Free body composition & weight tool
Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator with WHO Cut-offs
Waist to hip ratio is your waist circumference divided by your hip circumference. WHO lists a ratio of 0.90 or higher for men and 0.85 or higher for women as a substantially increased risk of metabolic complications. A woman with a 30 in waist and 40 in hips has a ratio of 0.75. Enter your two measurements below to see your ratio and where it falls.
Prepared by Prospyr · Reviewed October 3, 2026 · Free, no sign-up, runs in your browser
Halfway between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone (iliac crest). This is the WHO STEPS site.
Around the widest part of the buttocks.
A screening ratio, not a diagnosis. Decision support only; it does not replace clinical judgment.
Waist-to-hip ratio
0.75
Below the WHO women's cut-off of 0.85.
Waist
30 in
Hip
40 in
WHO waist-to-hip ratio chart
| Indicator | Women | Men | WHO risk label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waist-hip ratio | 0.85 or higher | 0.90 or higher | Substantially increased |
| Waist circumference | > 80 cm (31 in) | > 94 cm (37 in) | Increased |
| Waist circumference | > 88 cm (35 in) | > 102 cm (40 in) | Substantially increased |
Source: WHO Expert Consultation on waist circumference and waist-hip ratio, Geneva, 2008 (published 2011), Table A1. WHO notes the waist circumference figures began as an example for Caucasian populations, not as WHO recommendations.
Waist to hip ratio formula and a worked example
Waist-hip ratio = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference.
Example, woman: waist 30 in, hips 40 in. 30 ÷ 40 = 0.75, below the 0.85 cut-off. Example, man: waist 36 in, hips 38 in. 36 ÷ 38 = 0.947, above the 0.90 cut-off. The calculator compares the unrounded ratio to the cut-off, so 0.8999 is shown as 0.899 and not rounded up to 0.90.
WHO waist to hip ratio chart and cut-offs
The WHO expert consultation on waist circumference and waist-hip ratio met in Geneva in December 2008 and published its report in 2011. Its Table A1 lists the figures often attributed to WHO:
| Indicator | Women | Men | Risk of metabolic complications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waist circumference | > 80 cm | > 94 cm | Increased |
| Waist circumference | > 88 cm | > 102 cm | Substantially increased |
| Waist-hip ratio | ≥ 0.85 | ≥ 0.90 | Substantially increased |
The report adds that the waist circumference figures were an example from a Dutch sample, not WHO recommendations. The ratio cut-off traces to WHO's 1999 metabolic syndrome definition of abdominal obesity.
How to measure your waist and hips
- Stand relaxed with feet together. Use a flexible tape and keep it parallel to the floor.
- Waist: halfway between the lowest rib you can feel and the top of the hip bone (the WHO STEPS site).
- Hip: around the widest part of the buttocks.
- The tape should be snug but not pulled so tight that it presses into the skin.
Other protocols place the waist at the top of the hip bone, at the navel or at the narrowest point, and results differ by site. Use the same site each time if you track change.
Related ratios
If you want a second view, try the waist to height ratio calculator or the BMI calculator. Practices that measure patients at consults can store the numbers in the chart, next to photos and notes.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate waist to hip ratio?
Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement, using the same unit for both. A 30 inch waist and 40 inch hips give 30 ÷ 40 = 0.75. The unit does not matter because it cancels out.
What is a healthy waist to hip ratio?
WHO does not define a single healthy value. Its cut-off is that a ratio of 0.90 or more for men and 0.85 or more for women indicates a substantially increased risk of metabolic complications. Below those numbers is simply below the WHO cut-off; this tool does not label it healthy or unhealthy.
What is the waist to hip ratio chart for women?
For women, the WHO cut-off is 0.85. A ratio at or above 0.85 is labeled substantially increased risk of metabolic complications. The chart under the calculator also lists WHO's waist circumference figures: over 80 cm (about 31.5 in) is labeled increased and over 88 cm (about 34.6 in) substantially increased.
What is the waist to hip ratio chart for men?
For men, the WHO cut-off is 0.90. A ratio at or above 0.90 is labeled substantially increased risk. The waist circumference figures are over 94 cm (about 37 in) for increased and over 102 cm (about 40 in) for substantially increased.
Where do I measure my waist and hips?
Per the WHO STEPS protocol, measure the waist at about the midpoint between the lowest palpable rib and the top of the hip bone (iliac crest), and the hip around the widest part of the buttocks. Keep the tape snug but not tight and parallel to the floor.
Is waist to hip ratio better than BMI?
It measures something different. BMI uses height and weight only; waist-hip ratio reflects how the waist compares with the hips. WHO's obesity fact sheet says additional measurements such as waist circumference can help the diagnosis of obesity, so the two are used together. Neither is a diagnosis on its own.
Sources and scope
- WHO. Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation, Geneva, 8-11 December 2008 (published 2011)
Table A1 (waist-hip ratio of 0.90 men and 0.85 women labeled substantially increased risk; waist circumference cut-offs), measurement sites and WHO STEPS protocol.
- WHO. Obesity and overweight fact sheet
Notes that additional measurements, such as waist circumference, can help the diagnosis of obesity.
A screening ratio using published WHO cut-offs, not a diagnosis. Decision support only; it does not replace clinical judgment. It does not recommend a diet, drug or treatment.