--- title: "Body Fat Calculator Canada: Inches and Pounds Tape Method | AumnI tools" description: "Estimate body fat with the US Navy method from neck, waist and height in inches, with pounds for weight, an age range and a BMI to compare with Health Canada bands." url: https://aumnitools.com/ca/tool/body-fat-calculator category: "Health" country: "Canada" updated: 2026-11-08 --- # Body Fat Calculator Canadians often measure in inches and weigh in pounds, so this body fat calculator opens in Imperial units. The US Navy equation works from neck, waist and height, with hips for women, and the page gives a category and an age-based range next to the BMI. It estimates only, and a doctor can tell you what it means for you. ## Canada rules and figures - Pounds for body weight and feet and inches for height are the defaults on the Canadian page, so the calculator starts on Imperial. - The BMI beside the result can be checked against Health Canada's 2003 adult classification, where Healthy weight runs from 18.5 up to 25 and Obesity starts at 30. - Health Canada states that one classification serves every ethnic group, while noting that clinicians need to understand where it falls short for non-white people. - Only adults of 18 and over are covered. For anyone younger, Health Canada has no classification of its own and refers readers to CDC growth charts. Sources: [Health Canada: Canadian Guidelines for Body Weight Classification in Adults](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/healthy-weights/canadian-guidelines-body-weight-classification-adults.html) (checked 2026-11-08); [Health Canada: Questions and answers for the public](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/healthy-weights/canadian-guidelines-body-weight-classification-adults/questions-answers-public.html) (checked 2026-11-08) ## How the body fat calculator works Inches are multiplied by 2.54 and pounds by 0.45359237 before the equation runs, so the answer is the same as for the metric inputs. Formula: `convert to cm and kg, then body fat % = 495 ÷ (A − B × log10(waist − neck) + C × log10(height)) − 450 for men, with hip added inside the log for women` - Imperial is the starting Unit System for Canada. Height is one box in inches, so 5 ft 10 in is typed as 70. - The labels read pounds for weight and inches for height, neck, waist and hip. Choose Metric to enter kilograms and centimetres. - Men aged 50 and over see 16-22% and those in their 40s see 14-20%, shown beside the percentage. - If waist is not larger than neck, or waist plus hip is not larger than neck, the page asks you to re-check rather than showing a result. ## How to use the body fat calculator 1. **Set gender and keep Imperial.** Choose Male or Female. The Unit System should read Imperial; switch it for metric measurements. 2. **Enter age, weight and height.** Weight goes in pounds and height in total inches. Age only chooses the range text. 3. **Add the tape readings in inches.** Fill neck and waist, and hips for women, in inches. The tape should sit level and snug. 4. **Look at the category tables.** The Categories tab shows each sex's bands, and the Guide tab covers tape placement. 5. **Copy the result.** Copy Results writes the percentage, category, BMI and measurements as plain text. ## Example: 72 in at 200 lb, 66 in at 150 lb For a 44-year-old man at 72 in and 200 lb, neck 15.5 in and waist 36 in, the result is 19.4%, labelled Average, with a 14-20% range and BMI 27.1. For a 38-year-old woman at 66 in and 150 lb, neck 13.5 in, waist 30 in and hip 40 in, it is 29.5%, labelled Average, with a 15-23% range and BMI 24.2. ## When to use the body fat calculator - **Staying in inches and pounds.** Enter a tape reading and a scale weight as they appear without converting anything. - **Comparing waist readings.** Change just the waist figure to see how a few inches shift the estimate. - **Giving your doctor numbers.** Copy the result and bring it to an appointment alongside your BMI. ## What the body fat calculator does not do - The result is an estimate from tape readings and cannot see muscle or bone. - The categories and age ranges are the calculator's own, not a Health Canada classification. - Height is a single box in inches, so feet and inches must be converted before typing. - Health Canada gives no classification under 18, so a result for a teenager has no official band. ## When something else is a better fit - **When you want to keep tape readings in a dated list**, use the [Body Measurement Tracker](https://aumnitools.com/tool/body-measurement-tracker.md), which stores dated entries. - **When you want a weight category from the Health Canada bands**, use the [BMI Calculator](https://aumnitools.com/tool/bmi-calculator.md). - **When you want advice about your own body composition**, use a doctor, who can refer you for a DEXA scan if it would help. ## Questions about the body fat calculator ### How do I enter 5 ft 10 in? Type 70 into the height box, which takes total inches. Five feet is 60 inches and ten inches more makes 70. Switching to Metric lets you enter centimetres instead. ### Why is 19.4% labelled Average? For men, the page labels 18% up to 25% as Average. A 44-year-old at 19.4% is labelled Average and sits just above the 14-20% range, which is looked up separately by age. ### Does Health Canada set body fat categories? Not in the sources used here. Health Canada classifies adult body weight by BMI, which this page shows as a figure. The body fat categories belong to the calculator. ### Can I enter metric numbers? Yes. Change Unit System to Metric and type kilograms and centimetres. The equation runs the same way, and your choice stays selected on later visits. ## Related tools - [BMI Calculator](https://aumnitools.com/tool/bmi-calculator.md): Works out BMI and its category from height and weight, with the healthy weight range - [Body Measurement Tracker](https://aumnitools.com/tool/body-measurement-tracker.md): Logs weight, body fat and tape measurements by date, with change and waist ratios - [Ideal Weight Calculator](https://aumnitools.com/tool/ideal-weight-calculator.md): Runs six ideal weight formulas for your height and shows the BMI 18.5 to 24.9 weight band ## About this page Runs in your browser: what you enter is processed on this device and is not uploaded. General information only, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or other health professional about decisions that affect your health. Last checked against the tool's code on 2026-11-08. Interactive version: https://aumnitools.com/ca/tool/body-fat-calculator