The US Navy Body fat Calculator

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Guy
Guy
March 5, 2025 16:34

Dear Andy, I don’t have a question yet but read your emails daily.. and how happy I am to see that you answer everything personally here. I haven’t seen that anywhere…

Khalid Ali
Khalid Ali
October 9, 2024 03:40

Hi ,

Simple question I’m male 173 cm currently at 64.5 kg, Us Navy calculator estimates me at 16-17% , pictures show more like 20-21%.

Reached my peak fatness Dec 2023 where I was 78 kg. started doing calisthenics and proper calorie deficit diet 6-7 months ago now I’m 64.5kg

I’m continuing to deficit mildly and progressing in my calisthenics using weights. I’m still losing weight but eventually I’ll reach a weight let’s say 58-60 kg where my BMI will become low and apparently that is not healthy once your BMI goes below 18-19. What’s your opinion on this ?

Shane
Shane
June 4, 2024 01:12

Hey Andy, where are those error rates coming from? Is that from a study?

Keith
Keith
June 28, 2023 23:10

So my dexa scan says I'm 29.3%, Navy calculator says 22%, however I have visible abs so I'm not sure how to interpret the results, given that your article states abs are visible at 8-16%,

Lauren
Lauren
November 27, 2022 01:24

On my phone there is no way to switch the gender to female… Or is the female calculation on another link? Also, Is the calculation for woman also +/-3% error bars? Thanks.

Vivek loungani
Vivek loungani
October 26, 2022 14:09

When I measure my body fat through the US Navy body fat calculator it comes to 19 %, whereas when I measure through my smart scale it shows 27%. Which one is more accurate?

Steven
Steven
October 19, 2022 00:33

trying to cut 3 percent body fat fast what the best way

Oliver
Oliver
September 3, 2022 18:08

I don’t think for lower body fat percentages the calculator is accurate due to it being calculated that I have a negative % (-4.2%). My height is 170cm and 51kg at age 16. Waist 63cm and neck 37cm. I cant get an accurate measurement for my body fat anywhere. Do you think its my age and is there any accurate way of calculating my body fat?

Francesco
Francesco
August 29, 2022 16:17

Hi andy, i’m 57 kg 174cm 18yo , after looking at the photos of your client i think that i’m between 12-13% of body fat i was 59 kg and i cut for a month because i was a little bit skinny fat.
But with every measurement like this or other that i find on internet the result is 8-9% should i trust this more than my eye?
I wanted to be 10-12% to bulk for almost a year but i’m not sure if i’m in the 10-12% spot or in the 13-15, what do you think? Sorry for the bad english, i’m writing from Italy and i appreciate a lot your work

Ian R
Ian R
March 25, 2022 10:34

Something seems off with the body fat calculations? The calculated body fat percentage DECREASES with increasing neck circumference. i.e. If I enter a higher value for my neck the fat percentage calculated goes lower. Everything I’ve read elsewehere says there’s a positive correlation between body fat and neck circumference so I would expect body fat to increase with increase in neck size? Or am I wrong about that?

Kurt K.
Kurt K.
March 1, 2022 06:03

Thank you for posting this site as I very much wanted a site where I could see visuals of people at varying body fat percentages. I have lost a lot of weight quickly, I never know where I am and had come to trust my home scale’s BF reading. Maybe it is right, maybe not. Fortunately, I have a new resource (your site) to consider before accepting a number. Albeit, we all have different builds.

I found most information helpful overall and will keep this in mind as I continue to cut BF. I just hope that being a 53-year-old does not skew things measurably.
Thank you for taking the time to help inquiring, motivated minds!

Kurt K.
Kurt K.
March 1, 2022 13:30
Reply to  Andy Morgan

I appreciate the feedback as I am always reluctant to avoid taking responsibility, case in point, blaming loose skin. However, I think dropping down from 260 to 200 in 4.5 months begs an open mind. My source of insecurity, when determining BF, stems from knowing that I still maintain back fat behind my shoulder blades and lower back. This affects my lower breast area as I gave up benching (cold turkey) when I vowed to never touch another weight. Other than that, I am thrilled with my progress.
Forgive me if I digress, but I have adopted a boxer-like workout, hitting the bag 2 times a day for a half an hour each session then using straps and cords for abs and lats, etc.
I am going to add more protein as your post recommends and continue to live on a small caloric reduction. Since there is no magical solution to losing back fat, I am thinking that I should stay the course with my workouts.
Thanks, Andy, as I feel you are out to help, not sell!

Alexey Inozemtsev
Alexey Inozemtsev
November 3, 2021 11:25

Andy, thank you for sharing the calculator. It shows I have 19,6%, however, my smart scale shows 27%. It seems lots of people could be misled by BMI machines and smart gadgets. I want to publish this article in Russian. It looks like an email contact form does not exist anymore. How do I get in contact with you on that? Thanks!

