What is a good waist size?
Your waist says more about health and body fat than your weight does. Here’s what to aim for.
Short answer
A good rule is a waist under half your height: under 87.5 cm (34.5 in) if you’re 175 cm (5′9″) tall. The WHO also uses fixed thresholds: increased risk above 94 cm (37 in) for men and 80 cm (31.5 in) for women, and substantially increased above 102 cm (40 in) and 88 cm (34.6 in).
Healthy waist by height (ratio 0.5)
| Height | Waist under (cm) | Waist under (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 155 cm | 77.5 | 30.5 |
| 160 cm | 80.0 | 31.5 |
| 165 cm | 82.5 | 32.5 |
| 170 cm | 85.0 | 33.5 |
| 175 cm | 87.5 | 34.4 |
| 180 cm | 90.0 | 35.4 |
| 185 cm | 92.5 | 36.4 |
| 190 cm | 95.0 | 37.4 |
How to measure
Halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, relaxed, after breathing out, tape level all the way round. See how to measure your waist.
Track it, not just check it
Your waist is the most useful single number for fat loss: it moves with belly fat and barely with water. Measure every two weeks and keep it next to your progress photos. Calculate your ratio with the waist-to-height calculator.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a good waist size for a man?
Under half your height, and below 94 cm (37 in) by WHO thresholds.
What is a good waist size for a woman?
Under half your height, and below 80 cm (31.5 in) by WHO thresholds.
Sources
- NICE (2022). Obesity: identification, assessment and management (waist-to-height ratio).
- WHO (2008). Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation.