Anthropometrics Measurement: Hip Girth Measurement

Hip girth, also called hip circumference or gluteal girth, is a tape-based body measurement used to record the circumference around the widest part of the hips and buttocks. It is commonly used in health, fitness, sport, workplace, rehabilitation and performance settings because it is simple, quick and useful when repeated consistently.

Hip girth can provide useful context for body measurement profiling, waist-to-hip ratio, body composition tracking, lower-limb and trunk assessment, clothing fit, and general progress monitoring. It may also help provide context when reviewed alongside waist girth, body weight, BMI, strength testing, movement assessment and other Measurz results.

However, hip girth does not directly measure glute strength, hip function, body fat percentage, muscle mass, pain, injury status or performance. It is a circumference measure. The result reflects the total size around the measurement site, which may include muscle, fat, bone structure, tissue shape, clothing and measurement technique.

For Measurz, the most important goal is repeatability. Use the same landmark, same tape tension, same client position and same measurement unit each time.

What Is Hip Girth Measurement?

Hip girth measurement records the circumference around the widest part of the hips and buttocks.

The result is usually recorded in centimetres or millimetres.

A common standardised method is to measure around the maximum circumference of the buttocks, keeping the measuring tape horizontal and parallel to the floor. This is commonly used when hip circumference is measured for waist-to-hip ratio or body measurement profiling.

Hip girth is not the same as waist girth. Waist girth measures abdominal circumference, while hip girth measures the wider hip and buttock region.

Why It Is Used

Hip girth measurement may be used to:

• Record baseline hip circumference
• Track change over time
• Add context to waist girth
• Calculate waist-to-hip ratio where appropriate
• Support body measurement profiling
• Add context to weight and BMI
• Track changes during training or body composition programs
• Add context to lower-limb and trunk assessment
• Support progress reporting in Measurz
• Provide objective information for client education

Hip girth is often most useful when reviewed with other body measurements. For example, waist girth and hip girth together may provide more context than either measurement alone.

What It Measures

Hip girth primarily measures the external circumference around the widest hip and buttock region.

It may provide useful information about:

• Hip and gluteal region size
• Body measurement profile
• Change from baseline
• Relationship to waist girth
• Waist-to-hip ratio context
• Body composition trend context
• Lower-body circumference profile
• Clothing or equipment fit context

It does not directly measure:

• Glute strength
• Hip power
• Hip mobility
• Body fat percentage
• Muscle mass
• Pelvic control
• Pain source
• Injury diagnosis
• Readiness for sport or work
• Functional performance

Hip girth is best interpreted as one part of a broader assessment profile.

Equipment Required

To measure hip girth in Measurz, you will need:

• Flexible non-elastic measuring tape
• Measurz app
• Selected hip girth assessment or body measurement field
• Clear measurement method
• Private and comfortable testing environment
• Optional mirror or second person to check tape position
• Notes field for clothing, position and conditions

A non-elastic tape is recommended because stretchy tapes can change the measurement.

How to Measure Hip Girth

1. Prepare the client

Explain the purpose of the measurement clearly.

A useful explanation is:

“We are going to measure your hip circumference so we can record your baseline and compare it over time. This is a body measurement and should be interpreted alongside your other results.”

Ask the client to remove bulky outer clothing where appropriate. The measurement should be taken over light clothing or directly against the skin depending on your professional setting and privacy requirements.

Before testing, record:

• Clothing conditions
• Measurement method
• Time of day if relevant
• Any reason the result may not compare directly with previous sessions

2. Position the client

Ask the client to stand upright with:

• Feet close together or hip-width apart, depending on your chosen protocol
• Weight evenly distributed
• Arms relaxed or crossed out of the way
• Body relaxed
• Breathing normal
• No intentional glute contraction

The same stance should be repeated each time.

3. Find the widest part of the hips and buttocks

Stand to the side of the client and identify the widest part of the buttocks.

This is usually the maximum circumference around the gluteal region.

If needed, adjust the tape slightly up or down until the largest circumference is found.

4. Apply the measuring tape

Wrap the tape around the hips and buttocks at the widest point.

Check that the tape is:

• Horizontal and parallel to the floor
• Flat against the body
• Not twisted
• Firm but not compressive
• Not digging into the skin or clothing
• Passing around the maximum hip/buttock circumference

Use a mirror or second person if needed to check that the tape is level at the back and front.

5. Record the measurement

Read the measurement carefully and record it in centimetres or millimetres.

Avoid pulling the tape tight enough to compress tissue.

6. Repeat the measurement if required

For improved confidence, take two measurements.

If the two results differ more than expected, check tape position and take a third measurement.

A practical approach is to record the average of two close values.

7. Save the result in Measurz

Enter the value into Measurz with relevant notes.

Useful notes include:

• Hip girth value
• Measurement unit
• Widest buttock/maximum hip method
• Clothing conditions
• Stance used
• Number of trials
• Any reason the result may not compare directly with previous sessions

Scoring and Interpretation

The main score is hip girth, usually recorded in centimetres.

A higher value means the measured hip circumference is larger. A lower value means the measured hip circumference is smaller.

Interpretation should consider:

• Change from baseline
• Waist girth
• Waist-to-hip ratio if used
• Body weight and BMI
• Training history
• Body composition goals
• Clothing conditions
• Tape placement
• Tape tension
• Lower-limb strength results
• Movement or performance results
• Client goals and context

A larger hip girth is not automatically better or worse. It may reflect muscle size, fat mass, pelvic structure, body size or measurement conditions.

