Waist-to-Height & Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Q: Which is better, WHtR or WHR?

Both track central fat. WHtR is easier to apply because a single cut-off of 0.5 is used for most adults.

Q: Can I use these ratios during pregnancy?

No. The waist grows naturally during pregnancy, so the thresholds do not apply.

Q: How often should I measure?

Monthly is enough. Measure at the same time of day, ideally in the morning before eating.

Understanding the waist-to-height and waist-to-hip ratio calculator — concept and principle

Two people with the same BMI can carry fat very differently. Fat stored around the abdomen, especially deep visceral fat, is more closely linked to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease than fat on the hips and thighs. The waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) are simple tape-measure checks of this central fat. This calculator gives both ratios and compares them with the widely used thresholds.

A string as long as your height, folded in half, should reach round your waist: 86 cm vs 87.5 cm here.

How it is calculated

Waist-to-height ratio: WHtR = waist (cm) ÷ height (cm). Below 0.5 is healthy; 0.5 to 0.59 means increased risk; 0.6 or above means high risk.
Waist-to-hip ratio: WHR = waist (cm) ÷ hip (cm). WHO flags substantially increased risk at 0.90 or more for men and 0.85 or more for women.

Both ratios have no units, so any unit works as long as both measurements use the same one.

The principle

Waist size alone favours short people and penalises tall ones. Dividing by height corrects for body size, which is why the simple message "keep your waist to less than half your height" works across sexes and many ethnic groups. WHR compares the waist with the hips, so it reflects the shape of fat distribution: an "apple" shape with more fat at the waist versus a "pear" shape with more at the hips. Because both ratios track abdominal fat, they often predict cardiometabolic risk better than BMI alone.

Worked example

Inputs: male, waist 86 cm, hip 98 cm, height 175 cm.
WHtR = 86 ÷ 175 = 0.491, shown as 0.49. This is below 0.5, so healthy (< 0.5).
WHR = 86 ÷ 98 = 0.878, shown as 0.88. For a man the WHO threshold is 0.90, so lower risk.

Each point is the calculator re-run with only “Height (cm)” changed; the gold point is the default example. Change the inputs above and this chart follows your numbers.

Height (cm)	Waist-to-height ratio
43.8	1.97
87.5	0.98
131	0.66
175	0.49
219	0.39
262	0.33
350	0.25

How to read the result

Where does your result fall?

For this person the 0.5 line is reached at a waist of 87.5 cm, so there is only 1.5 cm of margin. Watching the trend over months is more useful than a single reading. WHR near the threshold should be read together with waist circumference itself; under Korean criteria abdominal obesity starts at 90 cm for men and 85 cm for women. A low ratio does not rule out other risks such as smoking, blood pressure or family history.

Common mistakes

Measuring the waist at the belt line or over clothing. WHO describes the midpoint between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, at the end of a normal breath out.
Measuring the hip at the hip bone instead of the widest part of the buttocks.
Pulling the tape tight or holding the breath in.

Keep in mind: These ratios are screening tools, not a diagnosis. Talk to a doctor about your results, especially if a ratio is above the threshold or you have other risk factors.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, WHtR or WHR?