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Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator

Work out your waist-to-hip ratio and see how it compares with the WHO risk marks for men and women, along with what your waist alone says.

Rules last checked 9 November 2026Every step shown1 source

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Halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out gently.

Around the widest part of your buttocks, with your feet together.

Waist-to-hip ratio

0.88

WHO reading
Below the risk mark
Waist on its own
Not raised
Waist for a ratio under 0.9
under 90 cm

A waist-to-hip ratio of 0.88 is below the 0.9 mark the WHO uses for men.

How it's worked out

  1. Ratio88 cm ÷ 100 cm0.88
  2. WHO mark for men0.88 < 0.9below
  3. Waist aloneWHO cut-offs 94 and 102 cm88 cm: not raised
  • Fat around the middle is linked to diabetes and heart disease more than fat on the hips. This is a screening measure, not a diagnosis; talk to a doctor about your own risk.

The formula

Waist-to-hip ratio = waist ÷ hips

Use the same unit for both; the ratio has no unit. A man with an 88 cm waist and 100 cm hips has a ratio of 0.88, just under the WHO's 0.90 mark.

WHO cut-offs

Ratio: 0.90 or more for men, 0.85 or more for women. Waist alone, for most adults: increased risk above 94 cm (men) or 80 cm (women), substantially increased above 102 cm or 88 cm. For South and East Asian adults: 90 cm or more for men, 80 cm or more for women.

Questions people ask

What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

The WHO links a ratio of 0.90 or more in men, and 0.85 or more in women, with a substantially higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. Lower is better.

How do I measure my waist and hips?

Measure your waist halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out gently. Measure your hips around the widest part of your buttocks, feet together.

Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?

It shows where you carry fat, which BMI can't. Fat around the middle is more closely linked to heart disease and diabetes, so the two together tell you more than either alone.

What waist size is a risk for South Asians?

Lower cut-offs are used for South and East Asian adults: 90 cm or more for men and 80 cm or more for women.

Formula and rules last checked 9 November 2026Written and tested by the CalculatorDex teamReport a problem

Sources: World Health Organization: Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio, report of a WHO expert consultation (2008)