Body Shape Calculator
Enter bust, waist and hip circumferences to see which classic fashion body shape you match — useful for choosing silhouettes, not a health diagnosis.
Calculate
Result
The five body shapes
Classic fashion silhouettes based on bust, waist and hip proportions.
Hourglass
Bust and hips balanced with a defined waist
Pear
Hips wider than bust — fuller lower body
Apple
Fuller midsection relative to bust and hips
Rectangle
Bust, waist and hips in a straighter line
Inverted triangle
Broader bust/shoulders relative to hips
The formula
We convert measurements to inches (the traditional fashion cutoffs), then compare bust–hip balance and waist definition. A bust–hip gap of about 3.6″ or more points to pear or inverted triangle; a waist roughly 9″ smaller than a balanced bust/hips points to hourglass; a waist close to bust and hips suggests apple; otherwise rectangle.
How to measure for body shape
Use a soft tape on bare skin or thin clothing. Stand relaxed and enter all three numbers.
- Bust — Around the fullest part of the bust, tape horizontal and snug.
- Waist — Narrowest part of the torso, usually above the navel.
- Hips — Fullest part of the hips and seat.
- Measure at the same time of day if you compare results later.
- Shape labels guide silhouettes — always check brand size charts for numbers.
Worked example
- Bust 92 cm, waist 66 cm, hips 94 cm → ≈ 36.2″ / 26.0″ / 37.0″
- Hips − bust ≈ 0.8″ (balanced); bust − waist ≈ 10.2″ (defined waist)
- Classification: hourglass
Result: Hourglass — balanced bust and hips with a defined waist
How body shape is classified
This tool uses common retail and styling cutoffs based on three tape measurements. It describes silhouette proportions for clothing — not fat distribution for medical screening.
Five classic shapes
Hourglass: bust and hips within about an inch, with a clearly smaller waist. Pear (triangle): hips noticeably wider than bust. Inverted triangle: bust wider than hips. Apple: waist close to bust and hips (fuller midsection). Rectangle: bust and hips similar with less waist definition.
Why inches?
Fashion charts historically published absolute differences in inches. Metric inputs are converted before those thresholds are applied so results stay consistent across unit systems.
How to measure
Bust at the fullest point, waist at the narrowest natural indentation, hips at the fullest seat. Tape level and snug — do not suck in or pad the tape with thick clothing.
What this does not model
Shoulder width, torso length, cup projection, muscle distribution, and brand vanity sizing are out of scope. Two people with the same shape label can still need different sizes or cuts.
Interesting facts
Fashion, not medicine
Body-shape labels come from styling and ready-to-wear pattern grading. They are not WHO or CDC clinical categories.
Hourglass is rarer than ads suggest
Many adults fall nearer rectangle or soft pear/apple blends; marketing often over-represents a sharp hourglass.
Waist–hip ratio is different
WHR is a health screening ratio. This calculator uses absolute differences typical in fashion guides, then shows WHR only as context.
ISO body measurement basics
ISO 8559 defines anthropometric landmarks for clothing. Consistent landmarks matter more than chasing a flattering label.
Silhouette tips by shape
Pear shapes often balance with structure at the shoulder; inverted triangles often benefit from volume at the hip; hourglass looks often emphasize the waist.
Frequently asked questions
Measure bust, waist and hips with a soft tape, enter them here, and read the shape label. The tool compares balance between bust and hips plus how defined the waist is.
Hourglass, pear (triangle), apple, rectangle (straight), and inverted triangle. They describe relative girths — not weight or fitness.
No. BMI and body-fat estimates use height/weight or different girths for composition. Body shape here is a clothing-silhouette classifier.
Yes. Training, weight change, pregnancy, and aging can shift waist definition and bust–hip balance enough to change the label.
The five-shape vocabulary is mainly used in women’s fashion. Men can still compare chest/waist/hip balance, but cut recommendations differ.
Either works — the unit toggle converts inputs. Classification thresholds are applied in inches for consistency with traditional fashion charts.
References
- ISO 8559-1 — Size designation of clothes — Anthropometric definitions Standard landmarks for clothing-related body measurements.
- Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio Clinical WHR context — distinct from fashion body-shape labels.