What Body Shape Am I? Find Out Now
A practical, step-by-step self-assessment guide to help you determine your body shape using simple measurements you can take at home.
Short Answer
To find your body shape, measure your bust, waist, and hips. If your hips are widest, you're a pear. If your bust is widest, you're an inverted triangle. If your waist is 10+ inches smaller than bust and hips, you're an hourglass. If your midsection is widest, you're an apple. If everything is similar, you're a rectangle.
Step-by-Step Self-Assessment
Follow these five steps to determine your body shape at home in under five minutes.
Gather Your Tools
You need a flexible measuring tape (not a metal one), a mirror, and optionally a notepad. Wear thin, form-fitting clothing or measure over underwear for the most accurate results.
Measure Your Bust
Stand straight with arms at your sides. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust, across the nipple line. Keep the tape parallel to the floor and snug but not tight. Record this number.
Measure Your Waist
Find the narrowest part of your torso, typically above your belly button and below your rib cage. Wrap the tape around this point. Do not suck in your stomach. Breathe normally and record the number.
Measure Your Hips
Stand with feet together. Wrap the tape around the widest part of your hips and buttocks. This is usually about 7 to 9 inches below your waist. Ensure the tape stays level all around.
Compare Your Ratios
Now compare your three measurements. The relationship between these numbers determines your body shape. See the ratio guide below to identify where you fall.
Measurement Ratios Explained
Body shape classification is not about individual measurements but about how they relate to each other. Here are the key ratios that determine your shape:
Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)
Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.
Below 0.75: Strong hip dominance (pear or hourglass territory)
0.75 to 0.85: Moderate definition (could be multiple shapes)
Above 0.85: Less waist definition (rectangle or apple territory)
Bust-to-Hip Ratio
Compare your bust circumference directly to your hip circumference.
Bust and hips within 1 inch: Hourglass or rectangle (depends on waist)
Hips 3.6+ inches larger: Pear shape
Bust 3.6+ inches larger: Inverted triangle
Waist Definition
The difference between your waist and your largest measurement (bust or hips).
10+ inch difference: Strongly defined waist (hourglass)
5 to 9 inch difference: Moderate definition
Less than 5 inches: Minimal definition (rectangle or apple)
Quick Determination Method
If you prefer a faster approach without calculating ratios, answer these three questions:
Question 1: Where do you gain weight first?
- • Hips and thighs → Likely pear
- • Stomach and midsection → Likely apple
- • Evenly all over → Likely rectangle or hourglass
- • Upper body and back → Likely inverted triangle
Question 2: How does clothing fit?
- • Pants are snug but tops are loose → Likely pear
- • Tops are snug but pants are loose → Likely inverted triangle
- • Everything fits similarly → Likely rectangle
- • Waist needs to go in on everything → Likely hourglass
Question 3: What is your widest point?
- • Hips → Pear
- • Shoulders or bust → Inverted triangle
- • Midsection → Apple
- • Everything is even → Rectangle or hourglass
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Measuring Over Thick Clothing
Bulky sweaters or layered clothing add inches to every measurement. Always measure over thin fabric or underwear for accuracy.
Sucking In Your Stomach
Your natural waist measurement requires you to breathe normally. Holding your breath gives a false reading that throws off your ratios.
Measuring the Wrong Spots
Your waist is not at your belt line. It is the narrowest point of your torso, typically a few inches above your navel.
Tilting the Tape Measure
A tape that dips in the back or rides up in front gives inaccurate readings. Use a mirror to confirm the tape is parallel to the floor all the way around.
How This Guide Differs From Our Body Shape Finder
This page focuses on self-assessment without tools—using visual cues, mirror checks, and simple measurement comparisons to determine your body shape on your own.
Our Body Shape Finder guide takes a different approach, covering three distinct methods: the mirror method, the measurement method, and the photo method. If you prefer a structured, multi-method approach, that guide may suit you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what body shape I am?
To determine your body shape, measure your bust, waist, and hips with a soft tape measure. Compare these three numbers: if your hips are largest you are likely pear-shaped, if your bust is largest you may be an inverted triangle, if your waist is smallest by 10+ inches you are hourglass, and if all measurements are similar you are a rectangle.
Can I determine my body shape just by looking in a mirror?
A mirror can give you a general idea, but measurements are far more accurate. Visual perception is affected by clothing, posture, and personal bias. Taking actual measurements removes guesswork and gives you an objective result based on established body shape ratios.
What measurements do I need for body shape?
You need three primary measurements: bust (fullest part of your chest), waist (narrowest point of your torso, usually above the navel), and hips (widest point around your buttocks). Some methods also include shoulder width for more precise classification.
Does my body shape change if I gain or lose weight?
Your fundamental body shape is determined by your bone structure, which does not change. However, significant weight changes can shift where fat is stored, which may move you closer to a different category. Most women retain the same basic shape regardless of weight fluctuations.
Why do different quizzes give me different body shapes?
Different tools use different measurement thresholds and classification systems. Some use only bust-waist-hip ratios while others include shoulder width. If you fall near the boundary between two shapes, results may vary. Our calculator uses the established FFIT methodology for consistent, research-backed results.
Is body shape the same as body type?
Body shape and body type are often used interchangeably, but they can mean different things. Body shape refers to your silhouette (hourglass, pear, etc.) based on proportions. Body type can also refer to somatotypes (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph) which describe your metabolic tendencies and frame size.
Body shape classification based on measurement ratios and the FFIT methodology. Self-assessment guidance is for informational purposes.Learn about our methodology
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