Fitness & Performance
Army Body Fat Calculator
The Army tape test: neck, waist, and height for men; plus hips for women. See your percentage against Army standards by age.
The Army body fat calculator applies the Department of Defense tape method using neck and waist (plus hips for women) with height, and compares the result against Army maximum body fat standards by age and sex. Use the result as a training benchmark — retest under the same conditions to track progress.
Army max: 20–26% men, 30–36% women.
DoD circumference equations.
Verify against current AR 600-9.
Calculate Your Army Body Fat
Your Body Fat
What Is Army Body Fat?
The U.S. Army screens body composition with a circumference (tape) method when a Soldier exceeds the screening weight for height.
Maximum body fat under AR 600-9 rises with age: 20–26% for men and 30–36% for women. Soldiers over the limit enter the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP).
How It Is Calculated
Men: BF% = 86.010·log10(abdomen − neck) − 70.041·log10(height) + 36.76
Women: BF% = 163.205·log10(waist + hip − neck) − 97.684·log10(height) − 78.387
Example: Example: 25-year-old male Soldier, waist 86 cm, neck 38 cm, 178 cm → ≈ 18.0% (within standard)
Army body fat maximums (AR 600-9)
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40+ | 26% | 36% |
Limitations
- Self-measured tapes differ from official evaluator technique.
- Regulation updates occur, verify against current AR 600-9.
- The ABCP uses a two-part screening; tape is only part one.
Sources & Review
References used for this calculator’s formulas and thresholds:
Army Body Fat FAQ
What is the Army body fat maximum?
Men: 20–26% and women: 30–36%, increasing with age in four bands from 17–20 to 40+.
How does the Army tape test work?
If a Soldier exceeds screening weight, evaluators measure neck and waist (men) or neck, waist, and hips (women) and compute body fat with the DoD equation.
What happens if I fail the tape test?
Soldiers enter the Army Body Composition Program with monthly monitoring and nutrition counseling until within standards.
Can I use this calculator for official purposes?
No, this is an educational estimate. Official determinations are made by trained unit evaluators per current regulation.
A note before you begin: this tool offers educational estimates only. It cannot replace advice from a qualified professional.