Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator
Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR)
Divide waist by height to assess visceral fat and metabolic risk — more sensitive than BMI
Measure at navel level
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StartAbout Waist-to-Height Ratio
Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) = waist ÷ height. It gauges central obesity and visceral fat, reflecting cardiovascular and metabolic risk better than BMI, and works across ages and sexes.
- Goal: keep your waist under half your height (ratio < 0.5).
- Measure the waist at its narrowest point around the navel and height barefoot; use the same unit for both (metric or imperial gives the same ratio).
About this tool
What is Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator?
Your waist circumference divided by your height.
What is it for?
Reflects abdominal and visceral fat to predict cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Works across age and sex, and is more sensitive than BMI.
How to read your result
<0.5 healthy, 0.5–0.6 increased risk, ≥0.6 high risk. Rule of thumb: keep your waist under half your height.
Classification & Reference
| Ratio | Risk |
|---|---|
| <0.4 | Very low (recheck if underweight) |
| 0.4–0.5 | Healthy |
| 0.5–0.6 | Increased risk |
| ≥0.6 | High risk |
Formula
WHtR = waist ÷ height (same units)How to measure waist-to-height ratio
- Measure your waist circumference at the navel, breathing out normally and without pulling your stomach in.
- Measure your height standing straight without shoes.
- Divide waist by height in the same unit. Keeping it under 0.5 (waist under half your height) is the simple healthy target.
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?
Below 0.5 is healthy — the simple rule is to keep your waist under half your height. 0.5–0.6 means increased cardiometabolic risk and 0.6 or above is high risk.
Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?
For central (belly) fat and metabolic risk, WHtR is often more sensitive than BMI because it captures fat distribution. Many guidelines now use it alongside BMI.
How do I measure my waist correctly?
Wrap a tape around your bare waist at the level of your navel, after breathing out, without sucking in. Keep the tape snug and level all the way around.
What does a ratio above 0.5 mean?
It signals more central fat than is ideal and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The higher above 0.5, the greater the risk.
Does WHtR work for all ethnicities?
Yes — a strength of WHtR is that the 0.5 boundary works across ages, sexes and ethnic groups without needing separate cut-offs, which is why NICE and others adopted it.