# What is my body shape?

Sorts bust, waist, high hip, and hip measurements into one of seven body shapes (hourglass, bottom hourglass, top hourglass, spoon, triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle) with the Female Figure Identification Technique (FFIT) rules.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/health/body-shape-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/health/body-shape-calculator.json
- Version: ea21ac062f90

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Bust 36 in, Waist 28 in, High hip 34 in, Hips 38 in): With bust 36 in, waist 28 in, and hips 38 in, your body shape is Hourglass.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| bust | Bust | Around the fullest part of the bust. |
| waist | Waist | Around the narrowest part of the waist. |
| highHip | High hip | Around the top of the hip bones, between the waist and the hips. |
| hips | Hips | Around the widest part of the hips and buttocks. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| shape | Your body shape | The first FFIT shape whose rule the measurements meet. |
| about | Meaning | A one-line description of the shape. |
| bustHip | Bust minus hips | Bust circumference minus hip circumference, in inches. |
| bustWaist | Bust minus waist | Bust circumference minus waist circumference, in inches. |
| hipWaist | Hips minus waist | Hip circumference minus waist circumference, in inches. |
| shelf | High hip ÷ waist | High hip circumference divided by waist circumference; 1.193 or more marks a high-hip “shelf”. |

## Method

FFIT rules on inch differences, checked in order: hourglass, bottom hourglass, top hourglass, spoon, triangle, inverted triangle, rectangle; the first match is the shape.

## Assumptions

- The rules are the FFIT formulas for apparel (Simmons, Istook and Devarajan 2004; formulas as published by Lee and others 2007), in inches; centimetres are converted with 1 in = 2.54 cm.
- The shapes are checked in order and the first rule that holds wins, because some rules overlap.
- FFIT was made from 3D body scans of women for clothing fit. It describes proportions, not health.
- Measurements with a much larger waist than bust or hips may match no shape; FFIT’s oval and diamond shapes need stomach and abdomen measurements.

## Worked examples

1. bust = 0.9144, waist = 0.7112, highHip = 0.8636, hips = 0.9652 gives shape = Hourglass, about = Bust and hips about the same, with a clearly defined waist., hipWaist = 0.254, bustWaist = 0.2032. Source: FFIT rules (Lee and others 2007, as printed in Sokolowski and others 2020, Table 7); the shape sentences are listed in content.mdx; hand calculation in content.mdx: bust − hips = −2 ≤ 1, hips − bust = 2 < 3.6, hips − waist = 10 ≥ 10.
2. bust = 0.8636, waist = 0.6858, highHip = 0.7874, hips = 1.016 gives shape = Bottom hourglass, about = Hips larger than the bust, with a clearly defined waist., shelf = 1.148148. Source: FFIT rules; hand calculation in content.mdx: hips − bust = 6, hips − waist = 13, high hip ÷ waist = 1.148 < 1.193.
3. bust = 0.8636, waist = 0.7112, highHip = 0.9144, hips = 1.016 gives shape = Spoon, about = Hips much larger than the bust, with a “shelf” at the high hip., shelf = 1.285714. Source: FFIT rules; hand calculation in content.mdx: hips − bust = 6 > 2, hips − waist = 12 ≥ 7, high hip ÷ waist = 1.286 ≥ 1.193.
4. bust = 0.8636, waist = 0.8128, highHip = 0.9144, hips = 1.016 gives shape = Triangle, about = Hips larger than the bust, without a clearly defined waist.. Source: FFIT rules; hand calculation in content.mdx: hips − bust = 6 ≥ 3.6 and hips − waist = 8 < 9.
5. bust = 1.016, waist = 0.8382, highHip = 0.8636, hips = 0.889 gives shape = Inverted triangle, about = Bust larger than the hips, without a clearly defined waist.. Source: FFIT rules; hand calculation in content.mdx: bust − hips = 5 ≥ 3.6 and bust − waist = 7 < 9.
6. bust = 1.016, waist = 0.7366, highHip = 0.8636, hips = 0.9144 gives shape = Top hourglass, about = Bust larger than the hips, with a clearly defined waist.. Source: FFIT rules; hand calculation in content.mdx: bust − hips = 4 (over 1, under 10) and bust − waist = 11 ≥ 9.
7. bust = 0.889, waist = 0.762, highHip = 0.8636, hips = 0.9144 gives shape = Rectangle, about = Bust and hips about the same, without a clearly defined waist.. Source: FFIT rules; hand calculation in content.mdx: bust and hips 1 in apart, bust − waist = 5 < 9, hips − waist = 6 < 10.

## FAQ

### How do I find my body shape?

Measure your bust, waist, high hip, and hips, then compare the differences. With the FFIT rules, a bust and hips within a few inches of each other plus a waist at least 9 inches smaller than the bust (or 10 inches smaller than the hips) is an hourglass. The calculator checks all seven rules for you.

### How do I measure my bust, waist, high hip, and hips?

Stand straight and keep the tape level and snug but not tight. Bust: around the fullest part. Waist: around the narrowest part. High hip: around the top of the hip bones, between the waist and the hips. Hips: around the widest part of the hips and buttocks.

### What are the seven body shapes?

Hourglass (bust and hips about equal, defined waist), bottom hourglass (hips larger, defined waist), top hourglass (bust larger, defined waist), spoon (hips much larger, with a shelf at the high hip), triangle (hips larger, no defined waist), inverted triangle (bust larger, no defined waist), and rectangle (bust and hips about equal, no defined waist).

### What if my measurements match no shape?

The FFIT rules assume a waist smaller than the bust and hips. The original FFIT also has oval and diamond shapes for a larger midsection, but they need stomach and abdomen measurements, so this calculator says no shape fits instead of guessing.

### Is body shape a health measure?

No. FFIT was made from 3D body scans to help clothing fit. It describes proportions only. For health, waist size, BMI, and a health care professional's advice are more useful.

### Does this work for men?

The FFIT rules were made from women's measurements, so the shapes are for women's figures. The numbers still work for anyone, but the names may not describe a man's build well.

## Sources

- Simmons KP, Istook CL, Devarajan P. Female Figure Identification Technique (FFIT) for apparel, part I: describing female shapes. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management 2004;4(1):1–16.
- Lee JY, Istook CL, Nam YJ, Park SM. Comparison of body shape between USA and Korean women. International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology 2007;19(5):374–391. doi:10.1108/09556220710819555
- Sokolowski SL, Bettencourt C. Modification of the Female Figure Identification Technique (FFIT) formulas to include plus size bodies. Proceedings of 3DBODY.TECH 2020, Table 7 (original FFIT formulas, in inches). doi:10.15221/20.22
- NIST SP 811 (2008), Appendix B: 1 in = 2.54 cm exactly.