Body Shape Calculator | Find Your Body Type (2024)

Created by Bogna Szyk and Aleksandra Zając, MD

Reviewed by

Steven Wooding and Jack Bowater

Based on research by

Jeong Yim Lee, Cynthia L. Istook, Yun Ja Nam, Sun Mi Park Comparison of body shape between USA and Korean women; International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology; October 2007

Table of contents:
  • How to take measurements
  • What is my body type?
  • FAQ

What body shape am I - is it an hourglass, a triangle, or maybe a rectangle? If this question troubles you, we have a solution - a foolproof body type calculator that only needs a few seconds to give you a clear answer. Instead of analyzing your reflection in the mirror and wondering which shape it resembles the most, we give you a fast and reliable way to determine what is your body type. Just input your measurements into the body shape calculator and let it classify you into one of the seven most popular groups.

Make sure to also calculate your ideal weight and BMI too! You can also use our maintenance calorie calculator to find out how many calories your body needs to maintain your current weight.

How to take measurements

Our body shape calculator needs four measurements to determine your body type accurately. You can use the measurements you took for the body fat calculator.

  • Bust: measure at the fullest point of your bust with a soft measuring tape. Make sure that the tape is not too tight by breathing in and out.
  • Waist: your waist is the narrowest part of your torso. The measuring tape you bring around your waist should sit tightly, but it shouldn't "dig" into your skin. Don't pull your stomach in, either.
  • Hips: you measure your hips at the widest point below your waist. Remember to remove your clothing and keep your feet together so that the measurement is as accurate as possible.
  • High hip: this is also a hip measurement but taken in a different place than the previous one. It is taken at the top of the hip curve - not at its widest point! You need to localize the upper swell of the hip over your pelvic bone.
Body Shape Calculator | Find Your Body Type (1)

It doesn't matter which units you use for the measurement - our body type calculator deals equally well with imperial and metric units.

What is my body type?

Our body shape calculator will classify your body into one of the seven most popular types. Naturally, not all women falling into one category are the same.

  • Hourglass: this body shape is balanced and harmonious. The bust and hips are proportional and well-balanced, and the waist is clearly defined.
  • Top hourglass: it is similar to the regular hourglass with a defined waist. Your bust is visibly larger than your hips.
  • Bottom hourglass: this body type has a clearly defined waist like the top hourglass. Your bust is smaller than the hips.
  • Spoon: if you're a spoon, your hips are much larger than your bust. Your hips have a shelf-like appearance, and you have a well defined waist.
  • Triangle: triangles have a slim upper body and wide hips (typically wider than the shoulders). Their waist is not clearly accentuated.
  • Inverted triangle: inverted triangles have a subtle waist and a proportionally larger upper body. Your bust and shoulders are pretty broad, and the hips are slim.
  • Rectangle: your hips, waist, and bust are about the same size. Your body is well proportioned and athletic in appearance.

Now that you have solved the pressing issue of "What body shape am I?", you can use this knowledge for your benefit. Making informed choices while dressing or shopping for clothes will surely make you a more confident person!

🙋 When it comes to the physical aspects of ourselves, comparing comes easily. Modern culture doesn't make it easier as well. Sometimes, you might even forget, that your body primarily allows you to do all those amazing things in the world. You can move from place to place, learn, feel the sensations, experience the environment, and create bonds with your loved ones because you exist in this world in your body. Appreciate what it does for you everyday!

FAQ

What is the most common body shape?

The most common body shape is a rectangle, which makes up 46% of women. A rectangle is a woman whose waist is less than nine inches smaller than their hips or bust. Next are the bottom-heavy 'spoons', whose hips are two or more inches larger than their busts. These account for approximately 20% of the female population. Third are the inverted triangles, making up about 14% of the population. These are women whose busts are three or more inches larger than their hips. Finally are the hourglasses, women who have a roughly equal hip and bust, with a narrower waist. These women make up about 8%.

Does a woman's body shape change with age?

Yes, as a woman ages, the concentrations of hormones in her body will alter, causing her body shape to change. The first changes occur at puberty. Pre-pubescent boys and girls have a similar hip-waist ratio, but the large amounts of estrogen produced at the onset of puberty cause a female's hips to widen and breasts to develop. Estrogen also causes fat to be stored in the buttocks, thighs, and hips. Pregnancy causes estrogen levels to rise again, causing the breasts to enlarge, although this is generally reversed after pregnancy. At the onset of menopause, the decreased estrogen levels cause a woman’s breasts to shrink, as well as the redistribution of fat to the waist or abdomen.

