What are the five main body types?

Hourglass: shoulders and hips roughly equal, defined waist (waist 25%+ smaller than hips). Pear: hips wider than shoulders by 5%+. Apple: shoulders/bust wider than hips, weight carried in middle. Rectangle: all measurements within 5% of each other. Inverted triangle: shoulders more than 5% wider than hips with no defined waist.

What is a healthy waist-to-hip ratio?

WHO guidelines: women under 0.85, men under 0.90. Ratios above these thresholds indicate central obesity associated with higher cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk. Waist circumference alone is also used — above 35 inches (88cm) for women or 40 inches (102cm) for men indicates elevated risk regardless of BMI or body type.

Can body type change with weight loss or gain?

Genetic factors determine where your body preferentially stores and loses fat, which largely determines body type. However, targeted exercise and significant weight changes can shift proportions. Many people remain the same 'type' (e.g., pear) but the degree of difference between measurements can change. Strength training can add shoulder width, subtly shifting perceived shape.

Is body type the same as BMI?

No — BMI measures total weight relative to height, regardless of distribution. Two people with identical BMIs can have very different body types. Body type describes the shape and distribution of mass (more shoulders vs hips, more waist definition vs not), which BMI doesn't capture. Body type is a complement to BMI, not a replacement for it.

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What Is Your Body Type? Shape & Proportions Calculator

What is your body type?

What This Does

Body type classification — also called body shape or somatotype — is a framework for understanding how body mass and fat are distributed, which has practical applications for clothing fit, fitness programming, and health risk assessment. The most common system classifies shapes by the relative proportions of shoulders, waist, and hips. The five primary shapes are: hourglass (shoulders and hips roughly equal, defined waist), pear (hips wider than shoulders, weight in lower body), apple (shoulders wider than hips, weight in midsection), rectangle (similar measurements throughout, minimal waist definition), and inverted triangle (shoulders notably wider than hips). Each shape is associated with different clothing fits, exercise emphases, and health risk profiles. From a health perspective, body fat distribution — particularly the waist-to-hip ratio — correlates with metabolic risk. Apple shapes (central adiposity) are associated with higher cardiovascular and diabetes risk regardless of total body weight. This is why waist circumference is an independent risk factor in clinical assessment. Body type identification is also the foundation of fashion's fit guidance: understanding your proportions helps you choose clothing cuts that complement your natural silhouette rather than fighting it. This calculator uses your measurements to identify your shape, compare your ratios to population norms, and provide tailored guidance.

When Should You Use This?

→Understanding your body proportions for clothing shopping and fit
→Identifying your body shape to guide exercise programming choices
→Calculating waist-to-hip ratio for health risk assessment
→Finding your body type for personalized fashion guidance
→Understanding whether your fat distribution is mostly central or peripheral

Example Scenario

Maria is 5'6", bust 38", waist 29", hips 41". Waist-to-hip ratio: 29/41 = 0.71, below the 0.80 threshold for women — indicating low central obesity risk. Shoulder-to-hip ratio: 38/41 = 0.93, nearly equal. Shape result: classic hourglass. The calculator identifies her as hourglass due to equal bust and hip measurements with a defined waist and recommends fitted styles that emphasize the waist rather than adding volume at the hips or shoulders.

Body Type Calculator

Shape Classification · WHR · Waist-to-Height · Metabolic Risk Profile

Results update in real time as you adjust any measurement.

Bust / Chest (in)

Waist (in)

Hips (in)

Height (in)

5′5″ = 65 · 5′10″ = 70

About This Calculator

This body type calculator classifies body shape (hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle, or inverted triangle) from bust, waist, hip, and height measurements using a proportional algorithm based on the mathematical ratios between measurements. It calculates four health metrics: waist-to-hip ratio (WHR, with WHO-standard risk thresholds of 0.80 for women and 0.90 for men), waist-to-height ratio (W/H, with healthy threshold under 0.50), bust-to-hip ratio (proportionality), and hip-to-waist ratio. All results update in real time as you adjust any measurement.

The Ratios tab renders a bar chart of bust, waist, and hip measurements in inches (colour-coded by health significance), a grouped bar chart comparing your WHR and W/H ratios against healthy thresholds, a 5-axis radar chart (WHR, W/Height, Proportion, Shape Risk, Overall), and a full health metric table. The Shapes tab shows a bar chart of how closely your measurements match each of the 5 body shape archetypes (scored 0–100), plus expandable guidance cards for style, fitness, and health for each shape — with your shape expanded and highlighted. The Waist tab shows a bar chart of WHR at ±4 inches of waist change (colour-coded green/amber/red by risk category), with a `ReferenceLine` at the risk threshold and a sensitivity table.

Score (0–100) is derived primarily from waist-to-height ratio, the single most evidence-based predictor of metabolic risk. Dynamic accent: emerald (Low Risk, W/H below 0.50), indigo (Moderate), amber (Elevated), red (High Risk, W/H above 0.60). Shape accent colours: pink (hourglass), amber (pear), red (apple), indigo (rectangle), purple (inverted triangle). The calculator includes a rough body fat percentage estimate from proportional ratios (for illustrative purposes — clinical accuracy requires DEXA or skinfold measurements). The 3-tier What To Do Next adapts to high risk, moderate risk, and healthy ranges.

Results are estimates only and do not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.