How this calculator works
Swimsuit sizing is usually set by the bust and hip measurement, with the waist deciding how a cut sits. The calculator compares the bust and hips to see whether they are balanced, larger at the hip or larger at the bust, and then checks how much the waist narrows. The result is one of five common shape names. The high hip is shown for comparison because it affects whether a low-rise bottom will sit where you expect. These names describe proportions at one moment, not health or attractiveness, and they change with weight, posture and measurement error.
Formula
bust minus hips = bust - hips. waist share of bust = waist / bust. hips to waist ratio = hips / waist. balanced if |bust - hips| is within 5 percent of the larger measure; a defined waist is 0.75 of the bust or less; apple if the waist is at least 0.9 of the smaller of bust and hips.
Worked example
A bust of 90 cm, waist of 70 cm and hips of 96 cm gives a bust-to-hip difference of 6 cm, which is 6.25 percent of 96. The waist is 0.78 of the bust and 0.73 of the hips, so the result is a pear or triangle shape: the hips are more than 5 percent larger than the bust.
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Frequently asked questions
How should I measure for a swimsuit?
Wear the underwear you would wear under the suit and keep the tape level and snug but not tight. Measure the bust at its fullest point, the waist at its narrowest and the hips at their fullest. Take each measurement twice and use the average.
What if I fall between two shapes?
That is common. Use the cut advice for both shapes and try one of each. The size chart matters more than the label: a suit that fits the bust and hips correctly will flatter more than one chosen by shape alone.
Is body shape the same as body type?
The terms overlap but are not standardized. Some charts use apple, pear, hourglass, rectangle and inverted triangle; others add diamond or figure eight. The comparisons here are fixed so the result is repeatable.
Does the high hip change the result?
Not the shape name, which uses bust, waist and hips. It does affect fit: a high hip close to the hip measurement means a low-rise bottom may sit higher than expected, while a large difference suggests a fuller upper hip.