Body Type Calculator
Find your body shape — hourglass, pear, rectangle, and more — from four measurements, using the published FFIT classification system.
“Pear, apple, hourglass” gets thrown around loosely — but there’s an actual published system underneath: the Female Figure Identification Technique (FFIT) for Apparel, developed at NC State University from thousands of 3D body scans to make clothing fit better. This calculator applies those exact rules to your four measurements to answer “what is my body type” with a real classification, not a guess. Enter the numbers in centimeters or inches — the calculator converts automatically.
The four measurements
- Bust — around the fullest point.
- Waist — the narrowest point of your torso.
- High hip — around the upper hip bones, about 7–10 cm (3–4 inches) below the waist. This one distinguishes a “spoon” (a pronounced high-hip shelf) from other hip-led shapes.
- Hips — the fullest point of the seat.
Measure snug but not tight, tape level with the floor.
The seven shapes
FFIT compares the differences between measurements against fixed thresholds, in a set order — the first rule that matches wins:
| Shape | The gist |
|---|---|
| Hourglass | Bust ≈ hips, sharply smaller waist |
| Bottom hourglass | Hourglass with hips clearly leading |
| Top hourglass | Hourglass with bust clearly leading |
| Spoon | Hips lead with a pronounced high-hip “shelf” |
| Triangle (pear) | Hips lead, waist less defined |
| Inverted triangle | Bust/shoulders lead, waist less defined |
| Rectangle | All four measurements within a few centimeters |
In the original scan data, rectangle was the most common classification — the fashion-standard hourglass is genuinely uncommon.
Using your shape for fit
Where this pays off is clothing. Your shape predicts which cuts sit well without alteration — a defined waist tends to suit fitted and belted styles, a balanced rectangle carries structured and layered looks, and hip-led shapes are often flattered by A-line skirts and wider legs. Treat it as a starting point for what works, not a rule; the point of the FFIT system was always better fit off the rack.
What shape is (and isn’t) for
Shape classification earns its keep in fit and styling — it predicts which cuts sit well without alteration. It is not a health verdict: the categories describe proportion, and every one of them is a normal, healthy way for a body to be. The single health-relevant number in your inputs is the waist-to-hip ratio, shown alongside your result; WHO associates ratios above 0.85 (women) with higher cardiometabolic risk — that conversation belongs to the ratio, not the shape label.
Frequently asked questions
How does the body type calculator work?
It applies the FFIT for Apparel classification from North Carolina State University — the published rule set behind most body-shape tools. Your bust, waist, high-hip, and hip measurements are compared against fixed thresholds (for example, an hourglass needs a bust no more than about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the hips, hips up to about 3.6 inches (9 cm) larger than the bust, and a waist at least 9 inches (23 cm) below the bust or 10 inches (25 cm) below the hips).
How do I measure correctly?
Use a soft tape, snug but not compressing, over minimal clothing: bust at the fullest point; waist at the narrowest point (usually just above the navel); high hip around the upper hip bones, about 7–10 cm (3–4 inches) below the waist; hips at the fullest point of the seat.
What are the possible shapes?
Seven, per FFIT: hourglass, bottom hourglass, top hourglass, spoon, triangle (pear), inverted triangle, and rectangle. The rules are checked in the published order and the first match wins — most people fall into rectangle, spoon, or one of the triangles; true hourglasses are rarer than fashion suggests.
Does my body shape say anything about health?
Shape itself is a proportion, not a diagnosis — every shape is a normal way for a body to be. The one health-relevant number in the set is the waist-to-hip ratio (shown with your result): WHO links ratios above 0.85 for women to higher cardiometabolic risk, regardless of shape category.