It is important that you weigh on the same scales and use the same tape measure each time to be assured of keeping accurate records. It is also important that the tape measurements be as accurate as possible, and the tape is level at all times. When taking measurements I prefer to take the measurements direct to skin as to maintain close to accurate measure as possible.

When it comes to tracking weight loss, most of us rely on the scale to tell us whether we've lost or gained weight. But, a scale can't tell you how much fat you have or how much you've lost. Knowing your body composition can ensure that you're losing fat and not muscle. This body fat calculator will give you an estimate of your body fat percentage based on your measurements.

Bodyfat Testing With Skinfold Calipers
The following was written by Doug Lawrenson and aims to teach you how to measure your bodyfat and fat free mass using calipers. The tutorial includes detailed charts, instructions and diagrams. If you need assistance using the tutorial, you can ask on our forum.

Bodyfat Calipers
The Skinfold caliper is a device which measures the thickness of a fold of your skin with its underlying layer of fat. By doing this at the key locations can be a quite accurate representative of the total amount of fat that is on your body, it is also possible to estimate the total percent of bodyfat on your body.

The diagrams show the locations of the areas for the measurements to be taken. Because of the location of the tests you will need someone who can do the measurements for you. It is important that the measurements are taken as close to the area's shown in the diagrams for each measurement.

How To Correctly Take Measurements
If you're right handed, pull out the fold of skin with the underlying layer of fat with your left hand and hold it with the fingers of the left hand. Then with the calipers in your right hand, place the jaws of the calipers as shown in the diagrams below. The jaws of the calipers should be about 1/4" (7.5mm) from the fingers of your left hand which continues to hold the fold of skin. Release the trigger of the calipers so the entire force of the jaws is on the Skinfold. Do not release the fingers of the left hand while taking the readings.

It is important to keep holding firmly the fold of skin with the fingers so that the calipers are measuring just the thickness of the fold of skin. You will notice that when you place the calipers on the Skinfold that the calipers will "creep" a little, after a few seconds the “creep” will slow down and this is the time that the measurement should be taken. You must note the reading on the scale before releasing any pressure off the calipers.

Taking Measurements & Calculating Your Percentage
Measure all four locations shown in the diagrams below and write down the readings on the calipers scale. It doesn’t matter what order you do the readings in. Add up the four readings. The % bodyfat can then be determined from the chart at the bottom of this page. You will notice one set of figures for males and one for females, make sure you use the right one!

You may also note that the charts do not have a line for every millimetre or column for every age group on the chart, to do this would make the chart very large. To get accurate figures it is necessary to interpolate. For example, a female in the 16-29 age groups could have a sum of 29mm for the four measurements. This is halfway between the 28 and 30 on the chart. The % bodyfat for 28mm is 18.6% and that for 30 is 19.5%. Interpolating halfway between would give approximately 19.0%. Another example would be a 40 year old male with a sum of 42mm for the four measurements. Referring to the chart for males we find % bodyfat listings for 40 and 45mm. 42mm is 2/5ths of the way between 40 and 45. The bodyfat for 48mm is 20.3%, and for 45mm it is 21.8%. Two fifths of the way from 20.3 to 21.8 is approximately 20.9%.

Normal Or Ideal % Bodyfat?
What is the correct or ideal % bodyfat? This is perhaps the most difficult question to answer. Not all people have the same ideal % bodyfat. It varies with age, sex, and genetics. One person might be better at a higher or lower bodyfat than another person of the same age and six. And the desirable bodyfat of athletes can vary depending on the sport. For example, swimmers seem to perform better at a higher % bodyfat than runners. But, some general guidelines can be given that are applicable to most people.