Body fat % for men, from a tape measure.

Pick 'Male' in the calculator below. The US Navy formula for men uses just three numbers — height, neck, waist — and lands within ±3% of DEXA for most people. No skinfolds, no gadgets, no sign-up.

Gender

Determines which formula and which categories apply

Height

Neck

Below the larynx, perpendicular to the long axis of the neck

Waist

At the navel

FITENABLE offers informational fitness and nutrition coaching — not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Talk to a qualified professional before starting, especially if you're pregnant, injured, or managing a medical condition.

Enter your numbers — gender, height, neck, waist (and hip for women) — then tap Calculate body fat for an estimate using the US Navy circumference method.

How this is calculated

US Navy circumference method, measurements in inches. Men: %fat = 86.010 × log₁₀(waist − neck) − 70.041 × log₁₀(height) + 36.76 Women: %fat = 163.205 × log₁₀(waist + hip − neck) − 97.684 × log₁₀(height) − 78.387

Published error margin is about ±3 percentage points against hydrostatic weighing. It is a directional estimate from a tape measure, not a clinical body-composition scan. Track the trend over weeks rather than reading a single number as a verdict.

Sources

US Department of Defense circumference body-fat equations (DoD Instruction 1308.1), derived by Hodgdon JA & Beckett MB, Naval Health Research Center Reports 84-11 and 84-29, 1984 — both the men's and women's equations reproduced in Military Medicine 2025, hosted free by the US National Library of Medicine

Body fat percentage chart for men

ACE-published categories for men:

Essential fat: 2–5%. Bare physiological minimum. Sub-5% is a competition-day window, not a lifestyle.
Athlete: 6–13%. Visible abs. Hard to maintain year-round.
Fit: 14–17%. Strong, athletic, sustainable.
Acceptable: 18–24%. Normal for most adult men.
Obese: 25%+. Metabolic risk climbs from here.

What body-fat percentage gets you visible abs?

For most men, 10–12% is the band where the rectus abdominis becomes clearly defined; clear separation between each "block" usually requires 8–10%. Going below 8% is harsh on hormones (testosterone drops), sleep, and mood. Most natural physique competitors don't live below 10% year-round — they peak there for stage week and rebound to 12–15% in their off-season.

Why measuring beats stepping on a scale

On a calorie deficit, the scale moves before the mirror does. Body fat % is the inverse: the tape often shows progress (waist shrinking) while the scale stalls — usually because muscle is slightly increasing as fat decreases. If you only track scale weight, you'll mistake a real recomposition win for a stall.

Hip measurement isn't needed for men

The Navy formula was calibrated separately by sex. Men's fat distribution is android-pattern (more around the waist), so the equation only needs waist, neck, and height. The hip measurement only enters the women's formula.

Targeting muscle gain or fat loss? Pair this with TDEE for men for your calorie target, then take the 4-minute assessment to get that split into meals.

Full method comparison + FAQ on the main body fat calculator page.

The next step

Numbers told you where you are. We tell you where to go.

A 4-minute assessment, a coach-reviewed plan — built for your body, your kitchen, your life.

Take the assessment →