Military H&W CalculatorArmy Body Fat Chart by Age
The maximum allowable body fat percentages from AR 600-9 Table B-2, the formulas behind them, and an honest note on who these limits still apply to.
Last reviewed:
Where these limits still apply
Serving Soldiers are no longer measured on body fat percentage at all — Army Directive 2026-13 replaced it with the waist-to-height ratio on 7 July 2026. These figures remain the accession standard at MEPS and the reference point for ROTC and academy candidates.
The Chart
| Age group | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40 and older | 26% | 36% |
The pattern is consistent: the limit rises by two percentage points at each age band, and the female limit sits ten points above the male limit at every band. Both reflect the reference data the equations were derived against rather than any judgement about fitness.
Run your own numbers with the Army body fat calculator.
The Formulas Behind the Chart
Body fat is estimated from circumferences and height. All measurements go in inches.
- Men: % body fat = [86.010 × log10(abdomen − neck)] − [70.041 × log10(height)] + 36.76
- Women: % body fat = [163.205 × log10(waist + hip − neck)] − [97.684 × log10(height)] − 78.387
Worked example — male
Neck 16 in, abdomen 49 in, height 69 in. The circumference value is 49 − 16 = 33.
% body fat = (86.010 × 1.5185) − (70.041 × 1.8388) + 36.76 = 39% after rounding to the nearest whole percent.
Worked example — female
Neck 15 in, waist 42 in, hip 44 in, height 64 in. The circumference value is 42 + 44 − 15 = 71.
% body fat = (163.205 × 1.8513) − (97.684 × 1.8062) − 78.387 = 47% after rounding.
The Rounding Rules Move the Answer
| Measurement | Rule | Effect on the result |
|---|---|---|
| Neck | Round up to the nearest ½ in | Raises estimated body fat |
| Abdomen / waist | Round down to the nearest ½ in | Raises estimated body fat |
| Hip | Round down to the nearest ½ in | Raises estimated body fat (female formula) |
Both male rounding rules push the estimate upward rather than downward, which is deliberate. Measurements are taken three times in sequence and averaged; if one differs from the others by more than an inch, a fourth is taken and the three closest are averaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum body fat for a 30-year-old male in the Army?
Under AR 600-9 Table B-2, a male in the 28 to 39 band has a maximum allowable body fat of 24 percent. That limit applies at accession; serving Soldiers are now measured on waist-to-height ratio instead.
Why are the female body fat limits higher?
Essential body fat is higher in women for physiological reasons, and the standards were set against reference data reflecting that. The limit sits ten percentage points above the male limit in every age band.
Do these body fat limits still apply to serving Soldiers?
No. Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded body fat percentage as a standard for serving Soldiers on 7 July 2026 and replaced it with waist-to-height ratio.
Sources & References
Official and primary sources
- AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program — Tables B-1 and B-2 and the circumference formulas
- Army modifies body composition program, adopts waist-to-height ratio — Army Public Affairs, 7 July 2026
- DoD Instruction 6130.03 — medical standards for military service, accession
Standards change. Confirm anything career-affecting with your chain of command, your recruiter, or the current publication on Army Publishing Directorate before acting on it.
From the chart to your number
Charts tell you the limit; they do not tell you where you sit. The height and weight calculator for the Army does both, for the serving standard and the accession one.