What this calculator does
What is my face shape is one of those questions people usually answer by eye, but it comes down to four measurements: forehead width, cheekbone width, jawline width, and overall face length. This calculator uses the same face shape chart that stylists and opticians work from, comparing which of those widths is widest and how the face length compares to its width, to sort the result into one of six familiar categories.
None of oval, round, square, heart, diamond or oblong is more correct than another; they are simply a shorthand used for haircut and eyewear guides. The categories blur into each other at the edges, so a face that sits close to two categories is genuinely a close call, not a measurement error.
The formula
The face length is divided by the cheekbone width to get a length-to-width ratio. A ratio of roughly 1.4 or higher points toward oval or oblong, depending on whether the forehead and jaw stay close to the cheekbone width or hold steady all the way down the face. Below that ratio, the calculator checks which of the three widths, forehead, cheekbone or jawline, stands out from the others: a wider forehead than jaw suggests heart, a wider cheekbone than both suggests diamond, and all three sitting close together suggests round or square.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Forehead width | Measured across the forehead at its widest point, roughly at the temples. |
| Cheekbone width | Measured across the face at the outer edge of each cheekbone. |
| Jawline width | Measured across the jaw at its widest point, below the ears. |
| Length-to-width ratio | Face length divided by cheekbone width; the main split between elongated and rounder shapes. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Forehead width (cm) | Widest point across the forehead, roughly level with the temples. |
| Cheekbone width (cm) | Widest point across the cheekbones. |
| Jawline width (cm) | Widest point across the jaw, below the ears. |
| Face length (cm) | Measured from hairline to chin. |
When to use it
Choosing a haircut
Most hairstyle guides are written around these same six shapes, so knowing which one applies narrows down which cuts are usually recommended for softening or balancing the face.
Choosing glasses frames
Eyewear advice commonly pairs frame shapes against face shape, aiming for contrast, such as angular frames for a round face or softer frames for a square one.
Settling a disagreement about which shape a face is
Face shape is often judged by eye and people disagree; working from actual measurements gives a specific, repeatable answer rather than a guess.
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 face shape changes as the face gets longer, at equal widths
Forehead, cheekbone and jawline held equal, with face length increasing across a realistic range.
| Face length | Face shape | Length-to-width ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 13 cm | Round or square | 1.00 |
| 14 cm | Oval | 1.08 |
| 15 cm | Oval | 1.15 |
| 18.5 cm | Oblong | 1.42 |
| 20 cm | Oblong | 1.54 |
| 24 cm | Oblong | 1.85 |
How face shape changes as the forehead widens, at a fixed cheekbone and jaw
Cheekbone and jaw held fixed, with forehead width increasing across a realistic range.
| Forehead width | Face shape | Widest measurement |
|---|---|---|
| 9 cm | Diamond | Cheekbones |
| 12 cm | Diamond | Cheekbones |
| 13.5 cm | Oval | Cheekbones |
| 14.5 cm | Oval | Forehead |
| 16 cm | Heart | Forehead |
| 18 cm | Heart | Forehead |
Questions
Where exactly should I measure?
Forehead width at the temples, cheekbone width at the outer edge of each cheekbone, jaw width at its widest point below the ears, and length from hairline to chin. A soft tape measure held flat against the face, or a ruler across a straight-on photo, both work.
Why did I get "round or square" instead of one clear answer?
When the forehead, cheekbones and jaw are all close in width and the face is not much longer than it is wide, the difference between round and square comes down to how angular the jawline is, which four width and length measurements alone cannot capture. A softer jaw reads round; a more angular one reads square.
Can face shape change over time?
The underlying bone structure is fixed by adulthood, but soft tissue changes, such as weight change, can shift how full or narrow the face appears, which can nudge a borderline result from one category to a neighbouring one.
Is one face shape more attractive than another?
No. The categories exist as a shorthand for style guides, not a ranking. Every shape has haircuts, frames and angles that are commonly recommended to work with it.
For a similar measurement-based classification of body proportions, see the body shape calculator.