Alexey
Alexey
November 5, 2021 14:29
Reply to  Andy Morgan

Andy, found it. Finally. 🙂

Vijay Gwalani
Vijay Gwalani
September 21, 2021 18:46

I was 165 cm 61 kg. I looked thin overall but had a belly. I was a skinny fat newbie and then decided to cut first but had decent protein intake (95g) every day in the 1200 calorie intake. I lost weight to 56kg but got some muscles too in 3 months. Now I have a flattish stomach but not totally flat, I can’t see abs yet. I have increased the diet to 1500 calories with 105g proteins. Gained 1 kg in a month to reach 57kg. I do heavy enough weights to fail on 10th rep in the 3rd set and work out 5-6 days a week (legs, chest + shoulders, back, arms + 20 min cardio.. repeat)

What should be my next step?.. I am neither happy with my belly (n it flatter) nor happy with muscle (look small underweight).

Sivakumar L
Sivakumar L
September 15, 2021 18:02

Hi Andy, I have reduced my body fat from 24% to 11.5%. (From 37 inches to 30.125 inches.) But the skin wrinkles in my lower abs are not going. What should I do?
Will it go after some time?

Sivakumar L
Sivakumar L
September 16, 2021 17:15
Reply to  Andy Morgan

Hi Andy,
Thank you very much. But the thing is from 20 th sept onwards I should only be eating Vegeterian protein due to religious issues, for 2 weeks.
I have made sure to eat same calories. You very well know all legumes, lentils do have more carbs than protein. Cheese too, has moderate protein and more fat and some carbs for the same calories. So there will be more carbs than protein to the same calories that I will have. Will it increase fat. Or even if there is fat loss, will it be masked.

Sivakumar L
Sivakumar L
September 17, 2021 17:13
Reply to  Andy Morgan

Thank you and very nice of you

Sivakumar L
Sivakumar L
June 24, 2021 21:01

Hi Andy,

My Body fat is 17 % now.

Can I do Abs training

Sivakumar L
Sivakumar L
June 26, 2021 17:15
Reply to  Andy Morgan

Yes you r right. Just thought Abs training it is required to show ab muscles
I am in a caloric deficit of 450 kcal. inclusive of workout calorie burns
My training goes like this:
Sun: Chest & Biceps
Mon: Jumping Rope HIIT with jogging at place
Tue: Back & Triceps
Wed: Jumping Rope HIIT with mountain climbers
Thru: Shoulders all 3 heads
Fri: Jumping Rope HIIT with jogging at place
Sat: Quads & Calves (Barbell Squat, Dumbbell Lunges, Calf raises)
I have been doing this for past 3 months & reduced BF from 24 to 17 %
Is this enough for abs muscles to pop up if my BF goes down below
15,14,or 13

Sivakumar L
Sivakumar L
June 27, 2021 18:25
Reply to  Andy Morgan

Excellent advice Thanks Mr. Andy.
I am sorry I should have texted this…
I was in a bulking phase for three years before,
Started as a newbie at 40 yrs only, on May 2015, continued during 2016, 2017. (i.e 2015,2016, 2017) 3 yrs. Then stopped working out due to water problem. I had to lift Water containers of 17 kgs on both hands, walk for several times for procurement. This made my hands so sore and tired. But eventually noted belly fat stores going up as I use to consume more calories before this diet. Before this diet my Arms read 14″, chest 43″ Etc.
But Arms are 13.5″ and chest 40″ now. But a good trade, as my waist reduced from 37″ to 32.25″ now

Jonathan
Jonathan
February 2, 2021 04:07

Hi Andy – great website and resources. I’m guessing the best time to take the measurements is first thing in the morning before any meals, but I’m curious if that’s what the Navy test is based on (were their measurements for this test taken at a certain time under specific conditions?). Can you confirm?

Danny Collins
Danny Collins
August 4, 2020 02:19

Protein requirements? Results?

Andy,

I have a question about the longevity of my goal of 8%. It shows on one of the articles that my protein recommendations are around 160g.

If I only eat 120-140 a day and keep under my calories requirements—will this make any difference in my over body fat%? I am working on a lifetime habit of eating, not just a way to get there and then change. If it takes me 2 months longer eating less protein and I still make it to my goal I don’t care. I want to be able to maintain and keep my lifestyle for the long haul?

Thank you so much for this site and your guidance!

You’re truly a blessing.

Danny
Danny
August 4, 2020 08:49
Reply to  Andy Morgan

Roger that! Thank you sir

Danny Collins
Danny Collins
July 27, 2020 08:53

What is the estimated BF% of the guy at the top of the article?

Thank you sir! This website is amazing!

Danny Collins
Danny Collins
July 30, 2020 01:02
Reply to  Andy Morgan

Thank you sir

Orlando
Orlando
June 16, 2020 13:17

Congratulations Andy, I have a question, the abdominal circumference in the formula of women is also taken by the navel just like men or does it change to the waist circumference, the narrowest Part? Thanks

Gordon
Gordon
May 18, 2020 15:04

Is skinny fat real and if so what percent do you need to be in order to be considered skinny fat