Power Calculators

⚖️ Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator

No ratings yet — be the first

Enter details

📏 How to measure waist for waist-to-height ratioTap to see the illustrated guide
Illustration: how to measure waist for waist-to-height ratio — Stand straight and breathe out normally. Waist: halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone (NICE / WHO method).
  1. Stand straight and breathe out normally.
  2. Waist: halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone (NICE / WHO method).
  3. Keep the tape level and snug, not tight.
  4. Measure height barefoot against a wall, in the same unit.
Midway between lowest rib and top of hip bone, after breathing out.

Fill in the details and click Calculate to see your results.

Formula at a glance

Waist-Height Ratio formula: WHtR = Waist circumference ÷ Height; Ideal waist = 0.40 to 0.49 × Height
How the waist-height ratio works: WHtR = Waist circumference ÷ Height

Rate this calculator

Was it useful? A quick star rating helps others — and you can leave a comment too.
Rate it: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

📘 About the Waist-Height Ratio

The waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) divides your waist measurement by your height. It is one of the best simple predictors of heart disease and diabetes risk, and it works for men, women and people of different builds.

The rule is easy: keep your waist to less than half your height. A ratio from 0.40 to 0.49 is healthy, 0.50 to 0.59 means increased risk, and 0.60 or more means high risk.

Enter your waist and height in the same unit to see your ratio and the ideal waist size for your height.

🧮 Formula

Waist-to-height ratio
WHtR = Waist circumference ÷ Height
Ideal waist size
Ideal waist = 0.40 to 0.49 × Height

Where

  • Use the same unit (cm or inches) for waist and height

✏️ Worked examples

Waist 85 cm, height 175 cm

You enter
Waist85 cm
Height175 cm
You get
Waist-to-height ratio0.49
ResultHealthy
Ideal waist size for your height (0.40–0.49)70 – 85.8 cm (27.6 – 33.8 in)
Maximum healthy waist (half your height)87.5 cm (34.4 in)

Ratio 0.49 — Healthy. Ideal waist: 70 – 85.8 cm (27.6 – 33.8 in).

Try this example →

Waist 95 cm, height 165 cm

You enter
Waist95 cm
Height165 cm
You get
Waist-to-height ratio0.58
ResultIncreased health risk
Ideal waist size for your height (0.40–0.49)66 – 80.9 cm (26 – 31.8 in)
Maximum healthy waist (half your height)82.5 cm (32.5 in)
Waist to lose to reach 0.512.5 cm (4.9 in)

Ratio 0.58 — Increased health risk. 12.5 cm (4.9 in).

Try this example →

Waist 30 in, height 64 in (5 ft 4 in)

You enter
Waist30 cm
Height64 cm
You get
Waist-to-height ratio0.47
ResultHealthy
Ideal waist size for your height (0.40–0.49)25.6 – 31.4 in (65 – 79.7 cm)
Maximum healthy waist (half your height)32 in (81.3 cm)

Ratio 0.47 — Healthy.

Try this example →

🧭 How to use this calculator

What you enter

  • Waist (cm)Midway between lowest rib and top of hip bone, after breathing out.
  • Height (cm)

What you get

  • Waist-to-Height Ratio
  • Maximum Healthy Waist
  • Ideal Waist From

💡 Waist-to-height ratio chart

  • Under 0.40 — below the usual range
  • 0.40 to 0.49 — healthy
  • 0.50 to 0.59 — increased risk
  • 0.60 and above — high risk

💡 Ideal waist size by height

  • 150 cm (4 ft 11 in): under 75 cm (29.5 in)
  • 160 cm (5 ft 3 in): under 80 cm (31.5 in)
  • 170 cm (5 ft 7 in): under 85 cm (33.5 in)
  • 180 cm (5 ft 11 in): under 90 cm (35.4 in)

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is a normal waist-to-height ratio?

0.40 to 0.49 is healthy for adults. Keeping the ratio below 0.5 is the main goal.

What is my ideal waist size?

Less than half your height. At 170 cm, that is under 85 cm (33.5 inches). The calculator shows the range for your height.

How do I calculate waist to height ratio?

Divide your waist by your height in the same unit. Waist 80 cm and height 170 cm gives 0.47.

Is 0.5 the same for everyone?

Yes — the 0.5 boundary works for men and women and across ethnic groups, which is why it is popular. For children over 5 it is also used.

Is it better than BMI?

Studies show it predicts heart and metabolic risk better than BMI because it measures belly fat. Using both is best.

Waist-to-height vs waist-to-hip ratio — which should I use?

Both measure belly fat. Waist-to-height needs only one tape measurement and the same cut-off for everyone, so it is simpler.