Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
Two tape measurements, one ratio, checked against the World Health Organization's cut-offs — plus what your waist alone says.
Waist-to-hip ratio
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WHO cut-off points (Annex Table A1)
| Indicator | Men | Women | Risk of metabolic complications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waist circumference | > 94 cm | > 80 cm | Increased |
| Waist circumference | > 102 cm | > 88 cm | Substantially increased |
| Waist–hip ratio | ≥ 0.90 | ≥ 0.85 | Substantially increased |
The report notes the waist values came from a Dutch (European) sample and were given as an example.
Common questions
What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?
WHO's cut-offs for substantially increased risk of metabolic complications are a ratio of 0.90 or more for men and 0.85 or more for women. Below those is the lower-risk side.
How do I measure waist and hip?
WHO's protocol: waist at the midpoint between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone, hips at the widest part of the buttocks, standing, relaxed, at the end of a normal breath, tape snug but not compressing.
Is waist-to-hip ratio better than BMI?
It captures where fat sits, which BMI cannot. WHO's 2008 consultation found waist measures and the ratio predict cardiovascular risk about as well as each other and add to BMI.
Are the cut-offs different for Asian people?
The WHO report notes that studies in Asian populations suggest lower cut-offs — for example a ratio of 0.90 for men and 0.80 for women — but it did not set new global values.
How it's computed
Ratio = waist ÷ hip (same unit), rounded to two decimals. Category uses WHO's ≥ 0.90 (men) / ≥ 0.85 (women). The waist line uses WHO's 94/102 cm (men) and 80/88 cm (women).
Sources
- WHO. Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8–11 December 2008 (2011), Annex Table A1. iris.who.int