Army Body Fat Calculator
Estimate body fat with the U.S. Army one-site circumference method and compare your result to age- and sex-based Army body-fat standards.
Measure at relaxed exhale, tape parallel to floor.
Army one-site formula uses weight and abdomen circumference.
Common adult range. Consistency drives trend changes.
Want a more accurate read? Estimate Body Fat %
What This Army Calculator Uses
This page uses the Army one-site equation format centered on waist (abdomen at navel) circumference and body weight. Inputs are normalized internally to inches and pounds, then converted into a body-fat estimate.
The calculator also shows an Army-style pass/fail check using age and sex standards so you can compare your estimated result against common ABCP threshold values.
Army One-Site Formula
The one-site equations used in Army references are:
Men
%BF = -26.97 - (0.12 x weight_lb) + (1.99 x abdomen_in)
Women
%BF = -9.15 - (0.015 x weight_lb) + (1.27 x abdomen_in)
The Army typically reports body fat as a rounded whole number for administrative decisions. This calculator shows both a decimal estimate and an Army-rounded value.
How To Measure For Army Method
- Measure waist/abdomen at the navel level.
- Stand relaxed with normal exhale; no sucking in.
- Keep tape horizontal and snug without skin compression.
- Take multiple readings and average them.
- Use consistent hydration/time-of-day for repeat tracking.
Measurement technique is the largest driver of day-to-day variance. Keep protocol consistent to make trend lines useful. For caliper-based site measurements, compare with the Skinfold Body Fat Calculator and for waist-height roundness, run the BRI Calculator and for hip-height adiposity, compare with the BAI Calculator.
Army Standards Snapshot
Common Army body-fat screening thresholds are age- and sex-banded. The calculator applies these values in the status card:
| Age Band | Men Max % | Women Max % |
|---|---|---|
| 17-20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21-27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28-39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40+ | 26% | 36% |
Administrative decisions may also include exemptions or alternate pathways based on current Army policy updates.
Method Limits And Practical Use
Like other circumference models, this is an estimate rather than a direct tissue measurement. It can under- or over-estimate some body types, especially with atypical fat distribution or inconsistent tape placement.
The best way to use it is repeatably over time, not as a one-time judgment. Pair tape-based trends with progress photos and performance markers for stronger context. For comparison and cadence guidance, see Body Fat Calculator vs Body Fat Estimator and How Often Should You Measure Body Fat?.
References
- Army Body Composition Program (ABCP) portal:ArmyResilience ABCP
- Army ABCP body fat calculator charts/tooling:Official chart resource
- Army Directive 2023-11 (Army Body Composition Program updates):AD 2023-11 PDF
- AR 600-9 (Army Body Composition Program):AR 600-9 PDF
- Army Inspector General update with one-site equation examples:January 2024 IG update