How to Calculate Body Fat Percentage With Skinfolds

Skinfold calipers are more accurate than measuring tape at figuring body fat.

A common way to determine a person's body fat percentage is by measuring his skinfolds. This is done by using a skinfold caliper to measure the thickness at seven different points on the right side of the body. The measurements are then entered into a formula that gives an estimate of a person's body fat, based on their age and gender. While it's possible to take your own measurements in three places, it's easier and more accurate to have someone else take your measurements at all seven body sites.

Things You'll Need

• Skinfold calipers
• Pencil
• Paper

Instructions

1. Use your thumb and forefinger to pinch the skin located on the side of the body, a few inches down from the armpit. Pinch deep enough to get fat, but not so deep that you're pinching muscle. Pull the skinfold out firmly so it can be measured.

2. Clamp the skinfold calipers onto the skinfold to get a measurement in millimeters.

3. Write the skinfold measurement down on paper for future reference.

4. Repeat this process at each measurement site, including: on the abdomen above the crest of the hip bone; on the abdomen next to the belly button; mid-chest; mid-thigh; mid-tricep; and beneath the edge of the shoulder blade.

5. Type each figure into the appropriate space in the online calculator found in the resources section of this article. Type in the age, weight and gender of the person being measured, along with how many body areas are being measured. After clicking the calculate button, the body fat percentage, along with other information, will appear in the column on the right side of the page.

Tips & Warnings

• To get a more accurate body fat percentage, repeat the measurement process up to three times and take the average of those measurements to enter into the calculator.

• Have the same person take the measurements every time to ensure accuracy.

• If you have to take your own measurements, measure just three body sites. For men, these are the chest, abdomen and thigh. For women, they are the tricep, abdomen and thigh.

• Skinfold calipers also come in digital versions that automatically calculate body fat after the measurements have been taken.

References

• The Build Muscle & Gain Weight Fast Guide: How to take Skinfold Measurements and Calculate Body Fat Percentage

Resources

• ExRx.net: Body Composition