Skinfold Body Fat Calculator
Calculate body fat percentage using skinfold caliper measurements
Calculate Your Body Fat Percentage
Personal Information
Skinfold Measurements
Halfway between shoulder and elbow (vertical fold)
Front of arm, over bicep muscle (vertical fold)
Below shoulder blade (45° diagonal fold)
Above hip bone (45° diagonal fold)
Body Fat Results
Health Assessment Notice
Skinfold Measurement Guide
Measurement Locations
Tricep
Back of upper arm, halfway between shoulder and elbow. Vertical pinch.
Bicep
Front of upper arm, over the bicep muscle. Vertical pinch.
Subscapular
Below the shoulder blade, at 45° angle toward the spine.
Suprailiac
Above the hip bone, at 45° angle toward the midline.
Measurement Tips
Body Fat Ranges
Men
Women
Durnin-Womersley Method
Validated scientific method
Age and gender-specific equations
Four-site measurement protocol
Good correlation with DEXA scans
Widely used in fitness assessment
Required Equipment
Skinfold calipers (Harpenden, Lange, or Accu-Measure)
Trained measurer for best accuracy
Record sheet for multiple measurements
5-10 minutes for complete assessment
Understanding Skinfold Body Fat Testing
What are Skinfolds?
Skinfolds are measurements of subcutaneous fat - the fat layer directly beneath your skin. By measuring skinfold thickness at specific body sites with calipers, we can estimate total body fat percentage using validated equations.
Scientific Foundation
The Durnin-Womersley method, developed in 1974, uses four measurement sites and age/gender-specific equations to calculate body density, which is then converted to body fat percentage using the Siri equation.
Advantages
- •Relatively inexpensive and portable
- •Quick assessment (5-10 minutes)
- •Good for tracking changes over time
- •Validated against reference methods
Calculation Process
Step 1: Sum all four skinfold measurements
Step 2: Calculate log₁₀ of the sum
Step 3: Apply age/gender-specific equation for body density
Step 4: Convert to body fat % using Siri equation
Formula: Body Fat % = (495 ÷ Density) - 450
Limitations
- !Requires skilled technician for accuracy
- !May be uncomfortable for some individuals
- !Less accurate for very lean or obese individuals
- !Standard error of ±3-4% body fat
Medical Disclaimer: Skinfold testing is for fitness assessment purposes. Always consult healthcare providers for medical evaluations and treatment decisions.