How the US Navy body fat method works
The US Navy formula estimates body fat from the circumference of your neck, waist (and hips for women) relative to your height. It's widely used because it needs only a tape measure yet correlates reasonably well with more expensive methods.
Body fat percentage categories
- Men — Essential 2–5%, Athletes 6–13%, Fitness 14–17%, Average 18–24%, High 25%+
- Women — Essential 10–13%, Athletes 14–20%, Fitness 21–24%, Average 25–31%, High 32%+
Why do I need my hip measurement (women)?
Women store more fat around the hips, so the female formula includes hip circumference for a better estimate.
How accurate is it?
Typically within about 3–4% of a DEXA scan for most people — great for tracking progress cheaply at home.