Step two is adding up the sum of the skinfolds and looking it up on a conversion chart to find the body fat reading. The Skyndex does the conversion for you. The Harpenden caliper works almost the same way as a Lange, it simply has a different design.

Some health and fitness researchers and practitioners call this the gold standard caliper or at least the most prestigious. Studies have compared the Lange and Harpenden calipers and found the results were similar, both calipers being able to accurately measure body fat without error due to caliper design.

Researchers have noted in these comparison studies that both the Lange and Harpenden tended to underpredict body fat when compared to Hydrostatic weighing.

Construction is one reason for the bargain price — this caliper is made out of all plastic with a metal spring for the proper caliper grip tension. I found the measurements provided by this caliper astonishingly consistent with the much pricier Skyndex or the Lange calipers.

These calipers are ideal for personal use if you are testing other people at multiple skinfold sites such as with the Jackson Pollock or Durnin Formula or if someone else will be testing you at home. com: www. When you get to a skinfold like the tricep, it really gets hard to pinch yourself accurately.

The Accumeasure changed all that. This is an inexpensive caliper not only created for consumer use, it was specifically designed for self-testing at home.

Fortunately, I suggested an alternative: Get a caliper so you can test yourself at home. Enter the Accu-Meausure. The Accu-Measure is a one-site skinfold test — the only place you pinch is on your iliac crest above your hip bone which you can easily reach by yourself.

Unlike other calipers which use spring tension, the Accu-Measure uses a slide rule, which clicks into place when the caliper jaws have settled onto the skinfold. Like all body fat testing methods, this one is not without cons along with the pros. So for very lean individuals, there comes a point when Accu-measure may lose some of its usefulness and a multi-site test providing more data points more skinfold sites gives you better information.

Some people also wonder if a little plastic gizmo like this could really be accurate. In addition, a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Researc h found the Accu-Measure results comparable to the sum of three skinfolds taken by a professional grade caliper by an experienced tester.

This is for a variety of reasons, the biggest one usually being concerns about accuracy and consistency. The good news is that accuracy is not nearly as important as consistency over repeated measurements so you can chart your progress over time.

Standardized procedures must be followed every time if you want consistent readings. This is also true. At the very least, if you monitor 1. your appearance in the mirror or with photos 2. your total body weight and 3. your waist measurement, 4. As I explained in the last Burn the Fat Blog post — the scale lies to you.

Simply understanding the distinction between body fat and body weight is often enough to change your behavior in positive ways, even without the body fat test. The skinfold measurements were put into 4 different equations to calculate body fat percentage The names above each equation are just the people who developed them ….

Different equations make a big difference. One of those equations is the most suitable for John because he is an athlete. Instead just note down the skinfold measurements and monitor their change over time.

If you really must have a number for body fat percentage then just use it as a benchmark for progress. A gym instructor? A personal trainer? And not only that…. Those test should be carried out in research settings highly controlled and meticulous. The skill is in precisely locating skinfold sites on the body….

No matter how fancy the diagrams are in the instruction manual a few centimetres, even millimetres out, compounds to make a significant difference. How can you overcome this problem? If you are being tested… Ask how much experience your examiner has had.

Even the most experienced scientific researchers take their time to measure with a ruler then mark with a felt pen each and every location. At the very least…. Always have the same examiner test you. Even under the strictest of conditions results vary considerably from tester to tester.

What if you want to test yourself? At the moment these are the only body fat calipers that reliably let you test yourself. They are extremely simple to use and a recent study has shown very positive results for accuracy.

Recommended in Body-for-LIFE and endorsed by the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation, Accumeasure are the only calipers you should buy for self-testing.

If you carry out body fat tests… Find out the precise locations of each skinfold site. For example, the abdomen skinfold site is 1 inch to the right of the belly button so…. If the triceps site is midway between the tip of the shoulder and elbow, use a ruler to measure exactly halfway.

Then measure them again and then a third time. Using the average of 3 readings will significantly increase your accuracy. Is there anything else you can do to make sure your body fat tests are as accurate and reliable as possible?

