Army Body Fat Calculator Army Body Fat Calculator

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Reference

Appropriate body fat is one of the medical fitness requirements to join and stay in the U.S. Army. The Department of Defense releases its body fat requirements every few years as part of the Standards of Medical Fitness. The latest release was published on June 27, 2019, and the requirements are summarized in the following two tables:

Maximum Allowable Body Fat Percentage to Join*

AgeMaleFemale
17-2024%30%
21-2726%32%
28-3928%34%
40 and over30%36%

Maximum Body Fat Percentage Standard after Entry*

AgeMaleFemale
17-2020%30%
21-2722%32%
28-3924%34%
40 and over26%36%

Department of Defense goal: 18% body fat for males, and 26% body fat for females.*

After meeting the initial qualifications, a person's body fat will be measured periodically. Those who fail to meet the requirements may be put on a mandatory weight loss program and may be subject to administrative sanctions.


According to the Standards of Medical Fitness, body fat is calculated based on the physical size of a person, which includes the height, neck, and waist size for men, and the height, neck, waist, and hip size for women. When taking measurements, the subject should be standing upright with arms at rest on both sides. The subject's neck should be measured at a point just below the larynx, and the waist should be measured either at the point of the minimum circumference or close to the belly button. The hip, in contrast, should be measured at its widest point.