Army Body Fat Calculator (AR 600-9)
Military tape-test body fat estimate and pass/fail by age
Estimated Body Fat
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This Army body fat calculator uses the official U.S. military tape test — the Hodgdon-Beckett circumference method behind AR 600-9 — to estimate your body fat percentage from your height, neck, and waist (plus hip for women). It then checks the result against the Army's maximum body-fat limit for your age and sex.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Army body fat calculator work?
It uses the U.S. military "tape test" (the Hodgdon-Beckett circumference method) from Army Regulation AR 600-9. For men it uses height, neck, and waist; for women it adds the hip measurement. A logarithmic formula estimates body fat percentage from those circumferences — no scale or calipers needed.
Where do I measure neck, waist, and hip?
Neck: just below the larynx (Adam's apple), tape sloping slightly down at the front. Waist (men): horizontally at the navel. Waist (women): at the narrowest point. Hip (women only): at the widest point of the buttocks. Measure in inches, relaxed, without compressing the skin.
What are the Army body fat limits?
Men: 20% (ages 17–20), 22% (21–27), 24% (28–39), 26% (40+). Women: 30% (17–20), 32% (21–27), 34% (28–39), 36% (40+). Stay at or below the limit for your age and sex to pass the AR 600-9 standard.
Is this the same as the Navy and Marine formula?
Yes — the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force all use the same Hodgdon-Beckett circumference equations; only the pass/fail body-fat limits differ by branch. This calculator uses the formula and the Army AR 600-9 limits.
How accurate is the tape test?
The circumference method is a screening estimate, typically within 3–4% of a DEXA or hydrostatic reading for most people. It can over-estimate for very muscular builds. It is designed for consistency and ease, not lab-grade precision.