Health and Safety Measuring Skinfolds for Determining Body Fat Percentage How to use skinfold thickness to determine body fat percentage By Elizabeth Quinn, MS Elizabeth Quinn, MS Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 29, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Anisha Shah, MD Medically reviewed by Anisha Shah, MD LinkedIn Anisha Shah, MD, is a board-certified internist, interventional cardiologist, and fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Peter Dazeley / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Skinfold Measurements Calculating Body Fat Percentage Skinfold Measurement Accuracy Skinfold measurement is a test that estimates your amount of body fat, which is converted into percentage of total body weight. To do it a caliper is used to pinch body fat and measure it's thickness on multiple sites of the body. You need to have experience and skill to perform the test correctly. The thickness of these folds is a measure of the fat under the skin, also called subcutaneous adipose tissue. Skinfold thickness results rely on formulas that convert these numbers into an estimate of a person's percentage of body fat according to a person's age and gender. Skinfold Measurements The skinfold measurement test is one of the oldest and most common methods of determining a person's body composition and body fat percentage. This test estimates the percentage of body fat by measuring skinfold thickness at specific locations on the body. Skinfold measurements are generally taken at specific sites on the right side of the body, with the tester pinching the skin at the location site and pulling the fold of skin away from the underlying muscle so only the skin and fat tissue are being held. Special skinfold calipers are then used to measure the skinfold thickness in millimeters. Two measurements are recorded and averaged. The measurement sites vary depending upon the specific skinfold testing protocol being used, but typically include the following seven locations on the body. These include the abdomen, midaxilla, pectoral area, quadriceps, subscapular area, suprailiac area, and triceps. Where to Take Skinfold Measurements Abdomen: Next to the belly buttonMidaxilla: Midline of the side of the torsoPectoral: The mid-chest, just forward of the armpitQuadriceps: Middle of the upper thighSubscapular: Beneath the edge of the shoulder bladeSuprailiac: Just above the iliac crest of the hip boneTriceps: The back of the upper arm 0:57 Watch Now: How to Determine Your Body Fat Percentage Calculating Body Fat Percentage Once you have taken skinfold measurements, you'll need to convert these numbers into a percent of body fat. The easiest way to calculate the percent of body fat is to use a software program. There are as many different formulas and calculations as there are ways to measure skinfold thickness, but some that have held up over time include those published by Jackson and Pollock. You can find these being used in the following online body fat calculators: Body Composition Calculator 1 Body Composition Calculator 2 If you would like to measure your body fat percentage without requiring any special tools or measurements, you can also try out our calculator: Skinfold Measurement Accuracy The accuracy of these tests may depend on the type of calipers being used, the competence of the tester, and a person's level of hydration at the time of the test. Since using the calipers can be difficult, skinfold measurements may not be the best choice for assessing fat percentages, especially if you're trying to do it yourself. However, even if the accuracy is somewhat off if you have the test done by the same tester under similar conditions, you may find the test a useful way to determine body composition change over time. With other technologies available, skinfold testing is becoming somewhat of an ancient art-form. Most personal trainers today use electrical impedance methods and scales that measure body composition instead of directly measuring skinfolds. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Body Fat A Word From Verywell No matter the method you use, it's important to keep in mind that weight fluctuates constantly and most body composition tests should be used as a general reference point and are best when averaged over a given timeframe. 2 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Beam JR, Szymanski DJ. Validity of 2 skinfold calipers in estimating percent body fat of college-aged men and women. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(12):3448-56. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181bde1fe Barreira TV, Staiano AE, Katzmarzyk PT. Validity assessment of a portable bioimpedance scale to estimate body fat percentage in white and African-American children and adolescents. Pediatr Obes. 2013;8(2):e29–e32. doi:10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00122.x By Elizabeth Quinn, MS Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit