The five body shapes
Most body-type systems sort figures into five classic shapes based on how your bust, waist and hips compare. The calculator places you into whichever one best matches your measurements.
- Hourglass - balanced bust and hips with a clearly defined waist.
- Pear (triangle) - hips wider than the bust.
- Inverted triangle - bust and shoulders wider than the hips.
- Rectangle (straight) - bust, waist and hips of similar width with little waist definition.
- Apple (round) - fuller waist relative to bust and hips.
How the calculator decides your shape
It compares three ratios: waist-to-hip, waist-to-bust and bust-to-hip. If your bust and hips are within about 5% of each other and your waist is clearly smaller (75% or less of your hips), you're an hourglass. If your hips clearly dominate, you're a pear; if your bust clearly dominates, an inverted triangle. A waist that is your largest measurement points to an apple shape, while balanced measurements with little waist definition indicate a rectangle.
Worked example: with a 90 cm bust, 70 cm waist and 95 cm hips, the bust and hips are within 5% of each other and the waist is just 74% of the hips - so the calculator returns an hourglass.
The measurements behind each shape
Most body shape calculators, including this one, work from two comparisons: how close your bust and hip measurements are to each other, and how much smaller your waist is than the larger of the two. The thresholds below are the ones in common use, with a worked example for each shape.
Small differences matter near the boundaries. If your numbers put you within a centimetre or two of two shapes, you are genuinely between them, and either set of guidance will fit.
| Shape | Rule | Example (bust / waist / hip) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourglass | Bust and hips within 5% of each other, waist at least 25% smaller than both | 91 / 66 / 91 cm |
| Pear (triangle) | Hips more than 5% larger than bust | 86 / 68 / 99 cm |
| Inverted triangle (apple) | Bust more than 5% larger than hips | 100 / 76 / 89 cm |
| Rectangle | Bust and hips within 5%, waist less than 25% smaller | 89 / 74 / 90 cm |
Body shape comparison
This table summarises the defining feature of each shape and the measurement relationship that identifies it.
| Shape | Defining feature | Key relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Hourglass | Balanced bust and hips, narrow waist | Waist ≤ ~75% of hips |
| Pear (triangle) | Hips wider than bust | Hips exceed bust by >5% |
| Inverted triangle | Bust/shoulders wider than hips | Bust exceeds hips by >5% |
| Rectangle | Similar bust, waist and hips | Little waist definition |
| Apple (round) | Fullness around the midsection | Waist is the largest measurement |
How to measure accurately
Use a soft tape measure over light clothing or bare skin, keep the tape parallel to the floor, and don't pull it tight. Measure your bust at the fullest point, your waist at its narrowest (usually just above the belly button), and your hips at the widest point of your seat. Taking each measurement twice and using the average improves accuracy and gives you a more reliable result.
How to dress for your body shape
The goal of dressing for your shape isn't to hide anything - it's to balance your proportions and highlight the lines you like. Here are flattering starting points for each figure.
| Shape | Styles that flatter |
|---|---|
| Hourglass | Fitted, waist-defining pieces; wrap dresses; high-waisted bottoms |
| Pear | Detail and volume up top; A-line skirts; bootcut jeans to balance the hips |
| Inverted triangle | Volume below the waist; wide-leg trousers; softer necklines to balance the shoulders |
| Rectangle | Create curves with peplum tops, belts and layering to define the waist |
| Apple | Empire waists; structured open necklines; straight-leg trousers to elongate |
Can your body shape change?
Your underlying bone structure - the width of your shoulders, ribcage and hips - is largely fixed. But the fat your body stores and where it stores it shifts with weight changes, training, age and hormones. Losing or gaining weight, building glute or shoulder muscle, and life stages such as pregnancy or menopause can all change your measured shape over time, even though your frame stays the same.
Body shape and health
Body shape is mostly about proportions and style, but the waist-to-hip ratio it uses is also a recognised health marker. The World Health Organization links a higher waist-to-hip ratio to greater cardiometabolic risk, because fat carried around the abdomen (the apple pattern) is more strongly associated with health issues than fat carried around the hips and thighs. If your result is an apple shape, it can be a useful prompt to keep an eye on waist circumference - but remember a clothing-oriented body shape is not a medical diagnosis.