Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator
Find your waist-to-height ratio — often a better health-risk indicator than BMI. The simple rule: keep your waist under half your height (ratio below 0.5).
Your Measurements
Measure at the navel, relaxed
Waist-to-Height Ratio
0.50
Increased Risk — Central fat is rising — watch diet and activity.
WHtR
0.500
Category
Increased Risk
Healthy Waist (≤0.5)
85 cm
Your Waist
85 cm
How It Works
The waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) simply divides your waist circumference by your height. It has become a favoured measure of health risk because, unlike BMI, it captures central (abdominal) fat — the visceral fat around your organs that most strongly drives heart disease and type-2 diabetes. The guidance is memorable: keep your waist to less than half your height. A ratio under 0.5 is considered healthy; 0.5 to 0.6 signals increased risk; 0.6 and above is high risk. Because it uses a ratio, the same threshold works across heights and, broadly, across sexes and ethnicities. Measure your waist at the navel while relaxed, in the same units as your height, and this calculator returns your ratio and its risk band.
Formula
WHtR = Waist ÷ Height (same units). Healthy < 0.5; increased risk 0.5–0.6; high risk ≥ 0.6.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?
Below 0.5 — your waist should be less than half your height. A ratio of 0.5–0.6 indicates increased risk, and 0.6 or above signals high cardiometabolic risk.
Is waist-to-height ratio better than BMI?
For predicting heart disease and diabetes risk, many studies find WHtR is as good or better than BMI, because it reflects harmful abdominal fat that BMI misses. Using both gives a fuller picture.
How do I measure my waist correctly?
Stand relaxed and measure around your waist at the level of your navel, after breathing out normally. Do not pull the tape tight or suck in. Use the same unit as your height.
Does the ratio differ for men and women?
The under-0.5 rule works well for both sexes and most ethnic groups, which is part of its appeal. Some guidelines use slightly adjusted bands, but 0.5 remains the widely-used healthy threshold.
Why is belly fat more dangerous?
Fat stored around the abdomen (visceral fat) surrounds vital organs and is metabolically active, raising the risk of insulin resistance, heart disease and diabetes more than fat elsewhere on the body.