A smaller hip girth is also not automatically better or worse. It may reflect changes in body composition, muscle size, swelling, weight, training load or measurement conditions.

The safest interpretation is to compare hip girth with the client’s own baseline and other Measurz assessment findings.

Normative Data, Benchmarks or Reference Values

Hip girth is commonly used with waist girth to understand body size and fat distribution. It can also help track changes in lower-body size over time. Recent peer-reviewed work has provided centile curves for waist-to-hip ratio and skinfold sums in adults, showing that waist and hip measurements can provide useful body composition context without relying only on body fat percentage equations. In Measurz, hip girth should be compared with waist girth, body weight, skinfolds, lower-body strength and the person’s baseline.

Reliability and Validity

Hip girth can be reliable when measured using a consistent method.

Reliability improves when:

• The same measuring tape is used
• The same measurement site is used
• The tape is kept level
• The same stance is used
• The same clothing conditions are used
• The same tape tension is used
• The same number of trials is taken
• Notes are recorded clearly in Measurz

Hip girth is valid as a measurement of hip/buttock circumference when performed correctly. It is not a direct measure of body fat percentage, glute strength, hip function or performance.

Common Errors and Limitations

Common errors include:

• Measuring above or below the widest point
• Letting the tape slope up or down
• Pulling the tape too tightly
• Measuring over bulky clothing
• Not recording the method used
• Comparing different stance positions
• Not checking that the tape is level at the back
• Treating hip girth as a direct glute strength measure
• Treating hip girth as a stand-alone body composition measure

Limitations include:

• Hip girth does not isolate muscle from fat or structure
• It does not measure strength
• It does not measure body fat percentage
• It can be affected by clothing
• It can be affected by tape placement
• It can vary depending on stance
• It should not be used alone to judge health, performance or readiness

Practical Applications

Hip girth may be useful for:

• Body measurement profiling
• Tracking change over time
• Waist-to-hip ratio calculation
• Supporting body composition discussions
• Monitoring lower-body size changes
• Supporting strength and hypertrophy programs
• Adding context to lower-limb performance testing
• Client education
• Measurz progress reports

For example, if hip girth changes while waist girth, weight and lower-body strength also change, the combined data may provide more useful context than hip girth alone.

How to Record This in Measurz

When recording hip girth in Measurz, include:

• Client name
• Test date
• Hip girth value
• Measurement unit
• Measurement method
• Clothing conditions
• Stance used
• Number of trials
• Any recent factors that may affect the result
• Any reason the result may not compare directly with previous sessions

For best results, use the same measurement method, same stance and same tape tension at each retest.

Measurz can help organise hip girth alongside waist girth, weight, BMI, limb girths, strength, movement and performance testing.

FAQs

What is hip girth?

Hip girth is the circumference around the widest part of the hips and buttocks.

Where should I measure hip girth?

A common method is to measure around the widest portion of the buttocks with the tape parallel to the floor.

Is hip girth the same as waist girth?

No. Waist girth measures abdominal circumference, while hip girth measures the hip and buttock region.

Can hip girth be used for waist-to-hip ratio?

Yes, if waist and hip are measured consistently using standardised methods.

Does hip girth measure glute strength?

No. Hip girth measures circumference. Glute or hip strength should be assessed with strength testing.

Are there universal hip girth norms?

No. Hip girth varies widely and should usually be compared with the client’s own baseline.

Can clothing affect hip girth?

Yes. Bulky clothing can affect the measurement, so clothing conditions should be consistent and recorded.

Should hip girth be used alone?

No. It should be interpreted alongside other Measurz assessment findings.

Key Takeaways

Hip girth measures the circumference around the widest part of the hips and buttocks.

The tape should be level and parallel to the floor.

There are no simple universal “good” or “bad” hip girth norms.

Hip girth is useful for tracking change over time and supporting waist-to-hip ratio.

Hip girth does not directly measure glute strength, body fat percentage or performance.

It should be interpreted alongside other Measurz assessment findings.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2021). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: 2021 anthropometry procedures manual. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/public/2021/manuals/2021-Anthropometry-Procedures-Manual-508.pdf

Lean, M. E. J., Han, T. S., & Morrison, C. E. (1995). Waist circumference as a measure for indicating need for weight management. BMJ, 311(6998), 158–161. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.6998.158

Lohman, T. G., Roche, A. F., & Martorell, R. (Eds.). (1988). Anthropometric standardization reference manual. Human Kinetics.

Marfell-Jones, M., Stewart, A., & de Ridder, H. (2012). International standards for anthropometric assessment. International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry.

World Health Organization. (2008). Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: Report of a WHO expert consultation. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241501491 

Campa, F., Coratella, G., Petri, C., Spataro, F., Charrier, D., Cerullo, G., Baroncini, G., Faraone, E., Marinelli, G. P. A., Serafini, S., Vaccaro, S., Pincella, M., Izzicupo, P., & Paoli, A. (2025). From fat to facts: Anthropometric references and centile curves for sum of skinfolds and waist-to-hip ratio in 2,507 adults. PLOS ONE, 20(6), e0326111. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326111

Santos, D. A., Dawson, J. A., Matias, C. N., Rocha, P. M., Minderico, C. S., Allison, D. B., Sardinha, L. B., & Silva, A. M. (2014). Reference values for body composition and anthropometric measurements in athletes. PLOS ONE, 9(5), e97846. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097846