Waist to Height Ratio Calculator
Keep your waist to less than half your height. Check your waist-to-height ratio in seconds and see where it falls in the ranges used by NICE, the UK health guidance body.
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Enter your height and waist to see your waist-to-height ratio.
Waist-to-height ratio
The NICE bands apply alongside BMI for adults with a BMI below 35.
- Half your height
- Your waist
| Ratio | Central adiposity |
|---|---|
| 0.4 to 0.49 | Healthy |
| 0.5 to 0.59 | Increased health risks |
| 0.6 or more | Further increased health risks |
How to use it
- Choose your units, then enter your sex and height.
- Measure your waist halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, after breathing out normally.
- Read your ratio and where it falls in the NICE ranges.
How it's calculated
The ratio. Waist divided by height, both in the same units:
waist-to-height ratio = waist ÷ height
Example from NICE: a 96.5 cm waist at 170 cm tall gives 96.5 ÷ 170 = 0.57.
The ranges. NICE (2022, now part of guideline NG246) classifies central adiposity in adults with a BMI under 35:
| Ratio | Central adiposity |
|---|---|
| 0.4 to 0.49 | Healthy: no increased health risks |
| 0.5 to 0.59 | Increased: increased health risks |
| 0.6 or more | High: further increased health risks |
The calculator uses the unrounded ratio for classification and shows extra precision near a cutoff. Below 0.4 is outside the NICE bands shown here.
Why it works. A 2012 meta-analysis (Ashwell, Gunn & Gibson) found waist-to-height ratio predicted cardiometabolic risk factors better than BMI or waist circumference alone.
Limits. A tape measure is easy to place a little differently each time. Measure at the same spot, after breathing out, and repeat for a reliable number.
Sources
- NICE. Overweight and obesity management (NG246). Identifying and assessing overweight, obesity and central adiposity: waist-to-height ratio.
- Ashwell, M., Gunn, P., & Gibson, S. (2012). Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 13(3), 275–286.
Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?
NICE classes 0.4 to 0.49 as healthy. From 0.5, health risks start to rise, and from 0.6 they rise further. In plain terms, keep your waist to less than half your height.
Why use this instead of BMI?
It looks at fat around your middle, which is more closely linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease than weight alone. NICE recommends using it alongside BMI for adults with a BMI under 35.
Does it work if I'm muscular?
Yes. NICE says the ranges apply to adults with high muscle mass too, which is one reason it's useful for lifters whose BMI looks high.
Who shouldn't use these ranges?
The NICE ranges are for adults with a BMI under 35. They're also not meant for pregnancy. Children use separate charts.
Updated November 9, 2026.