Not if price is anything to go by. Why such a big difference? To be accurate body fat calipers need to exert a certain amount of constant pressure 10 gm. Small inconsistencies compound into significant errors. This may seem like an insignificant point but they all add up.

Having said that…. There is absolutely no need to buy THE most expensive set… unless you want to! If you are a Health and Fitness Professional body calipers are one of the best investments you can make. If your budget stretches to a professional set of calipers they will repay you many times over.

One of the biggest mistakes people on a weight management program make is gauging their progress by weight alone.

If you are a Health and Fitness Professional… well, you probably already know the reasons why you must make body fat testing part of your fitness armoury. The Harpenden is the most accurate skinfold caliper made. In fact, in some circles it is thought that skin-fold measurements, not body-fat percentage, will provide greater accuracy when monitoring changes.

Rob Thoburn, scientific advisor for BSN nutrition , remembers using calipers in exactly this way. We wouldn't use any complicated formula to figure out our body fat percentage.

We simply added up the measurements we got with the calipers on different locations in the body. As long as you have the same person maybe yourself take measurements in the same way each time, then you will get relatively useful data.

In today's world, many either want to rid themselves of excess body-fat to improve their health, enhance their physical presence, or both. As bodybuilders, we generally want to shed any visible body-fat to accentuate underlying muscles, and highlight hard-fought definition.

To plan for this fat-loss, it is important to know exactly where one is at and to regularly chart progress for ongoing results. Body-fat percentage can be ascertained and monitored with caliper testing. Calipers are the apparatus used to measure various skin-fold thicknesses, at specific sites, to acquire a percentage value.

Generally speaking, a successful result is one which places an individual within a desirable range for their gender and age. Bodybuilders and other fitness enthusiasts, on the other hand, often have vastly different expectations in terms of shedding body-fat.

While a percentage is classed as low for the average year-old male, the average bodybuilder, in this bracket, would probably consider this to be unacceptably high, even as an off-season measurement. Many bodybuilders, and general fitness exponents, keep their body-fat at around percent within striking distance of a competition, or simply to look good year round.

Despite being used for decades to measure body-fat among the general population and pro athletes , the jury is still out on the efficiency and efficacy of caliper testing.

Indeed, other methods such as hydrostatic weighing are thought to be superior. However, in most clinical or applied situations, underwater hydrostatic weighing is impractical.

This article, therefore, will analyze the different methods, and review the various types of caliper testing, to gain a broader perspective on how they can benefit those wanting to improve their health and body shape.

The amount of body-fat a person carries can make a tremendous difference to their body shape and health. Because muscle tissue is more compact than fat, any deposition of fat, due to its tendency to balloon out, will cover a greater area than that of muscle. Fat also tends to congregate in specific places primarily on the stomach in men and around the hips and buttocks in women.

These factors affect overall body shape in a negative way, thus contributing to a disproportionate physique and unhealthy look. In terms of health effects, excess fat can add stress to the joints, and cause postural problems.

It is also linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Measuring body-fat is important for several reasons. To gain an indication of how much fat ones body is composed of serves as a starting point for a weight-loss program.

In fact, measuring body-fat regularly can serve to motivate and help an individual make any necessary modifications to their program. The most common fats in out body are the triglycerides.

These come from oils, butter and other natural sources. Lipids are also the body's most concentrated source of energy, yielding around nine calories per gram as opposed to protein and carbohydrate, which contain about four. Lipids are stored as droplets in fats cells. Calipers work by pulling subcutaneous fat fat directly under the skin away from the muscle with the tongs situated at their ends.

It comes in a hard shell box, packed in strong foam which protects the very sensitive springs of the caliper. Mine are in a hard black plastic box but the more modern ones come in smart wooden case which I think looks better. The only downside to these calipers is the price but as with everything in life you get what you pay for.

For as long as I could afford to buy them, this pair of calipers would be my go to choice every time! These were the first skinfold calipers I trained with back in the 90s when I was starting out.

