Health
BMI, calorie & wellness calculators
Body Fat Percentage Categories (by sex)
See where your body-fat percentage falls among the standard ACE categories — essential, athlete, fitness, average and obese — which differ by sex. Essential fat is about 2–5% for men and 10–13% for women; the athlete range is 6–13% (men) and 14–20% (women); fitness is 14–17% (men) and 21–24% (women); average is 18–24% (men) and 25–31% (women); and obese is roughly 25% or more for men and 32% or more for women. Enter your measurements with the US Navy, current Army 2023 or BMI-based method and the calculator classifies the result into the correct table for your sex automatically, alongside your fat-mass and lean-mass split and an FFMI reading. Remember body-fat categories are guidance, not a diagnosis: the underlying figure is an estimate accurate to about ±3–4% versus a DEXA scan, so treat the category as a general fitness marker rather than a precise verdict.
Men: essential 2–5% · athlete 6–13% · fitness 14–17% · average 18–24% · obese ≥ 25%
- Women: essential 10–13% · athlete 14–20% · fitness 21–24% · average 25–31% · obese ≥ 32%
- Categories differ by sex — the tool applies the right table automatically
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy body fat percentage?
By the ACE ranges, the fitness category is about 14–17% for men and 21–24% for women, with the average category running 18–24% (men) and 25–31% (women). Essential fat — the minimum for health — is 2–5% (men) and 10–13% (women). Ranges differ by sex, so this tool applies the correct table.
Do body fat categories differ for men and women?
Yes. Women carry more essential fat, so every category sits higher: for example the fitness range is 14–17% for men but 21–24% for women, and the obese threshold is about 25% for men versus 32% for women. This calculator classifies your result using the correct table for your sex.