Army Body Fat Calculator
The Army Body Fat Calculator is based on the Army Body Fat Assessment for the Army Body Composition Program, published on June 12, 2023. To ensure accuracy, take the average of at least three measurements and round to the nearest pound or 0.5 inch.
Reference
Maintaining an acceptable body‑fat level is a medical fitness condition for entering and remaining in the U.S. Army. The Department of Defense updates these limits periodically, typically every few years. A 2021 study ordered by senior Army leaders examined how Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) results relate to body‑composition standards. The findings revealed that higher body‑fat percentages tend to correspond with lower ACFT scores, while soldiers with less body fat generally achieve better results. To improve force readiness, the Army Body Fat Assessment under the Army Body Composition Program was revised on 12 June 2023, ensuring all personnel keep the physical condition required for their duties. The directive covers the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve. Under this rule, any soldier who records 540 points or more on the ACFT, with at least 80 points in each event, is exempt from the body‑fat test. Those who do not qualify for the exemption must follow the body‑fat requirements outlined in the tables below.
Maximum Allowable Percent Body Fat Standards*
| Age | Male | Female |
| 17-20 | 20% | 30% |
| 21-27 | 22% | 32% |
| 28-39 | 24% | 34% |
| 40 and over | 26% | 36% |
The Army Body Fat Assessment uses a single‑site, tape‑measure method that combines abdominal circumference (taken at the navel) with body weight. The individual being measured should stand upright, arms relaxed at the sides. Take three separate abdominal readings, compute their average, and round the result to the nearest 0.5 inch. Weight is measured and rounded to the nearest pound. After recording these figures, plug them into the calculator above to obtain your body‑fat percentage and see whether you fall within the allowable limit.
Service members who do not meet the tape‑measure criteria will be marked, but they may petition for an additional body‑fat evaluation if appropriate testing facilities are reasonably accessible. The optional assessments that can be requested include:
- Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)
- InBody 770 Body Composition and Body Water Analyzer
- The Bod Pod Body Composition Tracking System
Commanders of soldiers who do not request a supplemental body fat assessment or who fail the supplemental body fat assessment will maintain the original flagging action, and the soldier will be enrolled in the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP).