Body Composition Calculator for a 3-Site Skin Fold Test

3-Site Body Composition Calculator Sign

This calculator will help you to calculate your body fat percentage when using a skin fold caliper. The body fat calculations are based on the *Jackson/Pollock 3-Site Caliper Method.

A skin fold test with a special skinfold caliper is considered to be the more accurate way to estimate body fat percentage than methods that use simple tape measurements.

In addition to the features common to most other online body fat calculators, this one also includes:

  • Standard and metric options.
  • Images showing where on the body the caliper measurements should be taken from, for both males and females.
  • Built-in, mini, expandable calculators that do all of the averaging and converting for you.
  • A dynamic pie chart that graphically compares your fat weight to lean body weight.

If you don't have a skin fold caliper, I suggest you try the Military Body Fat Calculator instead, which only requires a tape measure and 2 or 3 body part measurements.

Or, if you do have a skin fold caliper but would prefer more than just 3 sites, feel free to use the 7-Site Skin Fold Test Calculator.

* Jackson, A.S. & Pollock, M.L. (1978) Generalized equations for predicting body density of men. British J of Nutrition, 40: p497-504.
* Jackson, et al. (1980) Generalized equations for predicting body density of women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 12:p175-182.

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3-Site Body Composition Calculator

Calculate 3-site caliper test, standard or metric, female or male, with pictures.

Special Instructions

Learn More

Selected Data Record:

A Data Record is a set of calculator entries that are stored in your web browser's Local Storage. If a Data Record is currently selected in the "Data" tab, this line will list the name you gave to that data record. If no data record is selected, or you have no entries stored for this calculator, the line will display "None".

DataData recordData recordSelected data record: None
Units:Units:Measurement:Preferred units of measurement:

Units of measurement:

Select your preferred units of measurement. Note that since calipers typically measure in millimeter increments, your preferred measurement selection only affects the weight entry. All other measurements must be entered as millimeters (mm).

Gender:Gender:Gender:Gender:

Gender:

Select male or female. This will add and remove rows based on which measurements are required for each gender.

Age:Age:Age:Age:

Age:

Enter your current age.

#
Weight:Weight:Weight:Weight:

Weight:

Enter your weight in your chosen unit of measurement. Pounds for standard and kilograms for metric.

#
Hip avg:Hip average:Hip average:Hip (suprailiac or iliac crest) average:
Enter 3 hip measurements
1st
2nd
3rd

Hip (suprailiac or iliac crest):

Female Only

Enter the average of three hip caliper tests, or click the button to enter three measurements and have the calculator compute the average for you -- plus enter it into the appropriate field.

This skin fold is right below the front or anterior part of the armpit (axilla). From here follow a vertical line until you hit the hipbone. The skin fold is an angled one (approx. 45 degrees going up and away from the body) 2 centimeters right above the iliac crest. The fold spot should be between the top of the hipbone on the side and the bony part on the lower right of the belly, which is still the same hipbone.

3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Female suprailiac caliper measurement
Tric avg:Tricep average:Tricep average:Tricep (upper arm, back) average:
Enter 3 Tricep Measurements
1st
2nd
3rd

Tricep (upper arm, back):

Female Only

Enter the average (in millimeters) of three tricep caliper tests, or click the button to enter three measurements and have the calculator compute the average for you -- plus enter it into the appropriate field.

Pinch a vertical skin fold halfway the upper arm. If you want to be more precise, use a tape between the bony top of the shoulder or acromiale (do not confuse it with the bony upper part of the shoulder blade!) and the most prominent tip of the elbow (radiale). Mark a dot or a horizontal line at half the measured distance, here is where the vertical fat fold should be pinched. Face the hand palm forward.

3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Female tricep caliper measurement
Quad avg:Thigh average:Thigh average:Thigh (quadriceps) average:
Enter 3 Thigh Measurements
1st
2nd
3rd

Thigh (quadriceps):

Male & Female

Enter the average (in millimeters) of three thigh caliper tests, or click the button to enter three measurements and have the calculator compute the average for you -- plus enter it into the appropriate field.

The skin fold here should be taken in the front, halfway from the upper part of the knee (proximal patella, where it corners when the leg is bend) and the fold above the thigh when the leg is raised (inguinal fold). The vertical fold should be pinched a little harder as fat and skin tissue in this area tends to be somewhat firmer. The thigh skin fold may therefore overestimate fat content.

3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Female thigh caliper measurement
3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Male thigh caliper measurement
Chest avg:Chest average:Chest average:Chest (pectoral) average:
Enter 3 Chest Measurements
1st
2nd
3rd

Chest (pectoral):

Male Only

Enter the average (in millimeters) of three chest caliper tests, or click the button to enter three measurements and have the calculator compute the average for you -- plus enter it into the appropriate field.

The pinch is taken between the nipple and the armpit (axilla) but closer to the armpit, approximately 1/3 the distance. The skin fold is a diagonal one in the direction of the nipple-armpit line.

3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Male pectoral caliper measurement
Belly avg:Belly average:Belly average:Belly (abdomen) average:
Enter 3 Belly Measurements
1st
2nd
3rd

Belly (abdomen):

Male Only

Enter the average (in millimeters) of three belly caliper tests, or click the button to enter three measurements and have the calculator compute the average for you -- plus enter it into the appropriate field.

A vertical or horizontal fold is taken 2 centimeters to the right of the bellybutton (umbilicus). The vertical pinch is mostly used as the fat folds easier with most people. Some might find the horizontal pinch to fold easier. Use the direction that allows the most comfortable measurement.

3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Male abdominal caliper measurement
Body fat %:Body fat percent:Body fat percentage:Body fat percentage:

Body fat percentage:

Based on your entries, this is your calculated body fat percentage.

