Army Body Fat Calculator: New One-Site Tape Test Guide

This guide explains how to measure correctly, check standards, and understand your options if you don’t meet them. To verify your numbers, use the official ABCP Body Fat Calculator. As of the Army’s recent policy updates, the authorized circumference-based tape method is a one-site measurement at the navel for both men and women (ABCP Program page).

Quick Start: Calculate Your Army Body Fat

1. Measure your abdominal circumference at the navel (details below).
2. Enter sex, age, weight, and your abdominal circumference into the Army’s official tool: ABCP Body Fat Calculator.
3. Compare your calculated body fat against the age/sex standard in AR 600–9 (see Standards section).
4. If you don’t meet standard, review your options: ACFT-based exemption and supplemental assessments (DXA, InBody 770, Bod Pod®).

For official results, always use the Army’s calculator and posted charts.

What Changed: The New One-Site Tape Test (and When It Became Mandatory)

The Army introduced a new circumference-based tape method in 2023 that uses a single measurement site—the abdomen at the navel—for both men and women (ABCP Program page).

During a transition period, Soldiers who failed the new one-site test could use the prior multi-site method (neck/waist for men; neck/waist/hips for women) as a confirmation. In 2024, after the transition period, the one-site method became the sole authorized circumference-based tape method.

Field tip: Many failures come down to measurement technique, not fitness. Nail the tape placement and tension first.

How To Measure Your Abdomen (One-Site Method)

Accurate tape placement is everything. Follow these steps before you calculate:

Gear up

• Use a flexible, non-stretch measuring tape.
• Remove bulky clothing/belts.

Positioning

• Stand tall with feet hip-width apart.
• Relax your abdomen; do not draw in or push out.

Landmark

• Place the tape horizontally at the level of the navel (belly button) for both men and women. Keep the tape parallel to the floor all the way around.

Tension & reading

• Pull the tape snug against the skin without compressing soft tissue.
• Exhale normally.
• Record the measurement per your unit’s instructions (for example, to the nearest 0.5 inch or 1.0 cm).
• Take at least two measurements; if they differ, take a third and average the two closest readings.

For a visual, see our step-by-step guide to consistent waist measurements: How to Measure Your Waist.

Using The Calculator: Inputs and What They Mean

The Army’s official calculator requires:

• Sex
• Age
• Weight
• Abdominal circumference at the navel

You’ll receive a percent body fat estimate and a pass/fail determination against the standard for your age and sex (ABCP Body Fat Calculator).

A note on formulas: The new one-site method uses updated tables and the official calculator. Your waist circumference and body weight drive the result. By contrast, the legacy multi-site equations used neck and (for women) hip measurements. See the worksheets for details: DA Form 5500 and DA Form 5501.

Standards: What Counts as Passing?

Maximum allowable percent body fat by age group and sex:

Source: AR 600–9, Table B‑2. Official charts are available on the ABCP Program page.

Because policy tables can be updated, always cross-check your results against the Army’s official calculator and posted charts.

Exemption Path: High ACFT Score (Army Directive 2023‑08)

Soldiers who score 540 or more on the record ACFT, with a minimum of 80 points in each of the six primary events, are exempt from the circumference-based body fat assessment.

Alternate ACFT events are not authorized for this exemption, and the exemption must be re-validated by the next record ACFT within the specified timeline (up to 8 months for Regular Army/AGR; up to 14 months for Guard/Reserve). See Army Directive 2023‑08 (TRADOC mirror) for details.

If You Don’t Meet Standard: Supplemental Body Fat Assessments

If a Soldier fails the one-site tape test, commanders may approve a supplemental body fat assessment when reasonably available. Passing a supplemental assessment removes the administrative flag for non-compliance when processed through official channels. Authorized technologies include:

• DXA (Dual‑energy X‑ray Absorptiometry): A gold standard scan that gives a precise breakdown of body fat, muscle mass, and bone density.
• InBody 770 (multi-frequency BIA)
• Bod Pod® (air displacement plethysmography)

Learn more about what DXA measures: The DEXA Scan: Body Fat, Muscle, and Bone Density Testing. To schedule a DXA at a BodySpec clinic, book here: Book a DEXA scan. For technology comparisons, see: InBody vs DEXA Scans: Which is Better?. For an overview of alternative methods like air displacement and hydrostatic weighing, see BodySpec DEXA vs. Other Body Composition Tests.

Policy details and documentation requirements: ABCP Program.

Measurement Troubleshooting (Prevent False Fails)

• Problem: Tape isn’t level.
  Solution: Use a mirror or ask a partner to confirm the tape is horizontal and parallel to the floor all the way around your torso.
• Problem: Sucking in or bracing.
  Solution: Relax your abdomen and measure on a normal exhale without drawing in or pushing out.
• Problem: Clothing interferes.
  Solution: Remove bulky waistbands and belts; measure against skin when permitted.
• Problem: Inconsistent tape tension.
  Solution: Pull the tape snug to the skin without compressing soft tissue; use the same tension across repeated readings.
• Problem: Only one reading taken.
  Solution: Take at least two measurements; if they differ, take a third and average the two closest readings.

FAQs

What’s different between the legacy and new tape tests?

• Legacy: Multi-site measurements (men: neck + waist; women: neck + waist + hips) using log-based equations.
• New: One-site abdomen measurement at the navel for both men and women, with updated tables and an official calculator.

When did the one-site method become the only authorized circumference-based tape test?

• In 2024, after a 12-month transition period from 2023, the one-site method became the sole authorized circumference-based tape test.

Is there an official Army calculator I should use?

• Yes. Use the Army’s tool and charts for authoritative results: ABCP Body Fat Calculator.

Can a high ACFT score exempt me from taping?

• Yes. Soldiers who score 540+ with at least 80 points in each event are exempt per Army Directive 2023‑08 (TRADOC mirror) (no alternate events).

Do I need height for the new calculation?

• No. Height is not an input for the one-site tape test calculation. The current official calculator uses sex, age, weight, and abdominal circumference at the navel (ABCP Calculator).

If I fail taping, can I request a DXA, InBody 770, or Bod Pod test?

• Yes, if reasonably available and approved by your commander. Passing the supplemental assessment removes the administrative flag when processed through official channels (ABCP Program).

Sources and Further Reading

• Official calculator and program hub: ABCP Body Fat Calculator; ABCP Program
• ACFT-based exemption: Army Directive 2023‑08 (TRADOC mirror)
• Legacy forms (multi-site test): DA Form 5500 (male) and DA Form 5501 (female)
• Video overview: IG Update – New Army Body Fat Assessment (DVIDS)

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes and mirrors publicly available Army resources. Always follow your unit’s instructions and the latest official policy.