Use the Body Fat US Navy Calculator to estimate your body fat percentage based on your gender, height, weight, and waist and neck size.
This tool uses the US Navy formula to determine body composition or fat to lean body tissue ratio.
Measurements - US Navy Formula
What is The Body Fat US Navy Calculator?
As the name suggests, this tool is based on the US Navy developed formula that measures body fat and body composition based on personal stats such as gender, height and weight, and waist and neck size.
Military including Navel forces recruits are required to meet certain body composition standards as part of the terms for enlistment.
Body fat to lean tissue ratio may predict health and fitness. A high body fat percentage is often associated with being overweight, obese, out of shape, and/or prone to health risks.
The good news is anyone can improve their body composition by hitting the weights and changing up their diet and overall lifestyle a little.
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Try these body composition exercises to build more muscle and shed fat.
The Most Accurate Method For Measuring Body Fat
While the body fat US Navy calculator can give you a reasonable body fat and body composition estimate, it’s not the most accurate, however, it is one of the most convenient and gets close enough for the armed forces to use it.
It’s also important to mention that even more advanced methods may not give you 100% accurate measurements but they can get very close and are pretty reliable.
Skinfold measurements, body fat scales, and other portable and handheld devices are typically the least accurate methods of determining body fat and composition.
The most accurate methods such as hydrostatic weighing and DEXA/DXA scan are more expensive to have done and require you to visit a facility that offers these more advanced technologies.
While not as accurate but certainly acceptable, our body fat calculator is a very good and free-to-use option. You don’t need any tools but there are options to use a caliper for more accuracy or a measuring tape (not as accurate).
It does require a little more effort and details but it should give you a closer estimate of fat to lean tissue ratio and you can compare your results to the body fat US Navy calculator tool.
How To Use The Body Fat US Navy Calculator
While the calculator is rather straightforward to use, it’s important to ensure you provide accurate information to get the best result possible.
The best time to weigh yourself and take your waist and neck measurements is first thing upon waking after you’ve used the bathroom and before eating or drinking anything.
Step 1: Choose the desired unit of measurement: Imperial (pounds, feet, and inches) or metric (kilograms, meters, and centimeters).
Step 2: Choose the gender
Step 3: Enter your current weight and height
Step 4: Enter waist measurements at the navel (belly button) for men and right above the navel for women.
Step 5: Enter neck measurement (Narrowest part of the neck below the larynx)
Step 6: Enter hip measurement at the widest (only for Female)
Step 7: Hit Calculate!
Analyzing Your Results
The calculator will display estimates of your body fat percentage, fat mass in pounds/kg, lean mass in pounds/kg, and “fat category”.
So, for example, if you’re a 5’10 male who weighs 142 lbs and has a 32-inch waist and 14-inch neck, your results will look like the following.
- Body fat: 15 (%)
- Fat mass: 21 (pounds)
- Lean mass: 121 (pounds)
- Fat category: Fit
So based on your results, you have 15% body fat, 21 pounds of fat mass, 121 pounds of lean mass (muscles, bone, organs, etc), and you’re considered a fit individual.
How To Take Waist and Neck Measurement
While this part should not be difficult, many times it’s frustrating trying to get an accurate measurement.
Waist
Men should measure the waist at the navel which is also known as the belly button. For women, the narrowest part of the waist is usually right above the belly button.
To get a good measurement, stand up straight, take a normal breath and either get someone to take your measurement or use a mirror to do it yourself.
Neck
Measure the narrowest part of the neck, typically below the larynx also known as the Adam’s apple.
Hip
Your hip measurement at its widest point.
Body Fat US Navy Formula
This handy tool uses a different formula compared to our other body fat calculator. Below we’ve included the body fat US Navy formulas for both men and women.
Men’s formula
%BF = 495 / ( 1.0324 – 0.19077 * log10( waist – neck ) + 0.15456 * log10( height ) ) – 450
Women’s formula
%BF = 495 / ( 1.29579 – 0.35004 * log10( waist + hip – neck ) + 0.22100 * log10( height ) ) – 450
US Navy Body Fat Standards
Below we’ve provided the body fat limits for both men and women. Note: The following figures are what we could find regarding the Navy standards and is reflective of the requirements at some point.
- Age 18 to 21 – 22% for males, 33% for females
- Age 22 to 29 – 23% for males, 34% for females
- Age 30 to 39 – 24% for males, 35% for females
- Age over 40 – 26% for males, 36% for females
Body Fat Categories Table
The Body Fat Range for each Classification shows how close your calculated Body Fat Percentage is to the next Body Fat Classification range.
| Category | Women (% fat) | Men (% fat) |
| Essential Fat | 10%-13% | 2%-5% |
| Athletic | 14%-20% | 6%-13% |
| Fit | 21%-24% | 14%-17% |
| Acceptable | 25%-31% | 18%-25% |
| Obese | 32% + | 26% + |
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Are You US Navy Fit?
The Body fat US Navy calculator is convenient and easy to use whether you plan on serving in the US Navy or you simply want to measure your body fat percentage and body composition using this free tool.
While it may not be as precise compared to other body fat measuring methods, it doesn’t take much effort aside from hopping on the scale and measuring your waist and neck size.
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