Army Body Fat Calculator
Do you meet the Army body composition standard? Check the 2026 waist-to-height ratio, and estimate body fat with the one-site and the old multi-site tape test.
The 2026 rule: waist-to-height ratio
On 7 July 2026 the Army replaced its height and weight tables, the tape test and the supplemental body fat assessments with a single measurement: the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Your waist at the navel is divided by your height, both in inches. A ratio below 0.55 meets the standard; 0.55 or more means a confirmation measurement the same day and, if it is confirmed, a flag and enrolment in the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP).
Every soldier is assessed twice a calendar year, and commanders can order an extra check at any time. The rule applies to soldiers, West Point cadets and Senior ROTC cadets. The AFT exemption (465 points with at least 80 in every event) was rescinded together with the tape test.
How to measure your waist
Stand relaxed, feet together, arms at your sides. Put the tape horizontally around the abdomen at the level of the navel, snug but not compressing the skin, and read it at the end of a normal breath out. Measure height without shoes. Taller soldiers are allowed a larger waist: at 5′10″ (70 in) the waist must stay below 38.5 in; at 6′2″ (74 in) below 40.7 in.
One-site tape test (2023–2026)
From June 2023 until July 2026 soldiers who failed the height and weight screen were taped at the navel only. Body fat was then estimated from abdomen and body weight: men −26.97 − 0.12 × weight (lb) + 1.99 × abdomen (in); women −9.15 − 0.015 × weight (lb) + 1.27 × abdomen (in). The limits were 20–26% for men and 30–36% for women, depending on age.
The older multi-site method (Hodgdon–Beckett) also used the neck, and the hips for women. Both tape methods are in the calculator for comparison and for anyone working with older records, but they no longer decide compliance in the Army.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Army body fat standard in 2026?
Since July 2026 there is no body fat percentage standard any more. Soldiers must have a waist-to-height ratio below 0.55 – for example a waist under 38.5 inches at a height of 70 inches.
Does the Army still do the tape test?
No. Army Directive 2026-06 replaced the height and weight tables, the one-site tape test and supplemental body fat assessments with the waist-to-height ratio.
What happens if my ratio is 0.55 or higher?
A second team re-measures you the same day. If the result is confirmed, you are flagged and enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program until you meet the standard.