Army Body Fat Calculator
Check body fat % against US Army AR 600-9 standards with pass/fail for your age and sex.
Inputs
Measure just below the larynx (Adam's apple), perpendicular to the long axis of the neck.
Measure at the level of the navel, horizontally.
Estimated Body Fat
14.5%
AR 600-9 Result
PASS
Maximum Allowed (AR 600-9)
22%
Margin
7.5%
Positive = under limit; negative = over limit.
Detail
7.5% under the standard.
Step by step
Formula
= AR 600-9 male (Hodgdon-Beckett)
Estimated body fat
= 14.5%
Age/sex standard
= 22% maximum
Result
= PASS ✓
7.5% within the limit.
How it works
The Army uses a circumference-based method to estimate body fat for soldiers who exceed weight-for-height screening standards. The Hodgdon-Beckett formulas were adopted because they require only a tape measure — no calipers or water displacement. AR 600-9 (2019) sets sex- and age-specific maximum body fat percentages; soldiers who exceed the weight-for-height table but pass the tape test are considered within standards.
Formulas
Male body fat (Hodgdon-Beckett)
% BF = 86.010 × log10(Abdomen − Neck) − 70.041 × log10(Height) + 36.76
- A
- Abdomen circumference in inches
- N
- Neck circumference in inches
- H
- Height in inches
Female body fat (Hodgdon-Beckett)
% BF = 163.205 × log10(Waist + Hip − Neck) − 97.684 × log10(Height) − 78.387
- W
- Waist circumference in inches
- H
- Hip circumference in inches
- N
- Neck circumference in inches
- Ht
- Height in inches
This calculator implements the AR 600-9 (2019) circumference method for informational purposes. It is not an official Army tool. Actual screening must be conducted by trained Army personnel following the official regulation. Results are estimates and should not be used for official military assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I take measurements for AR 600-9?
Use a non-elastic tape measure. Neck: below the larynx, perpendicular to the long axis; tilt the head straight, relax the neck. Abdomen (male): at the navel level, horizontal. Waist (female): at the narrowest point of the torso. Hip (female): at the maximum protrusion of the buttocks. Each measurement is taken three times and averaged to the nearest half inch.
What happens if a soldier fails the tape test?
Under AR 600-9 (2019), soldiers who fail are enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP). They must comply with a fitness and nutrition program and are re-tested regularly. Repeated failure can affect promotions, assignments and, ultimately, continued service.
Is the circumference method accurate?
The circumference method has ±3–5% error compared to DEXA or hydrostatic weighing. It systematically over-estimates body fat in very lean, muscular individuals and under-estimates in some body types. The Army accepts this trade-off for a field-deployable, inexpensive screening method.