Waist-to-height ratio calculator
Compare waist and height using the NICE adult screening bands, with metric and imperial measurements.
For adults aged 20 and over with BMI below 35. Measure around your waist halfway between your lowest ribs and the top of your hips, after breathing out normally. Use a level tape without pulling it tight.
How to use this result
The calculation divides waist circumference by height in the same units. NICE uses bands of 0.4 to below 0.5, 0.5 to below 0.6, and 0.6 or above to describe central adiposity (fat around the middle). These bands apply across sexes and ethnicities in adults with BMI below 35. A value below 0.4 falls outside these published bands; it is not labelled healthier.
This screening result is not a diagnosis. An increased band is a reason for an individual health assessment, not a verdict about you. If you do not know your BMI, use our adult BMI calculator first.
Source: NICE NG246: measurements and adult waist-to-height classifications.
Sources checked 21 October 2026. Educational information; discuss health decisions with a qualified healthcare professional.