Empower Your Fitness Journey: By understanding and accurately measuring your body fat percentage using methods like the Navy Tape Measure Method, you take a significant step towards achieving your health and fitness goals. Stay informed, stay consistent, and embrace the path to a healthier you!
US Navy Method Body Fat Calculator
Enter your height, neck, and waist measurements. For females, also enter your hip measurement.
* All measurements should be in inches.
Step 1: Enter Measurements
Select your gender.
Enter your height.
Enter your neck circumference.
Enter your waist circumference.
How It Works
For Males: $$ \text{Body Fat \%} = 86.010 \cdot \log_{10}(\text{Waist} – \text{Neck}) – 70.041 \cdot \log_{10}(\text{Height}) + 36.76. $$
For Females: $$ \text{Body Fat \%} = 163.205 \cdot \log_{10}(\text{Waist} + \text{Hip} – \text{Neck}) – 97.684 \cdot \log_{10}(\text{Height}) – 78.387. $$
Understanding The US Navy Method for Calculating Body Fat
The US Navy method for calculating body fat percentage is a formula that uses waist and height measurements. The formula was developed at the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, California.
Formula
- Men%BF = 495 / (1.0324 − 0.19077 × log10(waist − neck) + 0.15456 × log10(height)) − 450
- Women%BF = 495 / (1.29579 − 0.35004 × log10(waist + hip − neck) + 0.22100 × log10(height)) − 450
Accuracy
The US Navy method is considered the least accurate method for estimating body fat percentage, with an accuracy of about 3-4%. To ensure consistency, it's recommended to take measurements at the same time each day and use the same calculation method.
The US Navy's body fat standards vary by age and gender. Sailors must meet the age-adjusted standards (AAS).
Age-adjusted standards
- 18–21 years: 22% for males and 33% for females
- 22–29 years: 23% for males and 34% for females
- 30–39 years: 24% for males and 35% for females
- 40+ years: 26% for males and 36% for females
Body composition assessment (BCA)
- Body composition measurements are taken in the official Navy Physical Training Uniform (PTU)
- Sailors who pass the BCA but are not within the AAS must be enrolled in FEP until they are within the AAS
Abdominal circumference (ACM)
- The ACM must be equal to or less than the maximum allowed
- For males, the maximum ACM is 39 inches
- For females, the maximum ACM is 35.5 inches
- The ACM is taken on bare skin, starting immediately above the upper most hip bone
The Department of Defense (DOD) also has body fat standards. The DOD defines fatness as a body-fat content in excess of 26 percent of total weight for men and 36 percent of total weight for women.