Can you change your body shape?

Once you have finished puberty, it is largely impossible to change your body shape - your bone structure and proportions are mostly defined. There are however some changes that can be made. Gaining or losing fat will change the size of your buttocks, thighs, and hips if you are a premenopausal woman, or the size of your waist and abdomen if you are a man or post-menopausal woman. Gaining muscle mass is another way of altering your shape - by targeting particular muscle groups you can accentuate them, e.g., your shoulders to look more athletic, your hamstrings and glutes for longer-looking legs.

What is my body type?

There are three body types: ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. If you are lean and long, find it challenging to build muscle, and have ever been accused of being a ‘beanpole’, you’re probably an ectomorph. If you tend to be on the heavier side and find it difficult to lose body fat, you are likely an endomorph. If you find it easy to gain muscle and have a high metabolism, you may be a mesomorph. However, please be aware that you are unlikely to be strictly one of these body types, and they exist as a scale between all of them. Think of it as a triangle.

What are the 3 main body types?

The three main somatotypes are ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. Ectomorphs tend to be tall and slight of build and find it difficult to gain weight. Your favorite basketball player is most likely an ectomorph. Endomorphs, on the other hand, have no problem gaining weight and tend to have a lot of muscle and fat. They are not always overweight, though - Marylin Monroe was an endomorph. The last type is mesomorphs, what you will typically picture when you think of an athlete. They are strong and tend to have a high metabolism. Don’t forget, though, that everyone exists as a mix of different proportions of all three types.

What are the 5 female body types?

The 5 main female body types are as follows:

  • Rectangle - A rectangle is a woman whose body shape has waist measurements less than 9 inches smaller than the hip or bust measurements. So, you are not particularly curvy, your waist is not well-defined, and your weight is fairly distributed throughout the body. This shape of the body is also called the straight or ruler body.
  • Triangle - Aka pear, hips wider than bust, defined bust but not waist, proportionately slim arms, and shoulders, weight is distributed to bottom and legs rather than upper body.
  • Hourglass - Hip and bust measurements are nearly equal, while the waist is narrower.
  • Spoon - Hips are much larger than bust, with a clearly defined waist. Hips are shelf-like.
  • Inverted triangle - Narrow waist with shoulders and bust much wider than hips.

What is the meaning of 36 24 36 figure?

A 36 24 36 figure is a type of hourglass figure. The three numbers each refer to a specific measurement of a woman's body. The first is the bust, measured around the fullest point of the chest. The next measurement is the waist, which is the narrowest part of a relaxed torso. The final measurement is around the hips, the widest point below the waist when both feet are together. The 36 24 36 figure is measured in inches, and in centimeters is known as the 90 60 90 figure.

What is a healthy waist size?

A healthy waist size will depend on your height, but if your waist exceeds 31.5 in (80 cm) as a woman or 37 in (94 cm) as a man, you should try to lose weight, regardless of your height or BMI. The waist is defined as the narrowest part of the body between the hips and ribs. The World Health Organisation states that an absolute waist circumference greater than 40 in (102 cm) for men and 35 in (88 cm) for women means that that person is obese. Obesity is also defined as a waist-hip ratio greater than 0.9 for males and 0.85 for females. You can check yours with our waist-hip ratio calculator. People who are obese suffer from an increased risk of diabetes, asthma, and Alzheimers, among other problems.

Does your body shape change when you lose weight?

Yes, your body shape does change when you lose weight. If you are female, your body will naturally store weight on your buttocks, thighs, and hips due to the estrogen present in your body. By losing weight, these areas will become slimmer. If you are male, your body will store its fat on your stomach. Losing weight can help you shift that beer belly.

What is a zero figure?

A zero figure, or a size zero is a women’s clothing size in the US clothing sizes system. It is a size that fits measurement of bust/waist/hips anywhere between 30 22 32 inches (76 56 81 cm) to 36 28 36 inches (90 71.5 90 cm), depending on the style and make. Originally a size 8 in 1958, it is now known as a size 0 due to vanity sizing. Zero figure is often associated with anorexia. If you or others around you are worried that you may be underweight, please consult a doctor.

