Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) compares waist circumference to height using the same units. It reflects central adiposity more directly than weight alone. A common public-health screening cue is keeping waist under about half of height (WHtR below 0.5)—cutoffs vary by age, sex, and ethnicity; this page does not diagnose disease.
WHtR = waist ÷ height. Sometimes expressed as a percent: waist ÷ height × 100. Values near or above 0.5 often trigger cardiometabolic screening conversations in population guidelines—your clinician interprets risk.
Measure waist horizontally at the midpoint between iliac crest and lowest rib after normal exhale (protocols vary slightly).
This waist-to-height ratio calculator applies the formulas described on this page to the values you enter. Outputs are not financial, tax, legal, or medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
Many public-health references use WHtR under 0.5 (waist less than half your height) as a simple benchmark. It is not a personal diagnosis—overall risk depends on many factors.
Protocols differ by guideline. Use a consistent horizontal tape position—commonly midway between the top of the iliac crest and the bottom of the rib cage after a normal exhale.
BMI relates weight to height squared. WHtR emphasizes central adiposity from waist size relative to stature—useful context, not a replacement for medical assessment.