Body Shape by Measurements
Wondering what your body shape is based on measurements? Below are example bust-waist-hip and chest-waist-hip combinations and the exact body shape each one classifies as, using the same ratio-based rules as our calculator — plus an explanation of how the math works so you can reason about your own numbers.
How the classification actually works
Body shape here is determined by ratios between measurements, not any single number in isolation. For women: Hourglass requires bust and hips within 5% of each other and a waist no more than 75% of their average; Pear requires hips more than 5% larger than bust; Apple requires bust more than 5% larger than hips; anything else falls to Rectangle. For men: Inverted Triangle requires chest more than 8% larger than both waist and hips; Triangle requires hips more than 5% larger than chest; Oval applies when the waist is the largest of the three; anything else is Rectangle.
Because it’s percentage-based, the result is identical whether you measure in inches or centimetres — only the ratios between your three numbers matter.
Example measurements — women (bust-waist-hip)
A sample of measurement combinations and the shape each one classifies as. These are illustrative, not exhaustive — use the calculator for your own numbers.
Example measurements — men (chest-waist-hip)
For men the same three-measurement method applies, using chest instead of bust and a different set of category rules.
| Chest | Waist | Hips | Shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40" | 32" | 36" | Inverted Triangle |
| 36" | 38" | 36" | Oval |
| 36" | 32" | 40" | Triangle |
| 40" | 36" | 40" | Rectangle |
Not seeing your exact numbers above? That’s expected — there are effectively unlimited possible measurement combinations. Use the calculator to enter your own bust or chest, waist, and hip measurements for an instant, exact result.
FAQ
What is my body shape based on measurements?
Your body shape based on measurements comes from the ratios between your bust or chest, waist, and hips — not from any single number or your dress size. Enter your three measurements in the calculator above (or check the worked examples below) to see the exact shape they classify as: hourglass, pear, apple, or rectangle for women; inverted triangle, triangle, oval, or rectangle for men.
What body shape is 34-26-36?
For a female-pattern measurement set (bust-waist-hip), 34-26-36 comes out as Pear: hips (36) exceed bust (34) by more than the 5% threshold used to separate Pear from Hourglass, even though the waist (26) is fairly narrow. Enter your own three numbers in the calculator above for a precise result, since a 1-inch shift in any measurement can move you into a different category.
How is body shape calculated from measurements?
This site's calculator compares ratios, not raw sizes. For women: Hourglass requires bust and hips within 5% of each other AND waist no more than 75% of their average; Pear requires hips more than 5% larger than bust; Apple requires bust more than 5% larger than hips; anything else is Rectangle. For men: Inverted Triangle requires chest more than 8% larger than both waist and hips; Triangle requires hips more than 5% larger than chest; Oval requires the waist to be the largest of the three; anything else is Rectangle.
Why do two people with similar measurements get different shapes?
Because classification is based on ratios between all three measurements, not any single number. A bust of 36" reads completely differently paired with a 24" waist (Hourglass territory) than paired with a 30" waist (Rectangle territory). This is also why looking up a fixed table of measurements only gets you so far — small differences near a threshold can flip the result.
Do these measurement-to-shape mappings work in centimetres too?
Yes. The classification is percentage-based, not measurement-based, so it produces the same shape whether you enter your numbers in inches or centimetres. A 34-26-36 (inches) result classifies identically to its centimetre equivalent.
What if my measurements don't match any example on this page?
The table below shows a handful of representative combinations — it is not exhaustive, since there are effectively unlimited possible measurement triples. Use the calculator above to get an instant, exact result for your specific bust or chest, waist, and hip numbers rather than searching for your exact combination in a table.