They are a solid option when spending hundreds of pounds on a top of the range set is not an option. The calibration is reasonable and will allow enough precision to measure body fat changes to a reasonably accurate degree. They are very light weight and quite durable and come in a bright white design which I like, it can be conveniently stored in a small bag or box for easy transportation if needed.

The manual that comes with it is very basic but it does allow you to calculate body fat from the four site measurement approach which gives you a definitive although not as accurate reading.

The calibration is set to 1mm which is OK but when you need a more accurate measurement, then this caliper is lacking.

Nostalgia aside this is one of the best choices at the lower price point mark. This device calculates both body fat and lean mass and can record up to 50 readings on the actual device itself.

The software that comes with it is handy operates on Windows and allows you to track your or your clients progress over time. It works to the 3 or 7 site formula all calculated by the device so is not as accurate as some other methods but with the software is much more hands off pardon the pun!

I really like the hard case that it is stored in which makes it very convenient to carry around, should you need. The device has a nice LCD display, easy button functionality and a simple menu navigation system for ease of use.

To get reading s from this caliper will require less skill by the handler which along with the software which performs all of the calculations means this is a great hands off option but that obviously comes with a heftier price tag. The Accumeasure Skinfold calipers are at the lower end of both price and accuracy bands but they do a half decent job of measuring the necessary skinfolds.

They are like a pair of pincers and the grab the skin easily. They are very lightweight and easy to store in a drawer and will last for a very long time as there are no springs or vital measurements to maintain.

We never have to re-calibrate the scale, even after using it multiple times per week, unless we move it to a new location. We like that the display is simple, clear, and easy to read. The scale itself only displays weight, but you can see other metrics by opening its proprietary app on your smartphone.

We like that you can rearrange the order in which metrics appear in the app so you can order them based on which ones are most important to you. While we didn't test these three skinfold calipers ourselves, we still think they deserve a spot on our list of top picks.

While smart scales are typically easier to use compared to skinfold calipers, they also tend to cost a lot more. So if you want a budget-friendlier way to measure your body fat percentage, you may want to opt for skinfold calipers instead.

Style: Calipers Data Memory: None Smart Features: Reads measurements in millimeters or inches and shows measurements digitally on large display. Best for users looking for a portable measuring system that is very accurate and easy to read.

Want to combine the skinfold assessment method with an easy-to-read digital display? Check out these Qiorange calipers.

They are primarily designed to provide a body fat percentage reading by measuring subcutaneous fat, which is the fat just under your skin, specifically around the stomach. You can also use it to measure other areas of your body, like your thigh area, biceps, or anywhere your body typically stores fat.

For ultimate accuracy, some users recommend measuring the same area with the same technique three times and averaging the reported results.

This method helps to account for human error and inconsistencies in skinfold measurements so you get a more reliable approximation of your body fat composition. We also love that the LED display is large enough for easy reading.

Style: Calipers Data Memory: None Smart Features: None. Best for those who want a portable, no-frills body fat monitor and have a trusted friend or partner to assist in it's use.

If you have a friend, family member, or trainer who can help you measure your body fat percentage with skinfold calipers , snag this very affordable wellness tool.

Used by fitness professionals across the globe, skin calipers offer a simple way to measure subcutaneous fat. There may be a bit of a learning curve to using skinfold calipers, but you can't beat the convenience of being able to drop them in your gym bag and use them wherever you want.

Think of this tool as a fat-specific measuring tape. These calipers are lightweight , easily portable , and very simple to use. The World Natural Bodybuilding Federation also endorses them as the premiere fat caliper measuring tool on the market.

This may also be a great option if you're not the most tech-savvy person, as it doesn't require you to interact with technology in the way that a smart scale might.

With an anti-slip grip, these calipers are easy to use. Best for users who are new to body fat measurement as a health metric and have never used calipers before. Similar to the calipers from Accu-Measure, this manual tool helps you gain a clear picture of your body fat levels so you can create and tackle appropriate health and wellness goals.

