Waist to Height Ratio Calculator
Divide your waist by your height and see which band of the guideline credited below the ratio falls in.
Waist-to-height ratio is your waist measurement divided by your height, in the same unit. An 80 cm waist and a height of 170 cm give 0.47. The guideline credited below puts 0.4 to 0.49 as healthy central adiposity, 0.5 to 0.59 as increased central adiposity and 0.6 or more as high, for both sexes and all ethnicities; for adults it reads the ratio alongside BMI, for those with a BMI under 35.
This calculator is for general education only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a substitute for a professional assessment. The bands come from the guideline credited below; for adults they are read alongside BMI, for people with a body mass index under 35, and pregnancy changes waist size. Where and how tightly you measure changes the result. If you have concerns about your weight or health, talk to a doctor or another qualified health professional.
Waist-to-height ratio
0.47
- Band
- 0.4 to 0.49: healthy central adiposity
- Waist at a ratio of 0.5
- 85.00 cm
The band is set from the ratio before rounding. For adults, read alongside BMI when it is under 35. A screening measure, not a diagnosis.
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About the Waist to Height Ratio Calculator
Waist-to-height ratio compares the size of your middle with your height. Central adiposity means fat carried around the middle, and the ratio is a simple measure of it. The arithmetic is one division, in any unit as long as both measurements share it: an 80 cm waist over 170 cm of height is 0.47, and a 34 in waist over 68 in of height is exactly 0.50. A simple way to read it is that a waist under half your height keeps the ratio under 0.5; for 170 cm that is a waist under 85.00 cm. The guideline credited below gives three bands for both sexes and all ethnicities, for children and young people as well as adults (for adults, alongside BMI when it is under 35): 0.4 to 0.49 is healthy central adiposity, 0.5 to 0.59 is increased central adiposity, and 0.6 or more is high central adiposity. It advises keeping your waist to less than half your height. A 102 cm waist at 170 cm is exactly 0.60, the start of the high band. The calculator sets the band from the ratio before rounding, so a ratio shown as 0.60 can still sit in the increased band if it is a little under 0.6.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my waist-to-height ratio?+
Measure your waist and your height in the same unit and divide the waist by the height. An 80 cm waist and a height of 170 cm give 80 / 170 = 0.47. The calculator does the division and shows the band the ratio falls in.
What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?+
The guideline credited below calls 0.4 to 0.49 healthy central adiposity, for both sexes and all ethnicities. From 0.5 it calls central adiposity increased, and from 0.6 high. Below 0.4 it gives no band.
Is the ratio the same for men and women?+
Yes. The guideline uses the same boundaries for both sexes and all ethnicities, and also applies the bands to children and young people (NICE links a calculator for ages 5 and over). For adults it uses the ratio alongside BMI, for people with a body mass index under 35.
Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?+
They answer different questions, so one is not a substitute for the other. BMI uses weight and height. This ratio compares your waist with your height, so it looks at fat carried around the middle. A doctor or nurse can say what either number means alongside other checks.
Bands: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Overweight and obesity management (NICE guideline NG246, January 2025), Recommendations chapter, waist-to-height ratio.
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