2023 U.S. Army Height And Weight Standard Requirements By Charts

Those who are either new recruits or currently serving soldiers express a lot of concern over the U.S. Army Height and Weight standard requirements which play a crucial role in the armed screening process for all future soldiers, officers, and enlisted personnel.

In this paper, you will be provided with the up-to-date official U.S. Army Height and weight standards chart for both males and females based on their ages and stature (also known as the AR 600-9 or Army Regulation 600-9). Take your precious time to check whether your height and weight qualify for these standards or not. Additionally, you also will be given some useful advice to help you become eligible for the Army requirements of appearances. Keep in mind that failure to meet these requirements most likely prevent your dream of serving in uniforms. Therefore, let’s thoroughly read the following blog in order to properly prepare for your Army registration.

1. Army Height And Weight Standards For New Recruits

Although all new recruits might abide by the same basic Army height and weight standard requirements as currently serving military members, the screening process for future warriors who haven’t currently met physical standards is obviously quite distinctive compared to those who have already completed U.S. military basic training.

u.s. army height and weight standards — *U.S. Navy New Recruits will be screened for height and weight at MEPs*

Nevertheless, the biggest difference in meeting the Army’s standards between new initiates and currently serving members is that the former is the gateway to starting a military career and the latter is to meet for the purpose of serving the Army workforce.

Especially, if a new initiate is assessed as not meeting the Army physical standards counting height or weight issues will go into organized fitness programs or other means.

1.2. Army Height Minimums And Maximums

Based on the U.S. Army’s official site for recruiting:

The height range for male recruits begins at 5 feet 0 inch (about 1.52 meters) and ends at 6 feet 8 inches (roughly 2.59 meters)
The height range for female initiates starts at 4 feet 10 inches(about 1.47 meters) and ends at 6 feet 8 inches (about 2.03 meters)

Take note: The age of 17 is the minimum age for these prerequisites.

1.2. Body Composition Rules ( Body Mass Vs. Body Fat)

In addition to the height requirements, recruits have to meet the weight demands based on age, sexual orientation, and height. For example:

An 18-year-old male Army recruit who is 5 feet 5 inches must weigh no more than 163 lbs (73.9kg).
A 25-year-old male Army recruit who is the same height can weigh no more than 165 lbs (74.8kg).
A 30-year-old male Army recruit who is 5 feet 5 inches can weigh no more than 168 Ibs (76.2kg).

It should be noted that according to the Army, body composition is defined as “the amount of body fat a soldier has in comparison to their total body mass.” Your body fat percentage refers to the amount of fat (including both essential fat and storage fat) present in your body as a percentage.

If you have exceeded the U.S. Army height and weight standards requirements, you might be still qualified for serving in the military by being lower than the designated body fat for your age based on standards.

Take note: You don’t think you might drop the exercise program once you have met standards because it’s just a case of getting within the current requirements. Actually, the Army has attached special importance to its recruiting standards. Therefore, they state obviously that any recruit who becomes an active military service and fails to maintain within physical benchmarks a half year later is required to go into the ABCP (or Army Body Composition Program) which is a mandatory overseen and regulated fitness program.

1.3. On Waivers Programs

Some certain applicants who don’t meet the minimum requirements might get a waiver after their recruiter has applied for it. However, these are done on a case-by-case basis, therefore, no across-the-board guidance for such circumstances is found. You might ask your recruiter forthright about the potential for a waiver and under what circumstances the Army force regulations currently allow them.

2. U.S. Army Height & Weight Standards For Current Soldiers

Currently serving troops will be tested again for body composition after 6 months of going on active duty. Therefore, the physical requirements become a career-long concern for all Army soldiers. Now, let’s take a closer look at the following requirements for Army height and weight for those currently serving:

Soldiers must meet the Army body fat standards which are presented in the following table including both height and weight ratios.
At least once every six months, soldiers are weighed and measured to ensure their compliance.
Using the Army’s “weight for height table” as a screening tool is authorized to commanders
The Army regulations don’t require any body fat assessment if you don’t exceed the authorized screening table weight for their age and measured height”. In contrast, those who fail to meet weight standards will get a body fat assessment by commanders. In case they continuously fail to meet body fat standards, they must be identified and enrolled in the ABCP which provides exercise instruction, dietary counseling, and other health programs, and are required to obtain the optimal body composition and performance to be released from it.
The circumference-based tape method is regarded as the Army’s authorized method of estimating body fat.

Take note: What is the circumference-based tape method?

us army weight requirements body fat measurement — *The U.S Army Body Fat Measurement*

In order to keep soldiers fit for duty, the U.S. military tape test uses circumference measurements around the neck, two spots at the waist and hips (for women). This measurement is then placed into an algorithm chart (Pentagon-generated chart) to be compared against height measurements so as to produce a percentage of body fat. The equation is described in the Army Regulation 600-9 – The Army Body Composition Program.

It looks like this for men:

%BF = (86.010 * log10( waist – neck ) ) – [70.041 * log10(height)) + 36.76

And like this for women:

%BF = (163.205 * log10( waist + hip – neck ) ) – (97.684 * log10(height)) – 78.387

Please be aware that the preceding formulas are intended to function for values in imperial units.

