within · Free tools · rules read 13 October 2026
Body shape calculator
A free body type calculator. Type your bust, waist and hips in inches or centimetres, and get your shape, the cuts that sit well on it, and pieces in those cuts from independent boutiques.
The five body shapes for women
Hourglass
Your bust and hips are close in size, and your waist is clearly narrower than both. It is sometimes called an X shape.
Sits well: tailored jackets, draped dresses, tops and skirts, tailored trousers. One to try: pleated skirts.
Triangle
Your hips are wider than your bust, and your waist sits in between. It is also called pear, or spoon when the hips start high.
Sits well: tailored jackets, wide-leg trousers and jeans, pleated skirts. One to try: cropped tops and jackets.
Inverted triangle
Your bust and shoulders are wider than your hips. It is sometimes called a V shape.
Sits well: wide-leg trousers and jeans, pleated skirts, relaxed shirts and tops. One to try: sculptural skirts.
Rectangle
Your bust, waist and hips are close in size. It is sometimes called straight, or an H shape.
Sits well: draped dresses, tops and skirts, sculptural pieces, cropped tops and jackets. One to try: asymmetric pieces.
Round
Your waist is as wide as your bust or hips, or close to it. It is sometimes called apple, or oval.
Sits well: relaxed jackets and coats, wide-leg trousers and jeans, relaxed shirts and tops. One to try: draped dresses, tops and skirts.
The five body shapes for men
Rectangle
Your chest, waist and hips are close in size. It is sometimes called straight.
Sits well: tailored jackets, pleated trousers, oversized tees and shirts. One to try: cropped jackets.
Triangle
Your hips are wider than your chest. It is sometimes called pear.
Sits well: tailored jackets, relaxed trousers, oversized knits and hoodies. One to try: wide-leg trousers and jeans.
Inverted triangle
Your chest and shoulders are clearly wider than your hips. It is sometimes called a V shape.
Sits well: wide-leg trousers and jeans, relaxed shirts and tops, pleated trousers. One to try: tailored jackets.
Trapezoid
Your chest is a little wider than your hips, and your waist is narrower than your chest.
Sits well: tailored jackets, tailored trousers, tailored shirts. One to try: oversized jackets and coats.
Oval
Your waist is as wide as your chest or hips, or close to it. It is sometimes called round.
Sits well: relaxed jackets and coats, relaxed shirts and tops, pleated trousers. One to try: tailored jackets.
How to measure yourself
Before you start
- Use a soft tape measure. A piece of string and a ruler works too.
- Wear thin clothes or none. Stand straight with your feet together and breathe out.
- Keep the tape level all the way round, snug but not tight.
The four numbers
- Bust or chest: round the fullest part, under the arms.
- Waist: round the narrowest part, between the bottom of your ribs and your belly button.
- High hip: round the top of the hip bones, about 8 inches (20 cm) under the waist. For women, and you can leave it out.
- Hips: round the widest part of your seat.
How the sums work
The women's rules are from Lee, Istook, Nam and Park, "Comparison of body shape between USA and Korean women" (International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, 2007), built on the Female Figure Identification Technique of Simmons, Istook and Devarajan (2004). Their seven shapes are folded into five here: the three hourglass kinds are one hourglass, and spoon joins triangle.
The rules read the gaps between your numbers in inches, so centimetres are turned into inches first. They run in order and the first one that fits wins. The published rules have no round shape, so we added one: a waist within an inch (2.5 cm) of the wider of the bust and hips. Under every answer, "How we got there" names the rule that fit.
We found no published rule for men's shapes, so the men's rule is our own: oval first, then how much wider the chest is than the hips.
Who this is not for
- This is not a health check. It says nothing about weight or health, only how clothes sit.
- It is not for children. The rules are for grown bodies.
- It does not give you a size. A brand's own size chart does that.
Common questions
What are the five body shapes?
For women: hourglass, triangle (also called pear), inverted triangle, rectangle and round. For men: rectangle, triangle, inverted triangle, trapezoid and oval. Each one comes from how your bust or chest, waist and hips compare.
How do I measure for a body type calculator?
Use a soft tape, keep it level and snug, and breathe out. Measure round the fullest part of your bust or chest, the narrowest part of your waist and the widest part of your hips. The high hip, round the top of the hip bones, is optional.
Is there a body type calculator for men?
Yes, this one. Pick Men and type your chest, waist and hips. It gives one of five shapes: rectangle, triangle, inverted triangle, trapezoid or oval.
Do you keep my measurements?
No. The sums run on your phone or computer, and the numbers are not saved. They go into the page address only so you can share the answer.
Does it work in centimetres?
Yes. Pick cm before you type. If the numbers look like they are in the other unit, the page tells you instead of guessing.
Why does another calculator give me a different shape?
Calculators use different rules, and a tape a little higher or lower changes the numbers. This one uses published rules for women and says which rule fit, so you can check it.
Is my body shape the same as my size?
No. Your shape is how your measurements compare with each other. Your size is what a brand's own chart says for those numbers.