
Using body circumferences to estimate body fat is quick and easy. Instructional video: Here is a video showing examples of girth measurements.The error rate can be as low as 2.5–4.5% body fat, but it can also be much higher ( 3). Accuracy: The accuracy can vary widely based on your similarity to the people used to develop the equations.Availability: A flexible measuring tape is easily available and very affordable.Disadvantages: Body circumference equations may not be accurate for all people due to differences in body shape and fat distribution.These tools can be used at home and are portable. A flexible measuring tape and calculator are all you need. Advantages: This method is easy and affordable.For women, the circumference of the hips is also included ( 5). Measuring the circumference of certain body parts is a simple method of body fat estimation.įor example, the US Army uses a body fat calculation that simply requires an individual’s age, height and a few circumference measurements.įor men, the circumferences of the neck and waist are used in this equation. However, the accuracy depends on the skill of the person performing the assessment.īody shape varies from person to person, and the shape of your body provides information about your body fat ( 4).
#Percent body fat calculator how to#
#Percent body fat calculator skin#
Skinfold calipers measure the thickness of your subcutaneous fat - the fat underneath the skin - at certain body locations. The results achieved using laboratory methods also contain significant inaccuracies. Examinations conducted in laboratory conditions, such as hydrostatic weighing and deuterium dilution, are more accurate and significantly more expensive. These methods are relatively easy and affordable, but not particularly reliable.


In addition to the method provided by the calculators, skinfold measurement (pinch test) and electrical bioimpedance measurement can be used to measure fat percentage.

The calculators provide you with a fat percentage estimate. The fat percentage calculation is based on a formula used by the United States army. The fat percentage calculator based on measurements provides a more reliable estimate of your fat percentage. The first fat percentage calculator provides an estimate of your fat percentage based on statistics. Information About the Body Fat Percentage Calculator The ideal value for a normal fat percentage is about 15 percent for men, where the recommended range is between 13–18%, and about 22 percent for women. If muscle condition is poor, the BMI may indicate normal weight even when the fat percentage is higher than normal. For example, a bodybuilder's BMI may indicate that he/she is overweight although the fat percentage is low.

It is somewhat better than BMI as an indicator for assessing weight, because BMI assumes that muscles are in average physical condition. The fat percentage indicates the amount of fat in the total body weight as a percentage.
