What is the Army body fat test?
The US Army body fat (tape) test estimates body fat from a few circumference measurements instead of a scan. It was developed by the US Department of Defense to check soldiers against age and sex limits.
This calculator uses the classic DoD circumference method and compares the result with the maximum allowable body fat for your age and sex.
How it is calculated
Men: 86.010 × log₁₀(abdomen − neck) − 70.041 × log₁₀(height) + 36.76
Women: 163.205 × log₁₀(waist + hip − neck) − 97.684 × log₁₀(height) − 78.387
All measurements are in inches. Men measure the abdomen at the navel; women measure the waist at its narrowest and the hips at the widest.
Worked example
Man, 70 in tall, neck 15 in, abdomen 34 in
- Body fat
- 17.5%
- Limit, age 21–27
- 22%
- Result
- Within the standard
Maximum allowable body fat
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40+ | 26% | 36% |
Army regulations change and official assessments are done by trained staff. This calculator is educational and not an official determination.