Army body fat calculator
The one-site tape test from Army Directive 2023-11: body weight plus one abdominal measurement at the navel, checked against the AR 600-9 limit for your age.
Enter body weight and abdominal circumference.
Army body fat limits (AR 600-9)
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40+ | 26% | 36% |
The one-site equation
- Men: body fat % = −26.97 − (0.12 × weight in lb) + (1.99 × abdomen in inches)
- Women: body fat % = −9.15 − (0.015 × weight in lb) + (1.27 × abdomen in inches)
Notice that weight carries a negative sign: at the same waist, a heavier soldier scores lower, because extra weight at a fixed waist is more likely to be muscle. That is why the abdomen number is the one to watch. A 1-inch smaller waist drops the male estimate by about 2 points and the female estimate by about 1.3 points.
Example: a 180 lb man with a 36 in abdomen scores −26.97 − 21.6 + 71.64 = 23.07, which rounds to 23%. That passes for ages 28 and up, but is over the 22% limit at 21–27.
Army vs Navy formula
The Navy method on our body fat calculator uses height, neck and waist (plus hips for women) and was the Army’s own method until 2023. The two equations are different regressions, so expect different answers for the same person. For day-to-day tracking, log the navel measurement in the measurement tracker, and use the how-to-measure guide to keep the tape in the same place each time.
Sources: Army Directive 2023-11 (Army Body Fat Assessment for the Army Body Composition Program); AR 600-9; DA Forms 5500 and 5501. Estimate only, not an official record.
Questions people ask
How does the Army calculate body fat now?
Army Directive 2023-11 replaced the old neck-and-waist tape test with a one-site equation that uses only body weight (lb) and abdominal circumference (in) at the navel. Men: −26.97 − 0.12 × weight + 1.99 × abdomen. Women: −9.15 − 0.015 × weight + 1.27 × abdomen. The result is rounded to the nearest whole percent.
What is the maximum body fat allowed in the Army?
AR 600-9 limits by age group are 20%, 22%, 24% and 26% for men aged 17–20, 21–27, 28–39 and 40+, and 30%, 32%, 34% and 36% for women in the same groups.
Who is exempt from the Army tape test?
Under Army Directive 2023-11, soldiers who scored at least 540 on the fitness test with at least 80 points in each event were exempt from the body fat assessment. Fitness-test rules have changed since, so check the current AR 600-9 and your unit before relying on an exemption.
Where exactly is the abdomen measured?
Horizontally around the abdomen at the level of the navel, tape snug but not compressing the skin, at the end of a normal breath out. The official procedure takes three measurements and averages them; this calculator lets you enter that average.
Is this an official Army result?
No. It applies the published equation for practice and self-tracking. Only a measurement taken by trained personnel on a DA Form 5500 (men) or 5501 (women) counts.