Army Body Fat Calculator — 2023 One-Site Tape Test
Army body fat — 2023 one-site tape test
This Army Body Fat Calculator uses the US Army's current one-site tape test — the method introduced in June 2023 under Army Directive 2023-11 and carried in ALARACT 087/2025 — not the retired neck-and-waist formula most older calculators still run. The current test needs only two numbers: your body weight and your abdominal circumference measured at the navel. The calculator applies the official equation for your sex, rounds to the nearest whole percent the way the Army does, and checks the result against the AR 600-9 maximum for your age group, with a clear pass or over-standard verdict.
Measure the way the Army does: abdomen at the level of the navel (belly button), tape horizontal on bare skin, arms at your sides, at the end of a normal breath out — do not suck in. Officially the measurement is taken three times and averaged, rounded to the nearest half inch, so do the same here for a verdict you can trust. The Army's equations are: men, body fat % = −26.97 − (0.12 × weight in lb) + (1.99 × abdomen in inches); women, body fat % = −9.15 − (0.015 × weight in lb) + (1.27 × abdomen in inches). If you enter centimetres and kilograms, the calculator converts them first. This is an estimate for preparation only, not an official Army assessment. Your figures are processed locally in your browser and never uploaded.
Army maximum body fat standards (AR 600-9, retention)
| Age group | Men — maximum | Women — maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 17–20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21–27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28–39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40 and over | 26% | 36% |
How to use
- Select your sex and your age group.
- Weigh yourself and enter your weight (pounds, or switch units to kilograms).
- Measure your abdomen at navel level three times and enter the average.
- Click Check my body fat to see your percentage, your group's maximum, and the verdict.
- If you are over, the gap shown is the percentage you need to bring down before your assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this calculator not ask for my neck or height?
Because the Army retired that method. Before June 2023 the tape test combined neck, waist and height (plus hips for women) in the old Hodgdon equations. The current one-site test, in force since Army Directive 2023-11, uses only weight and abdominal circumference. A calculator still asking for your neck is running the retired formula and will give you a different number from the one your unit records.
Where exactly do I measure my abdomen?
At the level of the navel, with the tape horizontal all the way round, on bare skin, standing straight with arms at your sides, measured at the end of a normal exhale. The official method averages three measurements and rounds to the nearest half inch.
Worked example — how does the formula come out?
A 25-year-old man weighing 180 lb with a 34-inch abdomen: −26.97 − (0.12 × 180) + (1.99 × 34) = −26.97 − 21.6 + 67.66 = 19.09%, which rounds to 19%. His maximum at age 21–27 is 22%, so he passes with room to spare. Try those exact numbers above to see the same result.
What happens if a soldier is over the standard?
Under the Army Body Composition Program (AR 600-9), a soldier who exceeds the maximum is enrolled in the ABCP, with monthly assessments and nutrition counselling, and continued failure can affect promotion, schools and ultimately separation. This tool is for checking yourself in advance — only an official assessment counts.