Calculator Uni

Army Body Fat Calculator

Estimate body fat with the tape-test method used by the U.S. Army.

Tape measurements
cm / in
cm / in
cm / in

Body fat (Army tape method)

16.9%

Army max standards by age

20–26%

The Army now also accepts a one-site abdominal method; standards vary by age bracket.

The military's field method

The Army uses circumference formulas because tape measures scale to millions of soldiers where lab methods can't. Maximum allowed body fat rises with age bracket — roughly 20–26% for men and 30–36% for women — with an exemption for those passing top fitness scores.

Measure like the regulation

Consistency drives accuracy: tape level and snug without compressing skin, neck just below the larynx, waist at the navel for men. Three measurements averaged, taken at the same time of day, keep readings honest week to week.

Related calculators