Fat wgt:Fat weight:Body fat in weight:Body fat in weight:

Body fat in weight:

Based on your entries, this is the calculated weight of your body fat listed in your preferred unit of weight (standard or metric).

Lean wgt:Lean weight:Lean body weight:Lean body weight:

Lean body weight:

Based on your entries, this is the calculated weight of your lean body weight listed in your preferred unit of weight (standard or metric).

If you would like to save the current entries to the secure online database, tap or click on the Data tab, select "New Data Record", give the data record a name, then tap or click the Save button. To save changes to previously saved entries, simply tap the Save button. Please select and "Clear" any data records you no longer need.

Help and Tools

Learn

What skin fold testing is, the measurement sites, formulas, and the resulting body fat categories.

What is the Skinfold Test?

A Skin Fold Test is a method of estimating body-fat percentage by taking skin-fold caliper measurements in 3-9 different locations on the body (see glossary for pictures), and then applying the results into one of the various formulas available.

To get the best and most consistent measurements, all skin-fold measurements should be taken on the same side (usually on the right side) and by the same person.

Also, a minimum of two measurements should be taken at each location. If the two measurements differ by more than 2 millimeters, a third measurement should be taken. The body composition calculator then uses the average of the 2-3 measurements when making the calculations.

3-Site Skinfold Sites for Females

Here are the 3 skinfold measurement sites for women:

Female #1
Hip (suprailiac or iliac crest)
3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Female suprailiac caliper measurement
This skin fold is right below the front or anterior part of the armpit (axilla). From here follow a vertical line until you hit the hipbone. The skin fold is an angled one (approx. 45 degrees going up and away from the body) 2 centimeters right above the iliac crest. The fold spot should be between the top of the hipbone on the side and the bony part on the lower right of the belly, which is still the same hipbone.
Female #2
Tricep (upper arm, back)
3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Female tricep caliper measurement
Pinch a vertical skin fold halfway the upper arm. If you want to be more precise, use a tape between the bony top of the shoulder or acromiale (do not confuse it with the bony upper part of the shoulder blade!) and the most prominent tip of the elbow (radiale). Mark a dot or a horizontal line at half the measured distance, here is where the vertical fat fold should be pinched. Face the hand palm forward.
Female #3
Thigh (quadriceps)
3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Female thigh caliper measurement
The skin fold here should be taken in the front, halfway from the upper part of the knee (proximal patella, where it corners when the leg is bend) and the fold above the thigh when the leg is raised (inguinal fold). The vertical fold should be pinched a little harder as fat and skin tissue in this area tends to be somewhat firmer. The thigh skin fold may therefore overestimate fat content.

3-Site Skinfold Sites for Males

Here are the 3 skinfold measurement sites for men:

Male #1
Chest (pectoral)
3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Male pectoral caliper measurement
The pinch is taken between the nipple and the armpit (axilla) but closer to the armpit, approximately 1/3 the distance. The skin fold is a diagonal one in the direction of the nipple-armpit line.
Male #2
Belly (abdomen)
3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Male abdominal caliper measurement
A vertical or horizontal fold is taken 2 centimeters to the right of the bellybutton (umbilicus). The vertical pinch is mostly used as the fat folds easier with most people. Some might find the horizontal pinch to fold easier. Use the direction that allows the most comfortable measurement.
Male #3
Thigh (quadriceps)
3-Site Body Composition Calculator: Male thigh caliper measurement
The skin fold here should be taken in the front, halfway from the upper part of the knee (proximal patella, where it corners when the leg is bend) and the fold above the thigh when the leg is raised (inguinal fold). The vertical fold should be pinched a little harder as fat and skin tissue in this area tends to be somewhat firmer. The thigh skin fold may therefore overestimate fat content.

3-Site Skin Fold Test Calculation

The formulas used for calculating the male and female percentages in the body composition calculator are as follows:

Male Formula
Body Fat % =
495 /
(
1.10938
- (0.0008267*s)
+ (0.0000016*s*s)
- (0.0002574*a)
)
- 450
Female Formula
Body Fat % =
495 /
(
1.089733
- (0.0009245*s)
+ (0.0000025*s*s)
- (0.0000979*a)
)
- 450
Formula Variables
s = sum of 3 skin-fold mm
a = age

Body Fat % Categories

The American Council on Exercise lists the following body-fat percentage categories:

CategoryWomenMen
Essential fat10% to 12%2% to 4%
Athletes14% to 20%6% to 13%
Fitness21% to 24%14% to 17%
Acceptable25% to 31%18% to 25%
Obese32% or higher26% or higher

Adjust Calculator Width:

Move the slider to left and right to adjust the calculator width. Note that the Help and Tools panel will be hidden when the calculator is too wide to fit both on the screen. Moving the slider to the left will bring the instructions and tools panel back into view.

Also note that some calculators will reformat to accommodate the screen size as you make the calculator wider or narrower. If the calculator is narrow, columns of entry rows will be converted to a vertical entry form, whereas a wider calculator will display columns of entry rows, and the entry fields will be smaller in size ... since they will not need to be "thumb friendly".

Show/Hide Popup Keypads:

Select Show or Hide to show or hide the popup keypad icons located next to numeric entry fields. These are generally only needed for mobile devices that don't have decimal points in their numeric keypads. So if you are on a desktop, you may find the calculator to be more user-friendly and less cluttered without them.

Stick/Unstick Tools:

Select Stick or Unstick to stick or unstick the help and tools panel. Selecting "Stick" will keep the panel in view while scrolling the calculator vertically. If you find that annoying, select "Unstick" to keep the panel in a stationary position.

If the tools panel becomes "Unstuck" on its own, try clicking "Unstick" and then "Stick" to re-stick the panel.