Skinfold Body Fat Calculator
Calipers pinch the skin to measure the fat layer beneath it. The sum of three sites estimates whole-body density, and density converts to a body fat percentage. Men and women store fat differently, so each has its own coefficients.
Your numbers
Body fat
15.65%
Fat mass
10.95kg
Lean mass
59.05kg
Formula
Body fat = 495 ÷ (1.10938 − 0.0008267 × Skinfold total + 0.0000016 × Skinfold total² − 0.0002574 × Age) − 450
Men measure chest, abdomen and thigh; women triceps, suprailiac and thigh. Consistency of site and pressure matters more than the absolute number, so track the change rather than the value.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Skinfold total (mm)The three caliper readings added together. | 50 | 0 and up |
| Age (yr)Age in completed years — it shifts by one depending on the birthday. | 35 | 0 ~ 100 |
| Sex (M1 / F0)Where the formula splits by sex — enter 1 for male, 0 for female. | 1 | 0 ~ 1 |
| Weight (kg) (kg)The second weight you are comparing against. | 70 | 0 and up |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Skinfold total (mm) changes and everything else stays put.
| Skinfold total (mm) | Body fat (%) | Fat mass (kg) | Lean mass (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 8.03 | 5.62 | 64.38 |
| 37.5 | 11.92 | 8.34 | 61.66 |
| 50 | 15.65 | 10.95 | 59.05 |
| 75 | 22.61 | 15.83 | 54.17 |
| 100 | 28.86 | 20.2 | 49.8 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Body fat (%)The share of body weight that is fat. | 15.65 |
| Fat mass (kg)How much of your weight is fat, in kilograms. | 10.95 |
| Lean mass (kg)Everything that is not fat — muscle, bone, water. | 59.05 |
Common mistakes
Men measure chest, abdomen and thigh; women triceps, suprailiac and thigh. Consistency of site and pressure matters more than the absolute number, so track the change rather than the value.
Glossary
- Skinfold total
- The three caliper readings added together.
- Age
- Age in completed years — it shifts by one depending on the birthday.
- Sex (M1 / F0)
- Where the formula splits by sex — enter 1 for male, 0 for female.
- Weight (kg)
- The second weight you are comparing against.
- Body fat
- The share of body weight that is fat.
- Fat mass
- How much of your weight is fat, in kilograms.
- Lean mass
- Everything that is not fat — muscle, bone, water.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Skinfold Body Fat Calculator calculated?
Body fat = 495 ÷ (1.10938 − 0.0008267 × Skinfold total + 0.0000016 × Skinfold total² − 0.0002574 × Age) − 450 — Calipers pinch the skin to measure the fat layer beneath it. The sum of three sites estimates whole-body density, and density converts to a body fat percentage. Men and women store fat differently, so each has its own coefficients.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Skinfold total 50mm, Age 35yr, Sex (M1 / F0) 1, Weight (kg) 70kg, the answer is Body fat 15.65%.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Skinfold total, Age, Sex (M1 / F0), Weight (kg). The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Skinfold total (mm) moves the answer to Skinfold total (mm) 25 → Body fat (%) 8.03 and Skinfold total (mm) 100 → Body fat (%) 28.86. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
Men measure chest, abdomen and thigh; women triceps, suprailiac and thigh. Consistency of site and pressure matters more than the absolute number, so track the change rather than the value.
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