But, since many people are not familiar or comfortable with the skinfold assessment method, this particular tool comes with a quick-start guide to help set you up for success. You can also trust that the spring-loaded mechanism will apply consistent pressure measurement after measurement, giving you accurate readings every time you use it.

In addition to researching dozens of skinfold calipers and other body fat monitors, and only including the most accurate and easy-to-use ones on our list, we also tested 17 different body fat monitor scales. Out of the 17 scales we tested, only five rated high enough to make our final list of recommendations.

These three weren't our top picks, but they still have some valuable features worth mentioning:. After testing 17 digital scales at home for a month, and researching dozens of other body fat monitoring devices, Fitindex Wi-Fi Bluetooth Body Fat Scale is our top choice for its sleek, easy-to-clean design, and accurate readings.

We found it very easy to use and like that it syncs with multiple health apps. We continue to test each body fat monitor at home and will update our recommendations if we notice any changes in our findings that haven't already been noted here.

To find the best body fat monitors on the market, we received expert input from three experts and researched dozens of options. We also tested 17 bathroom scales and smart scales that monitor body fat for a four-week period at home.

When researching and testing smart scales and other body fat monitoring devices, we evaluate each product for six key criteria: ease of setup , reading precision , data storage , display and readability , ease of use , and value.

We did our best to evaluate each product we researched but weren't able to test for these criteria, relying on expert input, user reviews, and our own judgment based on thorough research for the product category.

For the monitors we were able to test, we followed these six steps:. While all bodies are different and body fat percentage may vary depending on several factors, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition determined that, based on BMI, these ranges would be considered "healthy" for each age bracket:.

A body fat measurement can tell you what percentage of your body weight is made up of fat relative to other lean tissues such as bone, muscle, water, and organs. Body fat percentage is a clearer measurement of your health and fitness than weight or BMI.

While body fat percentage can give you insight into your health and fitness, several other factors should be considered when assessing your wellbeing. Vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar are all good measurements of your overall health.

Additionally, you'll want to look at your nutrition and physical activity. Sleep habits can also play a role in overall health and fitness. Over the years, she has reviewed dozens of products, from athletic recovery aids to homeopathic essential oils to ever-trendy CBD topicals, to help readers like you discover products that can help you live your best life.

She also worked as a personal trainer in New York City for several years, using several tools on this list to help her clients measure their progress and success accurately. Bär KJ, Critchley H. Autonomic control.

Brain Mapping. Eaton-Evans J. Nutritional assessment: anthropometry. Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition Third Edition. Published online Khalil SF, Mohktar MS, Ibrahim F. The theory and fundamentals of bioimpedance analysis in clinical status monitoring and diagnosis of diseases.

Gallagher D, Heymsfield SB, Heo M, Jebb SA, Murgatroyd PR, Sakamoto Y. Healthy percentage body fat ranges: an approach for developing guidelines based on body mass index. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Winchester Hospital. Your body fat percentage: What does it mean? Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.

Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content.

List of Partners vendors. By Alena Hall is a writer specializing in health, wellness, and fitness. Alena Hall. Learn about our editorial process. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research.

Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Medically reviewed by Jonathan Valdez, RDN, CDCES, CPT.

Learn about our Medical Review Board. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article.

Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle. Fact checked by Rich Scherr.

Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. Best Budget Scale:. Best Investment Scale:. Best Smart Scale:. Best Budget Smart Scale:. Best Digital Skinfold Calipers:.

Best Manual Skinfold Calipers:. Best Skinfold Calipers for Beginners:. In This Article Expand. Our Picks. We Also Tested. Where We Stand. How We Selected and Tested. Our Experts. What to Look for. Frequently Asked Questions. Why Trust Verywell Fit. Best Overall. Fitindex Wi-Fi Bluetooth Body Fat Scale.

Our Ratings. Pros Accurate measurements Sensor coating covers full surface of scale Syncs with 3rd Party Apps. Cons Baby mode may be difficult to figure out Smartphone app has to be open in order to sync with scale. Best Budget Scale.

