What this calculator does
Body shape calculators use three measurements, bust, waist and hip, to sort a set of proportions into one of a handful of familiar categories: hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle or inverted triangle. It is a descriptive grouping used mainly for clothing fit, not a health or fitness measure, and none of these shapes is better or worse than another.
The classification comes down to two things: how close the bust and hip measurements are to each other, and how far the waist sits below both of them. A close bust-to-hip match with a clearly narrower waist reads as hourglass; a hip that is notably larger than the bust reads as pear; and so on through the other categories.
The formula
The calculator compares the bust and hip measurements to each other and checks how much smaller the waist is than both. A waist close to the size of the bust and hip suggests apple. A close bust-to-hip match with a waist at least a quarter smaller than both suggests hourglass. A hip noticeably larger than the bust suggests pear, and a bust noticeably larger than the hip suggests inverted triangle. Anything that does not clearly fit one of those patterns is called rectangle, meaning bust, waist and hip sit fairly close together.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bust | The circumference measured at the fullest point of the chest. |
| Waist | The circumference at the narrowest point of the torso, usually just above the navel. |
| Hip | The circumference at the widest point of the hips and buttocks. |
| Hourglass | Bust and hip close in size, with a clearly narrower waist between them. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Bust / chest (cm) | Measured around the fullest part of the bust or chest. |
| Waist (cm) | Measured around the narrowest part of the natural waist. |
| Hip (cm) | Measured around the widest part of the hips. |
When to use it
Choosing a clothing size or cut
Fit guides for dresses, jackets and trousers are often written around these same body shape categories, so knowing which one your measurements fall into can narrow down which cuts tend to suit.
Tracking how proportions shift over time
Weight change does not always move all three measurements by the same amount, so the classification itself can shift even when overall weight has changed only slightly.
Understanding online size charts that reference body shape
Many retailers describe garments as suited to a particular shape. Having your own classification makes those descriptions directly useful rather than guesswork.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How does waist measurement change the classification at a fixed bust and hip?
The same bust and hip measurements, with the waist narrowing across a realistic range.
| Waist | Body shape | Waist drop from hip |
|---|---|---|
| 65 cm | Hourglass | 33.7% |
| 70 cm | Hourglass | 28.6% |
| 75 cm | Rectangle (straight) | 23.5% |
| 80 cm | Rectangle (straight) | 18.4% |
| 85 cm | Rectangle (straight) | 13.3% |
| 90 cm | Rectangle (straight) | 8.16% |
| 95 cm | Apple (round) | 3.06% |
Questions
Is one body shape healthier than another?
No, not on its own. This classification is about proportions for clothing fit, not health risk. Waist circumference relative to height is a separate, more established indicator worth checking if health is the actual concern, and a doctor is the right person to interpret that.
Why did my shape change without much weight change?
The three measurements do not always move together. A small shift in where fat or muscle sits can move the waist relative to the bust and hip enough to cross into a different category, even with the overall weight barely changing.
How should I measure bust, waist and hip accurately?
Use a soft tape measure, stand relaxed rather than pulling in the stomach, and measure bust at the fullest point, waist at the narrowest point, and hip at the widest point, all without pulling the tape tight enough to compress skin.
Does this calculator work the same way for men?
The bust, waist, hip method is most commonly applied to women's proportions and clothing fit. It still computes a shape category for any three measurements entered, but the category names are drawn from that same convention.
For a health-oriented measure using just waist and hip, see the waist-to-hip ratio calculator. For overall weight relative to height, use the BMI calculator.