By ToolzHive
About this tool
Body frame size describes how big your skeleton is compared with your height. Two people of the same height can have very different bone structures, which is why frame size is sometimes used to adjust an ideal weight up or down. This calculator divides your height by your wrist circumference and compares the result with standard ranges for men and women.
How to use Body Frame Size Calculator
- Choose your units and select your sex.
- Measure around your wrist just below the wrist bone, at the narrowest point, and enter your height.
- Read your frame size and the ratio ranges for small, medium and large frames.
Worked example
A man who is 175 cm tall with a 16.5 cm wrist has a ratio of 10.6, above 10.4, so he has a small frame. His ideal weight could be set about 10% below the standard formulas.
How do I measure my wrist?
Wrap a flexible tape measure around the wrist of your dominant hand just below the bony bump, at the smallest point, without pulling it tight.
How is frame size used?
Some dietitians adjust ideal weight by about 10% down for a small frame and 10% up for a large frame. It is a rough guide rather than a medical measurement.
Are there other ways to measure frame size?
Elbow breadth, measured with calipers, is another common method. Wrist size is easier to measure at home.
Put this guide into practice
- Body Frame Size Calculator — Find out if you have a small, medium or large body frame from your wrist size.