Body Fat Percentage Calculator — Navy Method

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Calculate your body fat percentage using the US Navy method, which uses circumference measurements at the waist, neck, and hips. This method is more accurate than BMI for body composition assessment.

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Enter Your Measurements

Results

Body Fat Percentage

17.5

%

Lean Mass Percentage

82.5

%

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Formula

Male: 86.010×log(waist−neck) − 70.041×log(height) + 36.76; Female: 163.205×log(waist+hip−neck) − 97.684×log(height) − 78.387

How to Use This Calculator

How to Use

  1. 1

    Select your sex.

  2. 2

    Measure waist at the navel (not at the narrowest point).

  3. 3

    Measure neck just below the larynx.

  4. 4

    Females: measure hips at the widest point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a healthy body fat percentage?

For men: Essential fat: 2-5%, Athletes: 6-13%, Fitness: 14-17%, Average: 18-24%, Obese: 25%+. For women: Essential: 10-13%, Athletes: 14-20%, Fitness: 21-24%, Average: 25-31%, Obese: 32%+.

How accurate is the Navy method?

The Navy method has an error range of ±3-4 percentage points compared to DEXA scan (gold standard). It's significantly more informative than BMI and is accurate enough for most practical purposes.
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In-Depth Guides

📖

Understanding BMI: What It Measures and Its Limitations

Learn what BMI actually measures, why it misclassifies muscular people, and what better alternatives like body fat percentage and waist circumference offer.

📖

Body Fat Percentage: How to Measure and What's Healthy

Understand body fat percentage ranges for men and women, how to measure accurately, and practical goals.

📖

Lean Body Mass: What It Is and Why It Matters More Than Scale Weight

Understand lean body mass, how to calculate it, and why tracking it reveals true body composition progress.

📖

Body Recomposition: How to Build Muscle and Lose Fat at the Same Time

What body recomposition is, who it works for, and the exact protocol to gain muscle while losing fat simultaneously.

📖

Understanding BMI: What It Measures and Where It Fails

A clear-eyed look at BMI — what it actually measures, its well-documented limitations, and better alternatives for health assessment.

📖

How to Calculate Body Fat Percentage: Methods and Accuracy

Compare body fat measurement methods — Navy method, calipers, DEXA, bioelectrical impedance — with accuracy ratings and how to use each.

📖

BMI Limitations and Better Alternatives for Measuring Health

Why BMI is flawed as a health indicator, who it fails most, and which alternative measurements provide better insight into body composition and health risk.

📖

Ideal Body Weight vs. Goal Weight: What's the Difference?

Understand the difference between medically-defined ideal body weight and a personal goal weight, how both are calculated, and which one to actually use.

Related Calculators

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About This Calculator

This calculator uses the formula: Male: 86.010×log(waist−neck) − 70.041×log(height) + 36.76; Female: 163.205×log(waist+hip−neck) − 97.684×log(height) − 78.387. All calculations follow industry-standard methods. Results are estimates — always verify with a licensed professional for structural or code-compliant work.

Built and maintained by the CalcSmart team. Last updated March 2026.

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