How to use the army body fat calculator
- 1 Choose your sex and enter your age.
- 2 Enter your weight in pounds and your abdominal circumference at the navel.
- 3 Keep the Army one-site method, or choose the Navy method and add neck, hip and height.
- 4 Read your body fat and whether it meets the standard for your age.
Worked example
A 25-year-old man weighing 180 pounds with a 34-inch abdomen. Body fat = −26.97 − (0.12 × 180) + (1.99 × 34) = −26.97 − 21.6 + 67.66 = 19.09%, recorded as 19%. The maximum for men aged 21–27 is 22%, so this meets the standard.
Getting ready for the tape test
- Measure at the navel, tape level, after a normal breath out.
- Measure three times and average.
- Weigh in the morning for a consistent number.
- Focus on waist size: it drives the result most.
Check your BMI with the BMI Calculator, body surface area with the Body Surface Area Calculator, and convert measurements with the cm to Inches converter. Before a weigh-in, remember alcohol also affects hydration: see the BAC Calculator.
Features
Current Army formula
The one-site tape equations from AR 600-9 and DA Forms 5500 and 5501.
Age-based standard
Maximum body fat by age group and sex.
Navy method option
Neck, waist, hip and height circumference formula.
When to use it
Preparing for weigh-in
Check where you stand before the official tape. See your BMI with the BMI Calculator.
Recruits
Check the standard before you enlist.
Fitness goals
Track body fat as you train. Plan protein with the Protein Intake Calculator.
General body fat
Compare with the Body Fat Calculator.
Related Health and Fitness tasks
Frequently asked questions
How does the Army one-site tape test work?
A trained tester measures your abdominal circumference at the navel three times, averages it, and uses it with your weight in a formula (AR 600-9) to estimate body fat.
What is the Army body fat formula?
Men: body fat % = −26.97 − (0.12 × weight in pounds) + (1.99 × abdomen in inches). Women: body fat % = −9.15 − (0.015 × weight) + (1.27 × abdomen).
What is the maximum body fat allowed in the Army?
Men: 20% at 17–20, 22% at 21–27, 24% at 28–39 and 26% at 40 and over. Women: 30%, 32%, 34% and 36% for the same age groups.
When do Soldiers get taped?
When they are over the screening weight for their height in AR 600-9, unless an exemption applies, such as a high enough fitness test score.
How do I measure my abdomen correctly?
Stand relaxed, place the tape around your waist at the level of your navel, keep it level and snug without compressing the skin, and read it at the end of a normal breath out.
Is the result rounded?
Yes. The Army records body fat as a whole number, so 19.1% counts as 19%.
What is the Navy body fat method?
The older Department of Defense circumference method: men use neck and waist; women use neck, waist and hips; both use height.
What if I fail the tape test?
Soldiers may be offered a supplemental assessment such as a DXA scan or InBody, and those who still exceed the standard enter the Army Body Composition Program.
Is this an official Army calculator?
No. It uses the published formulas for practice. Only an official measurement by trained personnel counts.
Do other branches use the same standard?
No. The Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard have their own body composition rules and limits.
How often are Soldiers weighed and taped?
Body composition is checked at least once a year and when screening weight is exceeded, under AR 600-9.
Can a high fitness score exempt me from the tape?
Under current Army policy, Soldiers who score highly on the Army Fitness Test can be exempt from body fat assessment. Check the latest AR 600-9 guidance.
Does height matter in the one-site test?
Height is not part of the one-site formula, but it sets the screening weight that decides whether you are taped.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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