Female Body Fat Caliper Measuring Sites

  • All measurement should be made on the right side of the body
  • Caliper should be placed 1 cm away from thumb and finger, perpendicular to skinfold, and halfway between crest and base of fold
  • Pinch should be maintained while reading the caliper
  • Wait 1 to 2 s (and not longer) before reading caliper
  • Take duplicate measures at each site and retest if duplicate measurements are not within 1 to 2 mm
  • Rotate through measurement sites or allow time for skin to regain normal texture and thickness

Source: American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM's Guidelines For Exercise Testing and Prescription. 6th Edition. USA, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2000;65.

Chest

Diagonal fold - one third of the way between upper armpit and nipple

Chest Chest

Abdominal

Vertical fold - one inch to the right of navel

Abdominal Abdominal

Calf

Vertical fold - inside of leg on largest part of calf

Calf Calf

Lower Back

Horizontal fold - directly over kidneys, and 2 inches to the right of spine

Lower Back Lower Back

Midaxillary

Horizontal fold - directly below armpit

Midaxillary Midaxillary

Suprailiac

Diagonal fold - directly above iliac crest

Suprailiac Suprailiac

Subscapular

Diagonal fold - directly below shoulder blade

Subscapular Subscapular

Bicep

Vertical fold - halfway between shoulder and elbow, directly on bicep

Bicep Bicep

Thigh

Vertical fold - midway between knee cap and top of thigh

Thigh Thigh

Tricep

Vertical fold - midway between elbow and shoulder

Tricep Tricep

Neck

Tape measurement - circumference of relaxed neck

Neck Neck

Waist

Tape measurement - circumference just above navel

Waist Abdomen

Hips

Tape measurement - circumference of largest area of hips

Hips