO's gender-specific risk thresholds automatically, so you get not just a number but a clear risk category. It works well alongside the BMI Calculator and Body Fat Calculator for a more complete view of body composition.

How to use this Waist-Hip Ratio calculator

  1. Select your Gender — Male or Female — since WHO uses different risk thresholds for each.
  2. Measure your waist at its narrowest point and enter it as Waist Circumference.
  3. Measure your hips at their widest point and enter it as Hip Circumference.
  4. Read your Waist-to-Hip Ratio result.
  5. Check the Risk Category card to see where your ratio falls relative to WHO's published thresholds.

Formula & Methodology

The calculation itself is a simple division:

WHR = Waist Circumference ÷ Hip Circumference

WHO risk categories applied:

- Men: Low risk < 0.90, Moderate risk 0.90–0.99, High risk ≥ 1.0
- Women: Low risk < 0.80, Moderate risk 0.80–0.84, High risk ≥ 0.85

Worked example: for a man with an 85 cm waist and 100 cm hips:
- WHR = 85 ÷ 100 = 0.85
- Since 0.85 is below the 0.90 threshold for men, this falls in the Low Risk category.

Frequently Asked Questions

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is calculated by dividing your waist circumference by your hip circumference, giving a number that indicates how body fat is distributed between your midsection and hips. The World Health Organization uses WHR as a simple indicator of health risk associated with abdominal fat.
For men, a WHR below 0.90 is considered low risk; for women, a WHR below 0.80 is considered low risk, according to WHO guidelines. Ratios above these thresholds indicate progressively higher health risk associated with central (abdominal) fat distribution.
Men and women naturally carry fat differently — men tend to store more fat around the abdomen, while women tend to store more around the hips and thighs — so the same ratio doesn't carry the same health implications for both. WHO's gender-specific thresholds account for this natural difference in body composition.
A high WHR indicates more fat is stored around the abdomen relative to the hips — sometimes described as an 'apple' body shape — which is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic conditions compared to a 'pear' shape with fat concentrated around the hips.
Measure your waist at its narrowest point, typically just above the belly button, while standing relaxed (not after inhaling or flexing). Measure your hips at their widest point, around the buttocks. Use a flexible tape measure and keep it level and snug but not tight.
BMI measures overall body weight relative to height without distinguishing where fat is stored, while WHR specifically measures fat distribution between the waist and hips. Some research suggests WHR may be a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than BMI alone, since fat location matters as much as total fat amount. Many people check both — see the [BMI Calculator](/bmi-calculator/) for the overall measure.
Yes — WHR works well alongside the [Body Fat Calculator](/body-fat-calculator/) and [Ideal Weight Calculator](/ideal-weight-calculator/) for a fuller picture of body composition and health risk, since each measures a different aspect of body shape and fat distribution.
WHR is a useful general screening indicator but has limitations — it doesn't account for muscle mass, bone structure, or individual variation, and may be less reliable for very tall, very short, or highly muscular individuals. It's best used as one data point alongside other health measures rather than a definitive diagnosis.
A 'pear' body shape — with fat concentrated around the hips and thighs rather than the abdomen — is generally associated with lower cardiovascular and metabolic risk than an 'apple' shape with central abdominal fat, even at similar overall body weight.
Yes — tracking WHR periodically (monthly or quarterly) can show meaningful trends in body composition, especially alongside lifestyle changes like diet or exercise, even when overall weight or BMI doesn't change much. A decreasing WHR generally indicates a healthier shift in fat distribution.
Also known as
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