Army maximum waist by height (WHtR under 0.55)
Max waist = 0.55 × height. A tape reading below the figure meets the standard; the figure itself does not (¶5a(3)). One table for all ages and both sexes.
| Height | Inches | Waist must be under |
|---|---|---|
| 4'10" | 58 | 31.90 in |
| 4'11" | 59 | 32.45 in |
| 5'0" | 60 | 33.00 in |
| 5'1" | 61 | 33.55 in |
| 5'2" | 62 | 34.10 in |
| 5'3" | 63 | 34.65 in |
| 5'4" | 64 | 35.20 in |
| 5'5" | 65 | 35.75 in |
| 5'6" | 66 | 36.30 in |
| 5'7" | 67 | 36.85 in |
| 5'8" | 68 | 37.40 in |
| 5'9" | 69 | 37.95 in |
| 5'10" | 70 | 38.50 in |
| 5'11" | 71 | 39.05 in |
| 6'0" | 72 | 39.60 in |
| 6'1" | 73 | 40.15 in |
| 6'2" | 74 | 40.70 in |
| 6'3" | 75 | 41.25 in |
| 6'4" | 76 | 41.80 in |
| 6'5" | 77 | 42.35 in |
| 6'6" | 78 | 42.90 in |
| 6'7" | 79 | 43.45 in |
| 6'8" | 80 | 44.00 in |
Timeline
- July 1, 2026 — Army Directive 2026-13 signed by the Secretary of the Army; effective immediately (¶5).
- July 7, 2026 — announced Army-wide (army.mil).
- September 29, 2026 — every Soldier must have a WHtR recorded in ATIS (¶5a(9): 90 days from the directive).
- About December 28, 2026 — end of HQDA's 180-day assessment; no separations for WHtR before it completes and further guidance is issued (¶5b(8)).
- Within 2 years — G-1 folds the directive into AR 600-9 and AR 600-8-2; G-3/5/7 into AR 350-1 (¶6). The directive is rescinded when the revised regulations publish (¶7).
What the directive replaced
Height and weight screening tables are discontinued, and the circumference-based tape test (neck and waist, plus hip for women) and every other body-fat assessment are no longer authorized to challenge a WHtR result (¶5a, ¶5a(1)). Also rescinded: AD 2025-17 (AFT score body-fat exemption); AD 2023-11 (body fat assessment); AD 2023-08 (ACFT score exemption); DA Form 5501 (references d–g, ¶5a(7)–(8)). AR 600-9 still governs enrollment, counseling and administrative actions until it is rewritten (¶5b(7)).
Who it covers: the Regular Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve, all USMA and Senior ROTC cadets, all retention actions, and all military schools and institutional training courses (¶3, ¶5). The policy is not retroactive (¶5).
How to plan against the line
- Height is the lever you do not control — every inch of height adds 0.55 in of allowed waist. Measure height honestly, without shoes; your unit will.
- Measure at the navel, not the belt line. Most people wear their belt below the navel; the Army measures at the navel, which is usually the larger number.
- Use the 7-day rule. Commanders must give at least 7 days between the AFT/CFT and the WHtR (¶5a(6)). If you are asked to tape the day after the test, that is the paragraph to cite.
- A near-line ratio is a coin flip. The standard is written to two decimals with no published rounding rule. If this calculator flags you within 0.005, treat yourself as over the line and build a half inch of margin.
- Scoring your AFT? Use the fitness test calculator — and remember an AFT score no longer exempts you from the WHtR (¶5a(7)).