Body Figure Types: Understanding Your Figure
A clear explanation of body figure types, how the concept differs from body shape, and a practical guide to identifying your own figure.
The Short Answer
Body figure types describe the proportional relationship between your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips. The five main types are hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle, and inverted triangle. Your figure is shaped by both your skeletal frame and soft tissue distribution, and it can shift with weight or muscle changes.
What Are Body Figure Types?
A body figure type is a classification that describes the overall visual proportions of your body when viewed from the front. It takes into account the relative widths of your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips—as well as where your body naturally carries weight.
While "body figure" and "body shape" are often used as synonyms, the term figure carries a broader meaning. Your figure encompasses your skeletal frame (bone width, shoulder span, hip bone placement), your soft tissue distribution (where fat and muscle sit), and even your posture. Shape, on the other hand, tends to focus more narrowly on the silhouette created by fat distribution.
Figure vs. Shape: The Key Difference
Body Figure
- • Includes skeletal structure
- • Considers posture and proportions
- • Frame size plays a role
- • Broader, more holistic concept
- • Partly permanent (bone structure)
Body Shape
- • Focuses on fat distribution
- • Defined by measurement ratios
- • Can change with weight shifts
- • Narrower classification system
- • More commonly used in fashion
In practice, the styling advice for both concepts is the same: identify your proportions and choose clothing that creates the silhouette you want. The distinction matters more for understanding why two women with the same "shape" can look different in the same outfit—frame size and posture account for much of that variation.
The 5 Main Figure Types
Research has identified five primary figure types that account for virtually all female body proportions. Here is each type with its approximate prevalence:
Hourglass Figure
~8%Ratio: Bust ≈ Hips, Waist notably smaller
Balanced bust and hip measurements with a clearly defined waist. Often considered the most proportionally balanced figure type.
Learn more about hourglass figure →Pear (Triangle) Figure
~20%Ratio: Hips > Bust, Defined waist
Hips are wider than shoulders and bust. Weight tends to gather in the lower body. The waist is usually well defined.
Learn more about pear (triangle) figure →Apple (Round) Figure
~14%Ratio: Bust ≥ Hips, Less defined waist
Weight is carried in the midsection and upper body. The bust is often fuller and legs tend to be slimmer.
Learn more about apple (round) figure →Rectangle (Straight) Figure
~46%Ratio: Bust ≈ Waist ≈ Hips
Shoulders, waist, and hips are roughly the same width with little waist definition. Athletic builds often fall here.
Learn more about rectangle (straight) figure →Inverted Triangle Figure
~14%Ratio: Shoulders/Bust > Hips
Broader shoulders and bust with narrower hips. Common in women with athletic upper bodies or wider shoulder bones.
Learn more about inverted triangle figure →How Frame Size Affects Your Figure
Two women can share the same figure type yet look distinctly different because of their bone frame size. Frame size refers to the width and density of your bones—particularly at the shoulders, wrists, and hips.
- Small frame: Narrow bones, delicate wrists, often appears petite. A small-framed pear looks different from a large-framed pear even at similar weights.
- Medium frame: Average bone width. Standard clothing sizes tend to fit well without major alterations.
- Large frame: Wider bones and joints. May need to size up for shoulder or hip room even at a healthy weight.
You can estimate your frame size with a simple wrist test: wrap your thumb and middle finger around your opposite wrist. If they overlap you have a small frame, if they just touch you have a medium frame, and if they do not meet you have a large frame.
Discover Your Figure Type
Our free calculator takes your bust, waist, and hip measurements and determines your figure type instantly—no guesswork required.
Measuring Your Figure Type at Home
You need a flexible measuring tape, a mirror, and light-fitting clothing. Take each measurement twice for accuracy:
- 1. Bust: Wrap the tape around the fullest point of your chest, keeping it level.
- 2. Waist: Find the narrowest point of your torso—usually a few inches above the navel.
- 3. Hips: Measure around the widest point of your hips and buttocks.
- 4. Shoulders (optional): Measure from the edge of one shoulder bone to the other across the back.
Compare the three core measurements. The relative sizes determine your figure type: if hips are largest, you are a pear; if bust and hips are similar with a much smaller waist, you are an hourglass; if all three are close, you are a rectangle; and so on.
Why Understanding Your Figure Matters
Knowing your figure type is not about labeling yourself—it is a practical tool for making faster, smarter wardrobe decisions:
- • Shopping efficiency: Skip styles that never work for your proportions
- • Better fit: Know which alterations to request before buying
- • Capsule wardrobes: Build a versatile closet around pieces that suit your figure
- • Confidence: Wear clothes that make you feel balanced and comfortable
Explore Figure-Specific Guides
Once you know your figure type, dive into detailed styling advice tailored to your exact proportions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are body figure types?
Body figure types describe the overall proportional relationship between your shoulders, bust, waist, and hips. The five main figure types are hourglass, pear (triangle), apple (inverted triangle top-heavy), rectangle, and inverted triangle. They are determined by both bone structure and soft tissue distribution.
Is body figure the same as body shape?
The terms are often used interchangeably in everyday language, but technically "figure" refers to the overall visual silhouette including posture, proportions, and frame, while "shape" focuses specifically on where fat is distributed. Your figure is a broader concept that includes your skeletal frame.
Can your body figure type change?
Your bone structure and skeletal proportions cannot change, but weight gain, weight loss, muscle building, and hormonal shifts can alter where soft tissue sits on your frame. This means your figure type can shift—for example, a rectangle may develop more of an hourglass figure through targeted exercise.
How does frame size affect body figure?
Frame size (small, medium, or large) determines the width of your bones and joints. A small-framed woman and a large-framed woman can share the same figure type (e.g., pear) but look very different because bone width affects how clothing drapes and fits on the body.
What is the most common body figure type?
The rectangle figure type is the most common overall, found in roughly 46% of women according to research from North Carolina State University. The pear figure is the second most common at about 20%, followed by the inverted triangle, apple, and hourglass.
How do I measure my body figure type?
Measure your bust at the fullest point, your waist at the narrowest point, and your hips at the widest point. Compare the three numbers: if hips are largest you are likely pear, if bust and hips are similar with a smaller waist you are hourglass, if all three are close you are rectangle, and so on.