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About this tool
Estimate male body fat from US Navy tape measurements or Jackson-Pollock 3-site skinfolds, with ACE category bands.
Male Body Fat Estimator converts tape measurements or caliper skinfolds into a body-fat percentage using three published equations: the US Navy circumference method, the Jackson-Pollock 3-site skinfold equation with the Siri density conversion, and the Deurenberg BMI formula as a cross-check. It reports fat mass, lean mass and the American Council on Exercise category for men. All three are estimates — expect three to four percentage points of disagreement with a DXA scan.
Open Male Body Fat Estimator on AltFTool — it loads instantly in your browser.
Enter the values you already know.
Fine-tune the options to match your scenario.
Read the result and use it in your planning or reporting.
See the Navy, Jackson-Pollock and Deurenberg figures side by side rather than trusting one.
Every coefficient comes from the published equation, so the arithmetic can be verified.
Places the result in the ACE bands and explains what each band actually means.
It typically lands within about 3 to 4 percentage points of a DXA scan for average builds, but it drifts on very muscular or very lean men because it only sees neck and waist girth. It is best used to track change over weeks rather than as an absolute number.
The American Council on Exercise puts 14 to 17 percent in the fitness range and 18 to 24 percent as acceptable, with 25 percent and above classed as obese. Essential fat is 2 to 5 percent and going below that is not sustainable.
For men the three sites are a diagonal fold halfway between the armpit and nipple, a vertical fold about 2 cm to the right of the navel, and a vertical fold on the front of the thigh midway between hip and knee. Take all measurements on the right side, pinch and read within two seconds, and average three readings per site.
Calipers with the Jackson-Pollock equation are usually more accurate in trained hands, because skinfolds sample subcutaneous fat directly; tape measurements are more repeatable for a beginner measuring themselves. Use one method consistently rather than switching. This is fitness information, not medical advice.
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