Calculate your US Army body fat % with the official AR 600-9 tape method
Official AR 600-9 tape method. Measure three times and use the average. Abdomen is measured at the navel (males); waist is measured at the narrowest point (females). This tool is for reference only — certified Army personnel conduct official assessments.
Measurements
Measure just below the larynx (Adam's apple), perpendicular to the spine.
Measure at the level of the navel, horizontal to the floor.
Optional — Body Composition Breakdown
Results
Army Body Fat Standard (AR 600-9)
Your 17.5% is within the 22% maximum for your age group.
Army Max Body Fat Standards (AR 600-9)
| Age Group | Male Max | Female Max |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40+ | 26% | 36% |
Formula (AR 600-9): Male: %BF = 86.010 × log₁₀(abdomen − neck) − 70.041 × log₁₀(height) + 36.76. Female: %BF = 163.205 × log₁₀(waist + hip − neck) − 97.684 × log₁₀(height) − 78.387. All inputs must be in inches. The formula is defined in Army Regulation 600-9 and DoD Instruction 1308.3. Results are estimates; individual certified measurement sessions may differ slightly.
The US Army Body Fat Calculator uses the official AR 600-9 circumference tape method to estimate your body fat percentage from simple measurements — no calipers or scales required. Enter your height, neck, and abdomen (or waist and hip for females) to calculate your body fat percentage, compare against Army age-group standards, and see your lean vs. fat mass breakdown.
Males need height, neck circumference (just below the larynx), and abdomen circumference (at the navel). Females need height, neck circumference, waist circumference (at the narrowest point), and hip circumference (at the widest point).
The AR 600-9 tape method has a margin of error of roughly ±3–4 percentage points compared to more precise methods like DEXA scanning. For official assessments, Army personnel measure three times and use the average to minimize error.
Army maximums (AR 600-9): Males — 20% (age 17–20), 22% (21–27), 24% (28–39), 26% (40+). Females — 30% (17–20), 32% (21–27), 34% (28–39), 36% (40+). Soldiers who exceed these limits are flagged and enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program.
Yes. The tool uses the exact formulas from AR 600-9 and DoD Instruction 1308.3. Male: %BF = 86.010 × log₁₀(abdomen − neck) − 70.041 × log₁₀(height) + 36.76. Female: %BF = 163.205 × log₁₀(waist + hip − neck) − 97.684 × log₁₀(height) − 78.387. All inputs are in inches.