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Body Shape Calculator
Use this free body shape calculator to find your body shape from three simple measurements: bust, waist, and hips. Enter your numbers in inches or centimeters, and the calculator compares them, names your shape — hourglass, pear, rectangle, apple, or inverted triangle — and gives clothing-fit tips for that shape.
Measure over light clothing with a soft tape, kept level: bust at the fullest part, waist at the narrowest point, hips at the widest point.
| Waist to bust ratio | 0.75 |
| Waist to hip ratio | 0.71 |
| Hips minus bust | +2 in |
| Fit tip | Show off the waist — fitted and belted styles suit you best. |
How it works
Body shape is about proportion, not size. Two people can wear the same dress size and have different shapes, because what matters is how the bust, waist, and hips relate to each other. This calculator compares your three measurements and sorts them into one of five common shapes, using simple rules that clothing designers and stylists have used for years.
The logic runs in a fixed order. First, it checks for apple: if your waist is the widest of the three measurements, your shape is apple, because the middle carries the most width. Next, it checks pear: if your hips are more than 2 inches wider than your bust, your shape is pear. Then it checks inverted triangle: if your bust is more than 2 inches wider than your hips, your shape is inverted triangle. If bust and hips are within 2 inches of each other and your waist is at least 8 inches smaller than both, your shape is hourglass. If none of those apply — bust and hips are close but the waist is not much smaller — your shape is rectangle.
Measurements in centimeters are converted to inches first (divide by 2.54), because the rules are written in inches. The sex choice changes the label for the chest measurement — bust for women, chest for men — and the fit tips, but the shape logic itself is the same either way, since it only compares the three numbers. The calculator also shows two ratios that stylists use: waist divided by bust, and waist divided by hips. A waist-to-hip ratio near 0.7 is the classic hourglass range, while a ratio near 0.9 or above points toward a rectangle or apple shape.
Good measurements matter more than the math. Measure over light clothing, or directly on the skin if you are comfortable doing so, with a soft measuring tape. Stand straight, breathe out normally, and do not pull the tape tight — it should sit flat against your body without squeezing. Measure the bust around the fullest part of the chest, the waist at the narrowest point of your torso (usually an inch or two above the belly button), and the hips around the widest part of your hips and bottom. Keep the tape level all the way around; a tape that dips at the back will give you a wrong number.
Worked example
A woman measures bust 36 inches, waist 27 inches, and hips 38 inches.
Step 1: Check apple — is the waist the widest? No: 27 is smaller than both 36 and 38.
Step 2: Check pear — are the hips more than 2 inches wider than the bust? Hips minus bust is 38 − 36 = 2 inches, which is not more than 2, so no.
Step 3: Check inverted triangle — is the bust more than 2 inches wider than the hips? No, the bust is smaller than the hips.
Step 4: Check hourglass — are bust and hips within 2 inches? Yes, they are 2 inches apart. Is the waist at least 8 inches smaller than the bust? 36 − 27 = 9 inches, yes. Is it at least 8 inches smaller than the hips? 38 − 27 = 11 inches, yes.
Step 5: The result is hourglass.
The tool shows the same result: Hourglass, with a waist-to-bust ratio of 0.75 and a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.71. The fit tip is to show off the waist with fitted and belted styles, since a defined waist is the most striking feature of this shape.
FAQ
How do I measure bust, waist and hips for a body shape calculator?
Measure over light clothing with a soft tape, standing straight and breathing normally. Bust: around the fullest part of the chest, tape level. Waist: around the narrowest point of your torso, usually just above the belly button — do not pull the tape tight. Hips: around the widest part of your hips and bottom. Keep the tape level all the way around and write down each number before you type it in.
What are the five body shapes?
The five common shapes are hourglass, pear, rectangle, apple, and inverted triangle. Hourglass means bust and hips are close in size with a clearly smaller waist. Pear means hips are wider than the bust. Rectangle means bust, waist and hips are fairly similar. Apple means the waist is the widest measurement. Inverted triangle means the bust is wider than the hips.
Can my body shape change?
Yes. Your shape is set by your measurements, and those change with weight gain or loss, muscle building, pregnancy, and age. A pear shape can become more rectangular after losing weight around the hips, and strength training that builds the shoulders can shift a rectangle toward an inverted triangle. Re-measure every few months if your body is changing.
Is body shape the same as body type or somatotype?
No. Body shape describes the proportions of your bust, waist and hips, which is mostly about how clothes fit. Somatotype — ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph — is an older idea about overall build and metabolism. This calculator uses your three measurements only, so it tells you about fit and proportions, not about health or metabolism.
Which body shape is best for clothes shopping?
No shape is better than another — each one just fits different cuts better. Hourglass shapes suit fitted waists, pear shapes suit A-line skirts, rectangle shapes suit belts and peplums, apple shapes suit empire waists, and inverted triangle shapes suit wide-leg bottoms. The tips on your result are starting points; comfort and personal style matter more than any rule.