Military H&W CalculatorArmy Height and Weight Standards
There are two live standards running at once, and which one applies to you depends entirely on whether you have already shipped. This page covers both in full.
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01Which Standard Applies to You
Almost every page on the internet gets this wrong right now, because the change in July was widely reported as if it applied to everyone. It does not.
| You are… | Standard that applies | Governing policy | What is measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Already serving Active, Guard, Reserve |
WHtR below 0.550 | Army Directive 2026-13 (AR 600-9) | Waist at the navel ÷ height |
| Joining / at MEPS Applicants and DEP |
Height/weight table, then body fat | DoDI 6130.03, AR 40-501 | Height, weight, then tape test if over |
If you are joining, the tables are not "archived"
The height and weight tables were rescinded for serving Soldiers. They were not rescinded for accession. Applicants are still screened on the table, with the tape test behind it. Use the MEPS height and weight calculator.
The split exists because two different instructions govern the two populations. In-service fitness and body composition fall under DoD Instruction 1308.03, which is what the Department changed when it adopted the waist-to-height ratio across the Joint Force. Accession medical standards fall under DoD Instruction 6130.03, which the change did not touch.
02The Standard for Serving Soldiers
Waist measured at the navel, divided by height, both in the same unit. A result below 0.550 meets the standard. There are no age brackets, no separate limits for women, and no fitness-test exemption. It applies identically to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.
The ratio is recorded to three decimal places with no rounding in your favour: 0.549 passes and 0.550 fails. Measurements are taken twice per calendar year, and a commander may direct one at any time.
| Element | Before (rescinded) | Now (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Screening step | Weight-for-height table, Table B-1 | None — WHtR is measured for everyone |
| Body fat method | Circumference tape test → estimated body fat % | None — no body fat percentage is calculated |
| Age brackets | Four bands, each with its own limit | None — one universal threshold |
| Sex difference | Separate, higher limits for women | None — identical for all Soldiers |
| Fitness exemption | High fitness test score exempted you from taping | Removed — assessed independently |
| Supplemental scans | DXA, InBody, Bod Pod could be used | Barred from challenging a result |
| Forms | DA Form 5500 (male), DA Form 5501 (female) | DA Form 5500, recorded in ATIS |
| Frequency | Tied to the record fitness test cycle | Twice per calendar year |
Full detail on what the directive changed is on the Army Directive 2026-13 page, and the regulation itself is covered on the AR 600-9 page.
Target Waist by Height
Because the standard requires a ratio strictly below 0.550, your waist must come in under the figure shown, not match it. The ratio is recorded to three decimal places with no rounding in your favour: 0.549 passes, 0.550 fails.
| Height | Height (in) | Waist must be below | In centimetres |
|---|
03The Standard for Applicants
Applicants are screened on the weight-for-height table below. Exceeding the maximum for your height and age band is not a disqualification — it moves you to the body fat tape test, which is the gate that actually decides it.
Separately, AR 40-501 sets a height range of 58 to 80 inches for Army service, the same for men and women, with waivers requestable under AR 601-210.
AR 600-9 Height and Weight Table
This is the weight-for-height screening table, broken out by sex and age band. Height is rounded to the nearest inch before the lookup.
| Height | Min weight | 17–20 | 21–27 | 28–39 | 40+ |
|---|
Over 80 inches tall: add 6 lb per inch for men, 5 lb per inch for women. Falling below the minimum weight triggers a referral for medical evaluation rather than a pass.
04Body Fat Limits at Accession
If you exceed the screening weight, these are the limits the tape test is measured against.
| Age group | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40 and older | 26% | 36% |
The circumference formulas and the rounding rules that go with them are on the Army body fat calculator page, and the full chart with worked examples is on the body fat chart by age page.
05How the Other Services Compare
The waist-to-height ratio is now a Joint Force standard, but the Army is the only service that made it the sole method, and the thresholds differ.
| Branch | WHtR threshold | Still uses body fat %? |
|---|---|---|
| Army | Below 0.55 | No — WHtR is the sole method |
| Marine Corps | 0.52 or below | Yes, as a secondary path |
| Navy | Around 0.55 | Yes, as a secondary path |
| Air Force / Space Force | 0.55 or below | Yes — part of the Fitness Assessment |
Applicants to every branch are still screened at MEPS under DoDI 6130.03, not WHtR.
06Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Army height and weight standards in 2026?
For serving Soldiers, a waist-to-height ratio below 0.550 is the sole standard. For applicants, the AR 600-9 weight-for-height table applies, with a body fat tape test for anyone over the maximum.
Did the Army get rid of the height and weight chart?
For serving Soldiers, yes — Army Directive 2026-13 rescinded the screening tables on 7 July 2026. The chart is still used at accession.
What is the minimum height to join the Army?
58 inches, or 4 feet 10 inches, under AR 40-501. The maximum is 80 inches. The same range applies to men and women, and waivers can be requested.
Are the standards different for the National Guard and Reserve?
No. Army Directive 2026-13 applies the same waist-to-height standard to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.
07Sources & References
Official and primary sources
- Army modifies body composition program, adopts waist-to-height ratio — Army Public Affairs, 7 July 2026
- Army Directive 2026-13, Army Body Composition Program and Standards — Army Publishing Directorate
- AR 600-9, The Army Body Composition Program — Tables B-1 and B-2 and the circumference formulas
- DoD Instruction 6130.03 — medical standards for military service, accession
- Military OneSource — free fitness and nutrition coaching for service members
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.
Check your own numbers
Reading the tables is one thing; knowing where you land is another. The army height and weight calculator runs both standards and tells you your exact margin either way.