RolliBot Rolli-Fit Smart Body Fat Scale. Pros Metrics are clickable in-app for more information Unlimited users Inclusive max weight capacity. Cons Emoji-style sliding scale indicators in app may be triggering for some May show footprints.

Most Valuable Insight "My favorite part is definitely how easy everything is to track in the app and how it shows you where you fall within range scales for your age and height.

Best Investment Scale. Withings Body Comp Smart Scale. Pros Great for monitoring heart health Auto-recognition for unlimited users App explains what each metric means.

Cons May need to stand on scale a little longer than usual to receive reading. Best Smart Scale. WW by Conair Bluetooth Body Analysis Bathroom Scale. Pros App offers badges for consistency and progress that can be motivating Data can sync to WW app for members Clear, easy-to-read display.

Cons No auto-recognition; have to manually switch users May be too sensitive to small fluctuations in weight.

Best Budget Smart Scale. Etekcity Smart Fitness Scale. Pros Users can rearrange the list of metrics in the app by priority Bioelectrical impedance can be turned off Tracks 13 metrics.

Cons App navigation is a little clunky. Others We Like While we didn't test these three skinfold calipers ourselves, we still think they deserve a spot on our list of top picks. Best Digital Skinfold Calipers. Qiorange Digital Display Body Fat Caliper. Pros Best for measuring body fat around the stomach Easy to read and understand Easier to use without assistance compared to other calipers.

I really like the hard case that it is stored in which makes it very convenient to carry around, should you need. The device has a nice LCD display, easy button functionality and a simple menu navigation system for ease of use.

To get reading s from this caliper will require less skill by the handler which along with the software which performs all of the calculations means this is a great hands off option but that obviously comes with a heftier price tag.

The Accumeasure Skinfold calipers are at the lower end of both price and accuracy bands but they do a half decent job of measuring the necessary skinfolds.

They are like a pair of pincers and the grab the skin easily. They are very lightweight and easy to store in a drawer and will last for a very long time as there are no springs or vital measurements to maintain.

These are a solid budget end choice. The Baseline Caliper is another higher quality product that comes in a nice protective case. The grip style is different than many of the other calipers but the sensitivity is first rate giving accurate readings. As a mid range product this is a solid choice.

I am somewhat biased but my recommendation if you can afford it would be the Idass Harpenden product every time. Menu Home Boot Camps Reading Boot Camp About Us Personal Training Testimonials Privacy Contact Us Blog.

Idass Skinfold Calipers by Harpenden My very favourite set of calipers and the ones I use on my private clients are my tried and trusted Harpenden calipers. Other devices use sensors that rotate around your body. In this way, 3-D body scanners are similar to circumference measurements.

However, a greater amount of information is provided by a 3-D scanner The method uses information about your body shape to predict your body fat percentage. More information is needed about the accuracy of these methods. Multi-compartment models are considered to be the most accurate method of body composition assessment 3 , These models split the body into three or more parts.

The most common assessments are called 3-compartment and 4-compartment models. These models require multiple tests to get estimates of body mass, body volume, body water and bone content For example, hydrostatic weighing or ADP can provide body volume, BIS or BIA can provide body water and DXA can measure bone content.

Information from each of these methods is combined to build a more complete picture of the body and obtain the most accurate body fat percentage 21 , However, they involve multiple tests and are not typically available to the general public.

Some methods, such as skinfold measurements, circumference calculations and portable BIA devices, are inexpensive and allow you to be measured in your own home as frequently as you like.

The devices can also be purchased online easily, such as on Amazon. Most of the methods with highest accuracies are not available to use in your own home. If you want a more accurate assessment and are willing to pay for it, you could pursue a method with good accuracy like hydrostatic weighing, ADP or DXA.

Ideally, you should do the test before you have anything to drink, especially for methods that rely on electrical signals like BIA, BIS and EIM. Assessing yourself the same way each time will reduce error rates and make it easier to tell if you are making progress. However, you should always interpret your results from any method with caution.

Even the best methods are not perfect and only give you an estimate of your true body fat. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Several dietary and lifestyle changes can help you burn body fat.

