Look beyond the scale and understand your true body composition. Our calculator uses the accurate U.S. Navy method to estimate your body fat percentage based on simple body measurements.
While BMI is a simple way to screen for weight categories, it has a major flaw: it can't tell the difference between fat and muscle. This means a very muscular athlete could be classified as 'overweight' by BMI standards. Body Fat Percentage, however, measures the proportion of your weight that is composed of fat. This provides a far more accurate and meaningful insight into your actual health, fitness level, and risk for certain diseases.
Body fat levels vary based on gender and fitness level. Here are the generally accepted categories according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE):
| Category | Men (% Fat) | Women (% Fat) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Fat | 2-5% | 10-13% |
| Athletes | 6-13% | 14-20% |
| Fitness | 14-17% | 21-24% |
| Acceptable | 18-24% | 25-31% |
| Obesity | 25% and higher | 32% and higher |
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate using the U.S. Navy formula and is an excellent tool for tracking changes over time. For clinical accuracy, consider methods like DEXA scans or hydrostatic weighing.
Maintained by Live Fitness Check. Last updated: August 9, 2026. How we test our calculators .
Estimates body-fat percentage from the body measurements entered into the calculator.
The live calculator converts the entered measurements to the units required by its body-composition formula and returns an estimated percentage. The calculation uses sex and the body measurements requested on the page.
Circumference-based body-fat estimates are less precise than clinical body-composition methods and can vary with measurement technique. Use the number as an estimate and consider professional advice when the result may affect health, treatment, pregnancy, nutrition, exercise safety or another important decision.
