Body Type Calculator
Classify the female body shape (hourglass, pear, apple, or rectangle) from bust, waist, and hip measurements. A rough guide for clothing fit, not a medical assessment.
Last updated: September 2026
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About this calculator
The bust-waist-hip 'body shape' classification is a clothing-fit heuristic, not a medical measure. Four primary shapes appear in most guides: hourglass (bust and hips roughly equal, waist much smaller), triangle/pear (hips wider than bust), inverted triangle/apple (bust wider than hips), and rectangle (bust, waist, and hips roughly equal).
Common thresholds, from Simmons et al.'s Female Figure Identification Technique for Apparel (FFIT4A): hourglass requires the waist to be at least 9 inches (23 cm) smaller than both bust and hips, and bust and hips within about 1 inch of each other. Triangle requires hips ≥ bust + 3.6 in with a small waist-to-hip drop; inverted triangle is the mirror. Rectangle is what remains when nothing above fits.
This calculator uses those FFIT4A-style thresholds. The classification is meant as a starting point for clothing selection and style advice, not as a body-composition or health metric. For health-related measures like body fat percentage or BMI, use the calculators at /en/calculators/health/body-fat-percentage/ and /en/calculators/health/bmi/ respectively.
How to use
Example — measure and classify. Bust 36 in, waist 27 in, hips 36 in. Enter those. Bust − hips = 0 (|difference| ≤ 1), bust − waist = 9, hips − waist = 9, both ≥ 9. Result: Hourglass. That means silhouettes that emphasize the waist (belted dresses, high-waisted skirts) tend to fit well. Example — slight difference. Bust 34, waist 28, hips 38. Bust − hips = −4 (so hips − bust = 4, above the 3.6 threshold), bust − waist = 6 (< 9), hips − waist = 10 (≥ 9). Result: Triangle (Pear). Consider A-line skirts and structured shoulders to balance the silhouette.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a medical measurement?
No. Body shape classification is a clothing-fit heuristic that goes back at least a century in fashion literature. For health-relevant measurements, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio are the standard cardiovascular-risk proxies (WHO thresholds: WHR > 0.85 for women, > 0.90 for men indicates increased risk). Use those tools rather than the shape label for medical questions.
Which thresholds does this calculator use?
It uses the FFIT4A (Female Figure Identification Technique for Apparel) style thresholds from Simmons, Istook, and Devarajan: hourglass needs waist ≥ 9 in smaller than both bust and hips, with bust and hips within 1 in of each other. Triangle/inverted triangle require a bust-hip difference of 3.6 in or more. Everything else is rectangle.
How do I measure accurately?
For bust and hips, run the tape around the fullest part, keeping it horizontal all the way around. For waist, find the natural crease between the ribs and hip bones (usually the narrowest point of your torso) — not where your pants sit, which is lower. Measure over thin clothing or bare skin, not over sweatshirts. Repeat each measurement twice and average.
Do men use the same categories?
Body-shape systems for men are less standardized; common labels are 'triangle', 'inverted triangle', 'rectangle', 'oval', and 'trapezoid'. This calculator's thresholds are tuned for female figures. For general body proportion in men, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio are the standard measures.