Here are 12 great methods to promote long-term fat loss. It is a myth that a pound of body fat contains exactly 3, calories. This article explains the actual amount and what that means for weight loss.

This article takes a look at the science behind targeted fat loss, and checks if you can slim down specific areas of your body. If losing weight is your goal, this article covers 18 foods that may help support a healthy and sustainable weight loss journey, according to science.

Making a few small changes to your morning routine can help you lose weight and keep it off. This article tells you how. Exercise burns calories, but many people claim it doesn't help you lose weight. This article explores whether exercise really helps with weight loss.

Male body types are often divided into three types, determined by factors like limb proportions, weight, height, and body fat distribution. You can easily estimate your basal metabolic rate using the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation — or by using our quick calculator.

Here's how. Many think the pear body shape is healthier than the apple body shape. This article explains the pear and apple body shapes, the research behind them…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based The 10 Best Ways to Measure Your Body Fat Percentage.

There are many approaches to getting, and staying, in shape, with the majority of these revolving around diets and training plans. However, to achieve superior conditioning, many turn to new and innovative ways to measure their progress.

Body-fat measurement has for some time been considered an ideal way to chart physical improvement, with various skin-fold techniques generally considered the most convenient, accessible and cost-effective way.

Indeed, the measurements taken from a skin-fold body-fat test, provide a very good indication of ones body-fat levels. Although a good way in which to chart progress, it should be said that calipers cannot be totally accurate.

In fact, in some circles it is thought that skin-fold measurements, not body-fat percentage, will provide greater accuracy when monitoring changes. Rob Thoburn, scientific advisor for BSN nutrition , remembers using calipers in exactly this way. We wouldn't use any complicated formula to figure out our body fat percentage.

We simply added up the measurements we got with the calipers on different locations in the body. As long as you have the same person maybe yourself take measurements in the same way each time, then you will get relatively useful data. In today's world, many either want to rid themselves of excess body-fat to improve their health, enhance their physical presence, or both.

As bodybuilders, we generally want to shed any visible body-fat to accentuate underlying muscles, and highlight hard-fought definition. To plan for this fat-loss, it is important to know exactly where one is at and to regularly chart progress for ongoing results.

Body-fat percentage can be ascertained and monitored with caliper testing. Calipers are the apparatus used to measure various skin-fold thicknesses, at specific sites, to acquire a percentage value. Generally speaking, a successful result is one which places an individual within a desirable range for their gender and age.

Bodybuilders and other fitness enthusiasts, on the other hand, often have vastly different expectations in terms of shedding body-fat. While a percentage is classed as low for the average year-old male, the average bodybuilder, in this bracket, would probably consider this to be unacceptably high, even as an off-season measurement.

Many bodybuilders, and general fitness exponents, keep their body-fat at around percent within striking distance of a competition, or simply to look good year round.

Despite being used for decades to measure body-fat among the general population and pro athletes , the jury is still out on the efficiency and efficacy of caliper testing. Indeed, other methods such as hydrostatic weighing are thought to be superior.

However, in most clinical or applied situations, underwater hydrostatic weighing is impractical. This article, therefore, will analyze the different methods, and review the various types of caliper testing, to gain a broader perspective on how they can benefit those wanting to improve their health and body shape.

The amount of body-fat a person carries can make a tremendous difference to their body shape and health. Because muscle tissue is more compact than fat, any deposition of fat, due to its tendency to balloon out, will cover a greater area than that of muscle. Fat also tends to congregate in specific places primarily on the stomach in men and around the hips and buttocks in women.

These factors affect overall body shape in a negative way, thus contributing to a disproportionate physique and unhealthy look. In terms of health effects, excess fat can add stress to the joints, and cause postural problems.

It is also linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Measuring body-fat is important for several reasons. To gain an indication of how much fat ones body is composed of serves as a starting point for a weight-loss program. In fact, measuring body-fat regularly can serve to motivate and help an individual make any necessary modifications to their program.