Army Waist to Height Ratio Calculator
The Army now screens every Soldier with one number: waist divided by height. Enter yours to see if you are under the 0.55 limit. To estimate your overall composition, use our body fat calculator.
What Is the Army Waist-to-Height Standard?
On July 7, 2026, the Army announced that it had replaced its height and weight tables, the circumference-based tape test, and its supplemental body fat assessments with a single measure: the waist-to-height ratio, or WHtR. The policy is Army Directive 2026-13.
The standard is a ratio of less than 0.55. A ratio of exactly 0.55 does not meet it. Every Soldier is screened at least twice per calendar year, and the same standard applies to USMA and Senior ROTC cadets.
How the Army Calculates WHtR
The waist is measured at the navel, and that number is divided by height in inches.
A Soldier who is 70 inches tall with a 38-inch waist has a ratio of about 0.543 and meets the standard. At a 38.5-inch waist, the ratio is exactly 0.55, which does not.
Maximum Waist by Height
To find your limit, multiply your height in inches by 0.55. Your waist has to be under that number.
| Height | Waist must be under |
|---|---|
| 5’2″ (62 in) | 34.10 in |
| 5’4″ (64 in) | 35.20 in |
| 5’6″ (66 in) | 36.30 in |
| 5’8″ (68 in) | 37.40 in |
| 5’10” (70 in) | 38.50 in |
| 6’0″ (72 in) | 39.60 in |
| 6’2″ (74 in) | 40.70 in |
| 6’4″ (76 in) | 41.80 in |
What Happens If You Do Not Meet the Standard
- Confirmation: a different team must take a second measurement on the same duty day before any action is taken.
- ABCP: a Soldier who misses the standard on both measurements is flagged and enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program until they meet it.
- Medical exam: Active Component and AGR Soldiers receive a commander-directed exam to rule out underlying conditions.
- Separation: the Army says no separation actions for WHtR failure will occur until its 180-day assessment is complete and further guidance is issued.
What Changed From the Tape Test
- The height and weight tables are no longer in effect.
- The tape test and all other body fat methods have been rescinded, so a Soldier cannot request one to challenge a WHtR result.
- The body composition exemption for scoring 465 or higher on the Army Fitness Test has been rescinded.
- Units must allow at least seven days between a Soldier’s AFT or CFT and their WHtR screening, unless the commander changes this for operational reasons.
Because the 180-day assessment could lead to adjustments, check official Army guidance before relying on any number here.
Other Ways to Check Your Numbers
The ratio only looks at your waist and height. For the civilian health bands behind the same measure, use the waist to height ratio calculator. The Navy uses a two-step version with a body fat estimate, which you can run on the navy body fat calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Measure your waist at the navel in inches and divide it by your height in inches. The result must be below 0.55.
No. The Army says all previous body fat assessment methods, including the tape test, have been rescinded, and WHtR is the only authorized method.
No. The Army describes WHtR as a single pass-fail measure, and it does not use adjustment tables for age or sex.
The Army says existing medical exemptions to body composition standards remain in effect.