Heath-Carter Somatotype Calculator

About this calculator

The Heath-Carter somatotype method rates physique on three independent 1-9+ scales measured from anthropometric data: endomorphy (relative fatness, from three skinfold measurements), mesomorphy (relative musculoskeletal robustness, from bone breadths, limb girths and skinfolds relative to height), and ectomorphy (relative linearity/slenderness, from height-to-weight ratio). Every physique gets a three-number rating like “3-5-2,” and the dominant of the three numbers names the overall body type.

Originally developed by William Sheldon and refined by Heath and Carter in the 1960s-70s, it's still used in sports science research to compare physique profiles across athletes in different sports (gymnasts tend toward low endomorphy/high mesomorphy, distance runners toward high ectomorphy) and in physical anthropology, since it captures shape independent of absolute body size.

This calculator takes your skinfold measurements, bone breadths and limb girths and returns your three-number somatotype rating and dominant body type.