Bogna Szyk and Aleksandra Zając, MD

Body Shape Calculator | Find Your Body Type (2024)

FAQs

How do I figure out my body type? ›

To determine your body shape accurately, measure your bust, waist, and hips. Then, compare these to the typical characteristics of body shapes: Hourglass: Balanced bust and hips with a significantly narrower waist. Pear (Triangle): Hips wider than the bust with a well-defined waist.

How to calculate a body shape? ›

Measure around the upper hip or the high hip, which is typically located about 2 inches below the waist and is the point where the hip bone protrudes the most. These measurements help calculate ratios and proportions that are indicative of different body shapes.

What is the body shape of 34 26 36? ›

The body shape of 34-26-36 is hourglass. What is an hourglass-shaped body? The physical body shape is the direct result of the way the skeleton, body fat, and muscles are distributed.

What is the body shape of 34 25 35? ›

With those measurements, it is likely your body shape would fall into the hour glass category. While that is usually seen as a description for women with larger bust & hip measurements, any time there is a symmetry in the bust & hip measurements with a waist measurement that's at least 10 inches less than those.

Which body type is best for females? ›

Here comes one of the most desirable bodies for all women. The hourglass has a small defined waist with fuller bust and hip, and the shoulders, bust and hip have similar measurements. Since this is a very feminine body shape, this type of body slays all kinds of dresses.

Is there an app to determine body shape? ›

Bodymapp tracks up to 20 measurements of your body, which tells you more about your health and fitness progress. Plus, your lifelike 3D avatar helps you visualize the changes you can't see in the mirror.

Is spoon or hourglass better? ›

Definitely the hourglass shape overall, because it is what SHOULD be considered to be beautifully CURVY, because the top/bust and bottom/butt are in proportion to, or in beautiful contrast to, the smaller, narrower waist.

What body type is hourglass? ›

The hourglass shape is defined by a woman's body measurements- the circumference of the bust, waist and hips. Hourglass body shapes have a wide bust, a narrow waist, and wide hips with a similar measurement to that of the bust.

What is a mesomorph body type? ›

Mesomorph refers to body types with a naturally high muscle-to-fat ratio. People with this body type typically respond well to weight training, finding it easier than other people to build and maintain muscle.

What size is a curvy figure? ›

The characteristic measurements of a curvy person are: bust - circumference between 100-110 cm. waist - between 75-90 cm. hips - between 100-110 cm.

What is the perfect figure size? ›

The specific proportions of 36–24–36 inches (90-60-90 centimeters) have frequently been given as the "hourglass" proportions for women since at least the 1960s (these measurements are, for example, the title of a hit instrumental by The Shadows).

What is an ideal curvy figure? ›

However, some common characteristics of a curvy body type include: A waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7 or lower. A bust measurement that is at least 10 inches larger than the waist measurement. Hips that are at least 10 inches larger than the waist measurement.

What body shape is 33 25 33? ›

With those measurements, it is likely your body shape would fall into the hour glass category. While that is usually seen as a description for women with larger bust & hip measurements, any time there is a symmetry in the bust & hip measurements with a waist measurement that's at least 10 inches less than those.

What does a 36 24 36 figure look like? ›

The measurements 36-24-36 are often used to describe what is considered an "hourglass figure" in women's body proportions. This means that the bust, waist, and hip measurements are in the ratio of 3:2:3, creating a shape reminiscent of an hourglass.

What body shape is 36 29 38? ›

The hourglass shape is present in only about 8% of women. A woman's dimensions are often expressed by the circumference around the three inflection points. For example, "36–29–38" in US customary units would mean a 36 in (91 cm) bust, 29 in (74 cm) waist and 38 in (97 cm) hips.

How can I know my body type without measuring? ›

Look at yourself straight on in the mirror and begin to observe your proportions. Body shape is based on the relationship between three points on your body: your shoulders/bust, waist, and hips. Draw an imaginary line down from your shoulders to your hips and make a mental note of where the line hits.

Am I an endomorph or mesomorph? ›

Endomorphs are rounded, with lots of muscle and body fat, a stockier structure, and a slower metabolism. (Think of football linemen.) Mesomorphs are athletic and muscular, capable of gaining weight or losing weight easily thanks to their efficient metabolisms.

What do the 3 body types look like? ›

What Are the Three Male Body Types?
Body typeFeatures
Ectomorphicnarrow shoulders and hips, and tends to have little muscle or fat
Mesomorphicbroad shoulders, narrower hips, and tends to build muscle easily
Endomorphic“pear-shaped” body and higher affinity to store body fat
Feb 6, 2024

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