According to the Department of the Army, the current military body mass policy requires service members to maintain body fat levels described in Regulation 600-9 as follows:

*Age Group*	*Max Body Fat % — Male*	*Max Body Fat % — Female*
*17 – 20*	*20%*	*30%*
*21 – 27*	*22%*	*32%*
*28 — 39*	*24%*	*34%*
*40 and older*	*26%*	*36%*

Exceeding body fat standards within the services may lead to some severe consequences including fitness programs, limits on promotions, and ultimately discharge.

3. U.S. Army Height And Weight Standard Requirements for Males

Here is the Army’s weight minimum and maximum allowable for male recruits. It is divided by height and then further into different age groups.

Height Of Males	Minimum Weight	Maximum Weight Age 17-20	Maximum Weight Age 21-27	Maximum Weight Age 28-39	Maximum Weight Age 40+
58 in	91 lbs
59 in	94 lbs
60 in	97 lbs	139 lbs	141 lbs	143 lbs	146 lbs
61 in	100 lbs	144 lbs	146 lbs	148 lbs	151 lbs
62 in	104 lbs	148 lbs	150 lbs	153 lbs	156 lbs
63 in	107 lbs	153 lbs	145 lbs	158 lbs	161 lbs
64 in	110 lbs	158 lbs	160 lbs	163 lbs	166 lbs
65 in	114 lbs	163 lbs	165 Ibs	168 lbs	171 lbs
66 in	117 lbs	168 lbs	170 lbs	173 lbs	177 lbs
67 in	121 lbs	174 lbs	176 lbs	179 lbs	182 lbs
68 in	125 lbs	179 lbs	181 lbs	184 lbs	187 lbs
69 in	128 lbs	184 lbs	186 lbs	189 lbs	193 lbs
70 in	132 lbs	189 lbs	192 lbs	195 lbs	199 lbs
71 in	136 lbs	194 lbs	197 lbs	201 lbs	204 lbs
72 in	140 lbs	200 lbs	203 lbs	206 lbs	210 lbs
73 in	144 lbs	205 lbs	208 lbs	212 lbs	216 lbs
74 in	148 lbs	211 lbs	214 lbs	218 lbs	222 lbs
75 in	152 lbs	217 lbs	220 lbs	224 lbs	228 lbs
76 in	156 lbs	223 lbs	226 lbs	230 lbs	234 lbs
77 in	160 lbs	229 lbs	232 lbs	236 lbs	240 lbs
78 in	164 lbs	235 lbs	238 lbs	242 lbs	247 lbs
79 in	168 lbs	241 lbs	244 lbs	248 lbs	253 lbs
80 in	173 lbs	247 lbs	250 lbs	255 lbs	259 lbs

4. U.S. Army Height And Weight Standard Requirements for Females

Below is the Army’s weight minimum and maximum allowable for female recruits. It is broken down by height and then further into different age groups.

Height Of Females	Minimum Weight	Maximum Weight Age 17-20	Maximum Weight Age 21-27	Maximum Weight Age 28-39	Maximum Weight Age 40+
58 in	91 lbs	122 lbs	124 lbs	126 lbs	127 lbs
59 in	94 lbs	127 lbs	128 lbs	130 lbs	131 lbs
60 in	97 lbs	132 lbs	134 lbs	135 lbs	136 lbs
61 in	100 lbs	136 lbs	137 lbs	139 lbs	141 lbs
62 in	104 lbs	140 lbs	141 lbs	144 lbs	145 lbs
63 in	107 lbs	145 lbs	147 lbs	148 lbs	149 lbs
64 in	110 Ibs	149 lbs	151 lbs	153 Ibs	154 Ibs
65 in	114 lbs	154 lbs	156 Ibs	158 lbs	160 lbs
66 in	117 lbs	160 lbs	160 lbs	162 lbs	165 lbs
67 in	121 lbs	163 lbs	166 lbs	168 lbs	169 Ibs
68 in	125 lbs	168 lbs	171 lbs	173 lbs	174 lbs
69 in	128 lbs	173 lbs	176 lbs	178 lbs	180 lbs
70 in	132 lbs	178 lbs	181 lbs	183 lbs	185 lbs
71 in	136 lbs	183 lbs	186 lbs	188 lbs	191 lbs
72 in	140 lbs	189 Ibs	191 lbs	194 lbs	196 lbs
73 in	144 lbs	194 Ibs	196 lbs	200 lbs	202 lbs
74 in	148 lbs	199 lbs	203 lbs	204 lbs	206 lbs
75 in	152 lbs	205 lbs	208 lbs	210 lbs	212 lbs
76 in	156 lbs	210 lbs	213 lbs	215 lbs	216 lbs
77 in	160 lbs	216 lbs	219 lbs	221 lbs	223 lbs
78 in	164 lbs	222 lbs	224 lbs	227 lbs	229 lbs
79 in	168 lbs	227 lbs	230 lbs	234 lbs	236 lbs
80 in	173 lbs	233 lbs	236 lbs	240 lbs	241 lbs

5. The measurement of Army height and weight

The Army workforce conventionally takes official weight and stature estimation to assess an applicant’s physical condition. The Army height and weight assessment will be taken authoritatively as a portion of the physical exam of the MEPs (U.S. Military Entrance Processing Station).

Both Army height and weight estimations will be adjusted up or down to the closest inch with the following rules:

If height division is less than a half-inch, round down.
If the official height division could be a half-inch or more noteworthy, round up.
If weight division is less than a half-pounds, circular down
If weight division is a half-pound or greater, circular up

For instance, if your current weight is measured at 169,7 lbs (pounds), your official weight which will be recorded is exactly 170 lbs.

Take note: To get the exact height estimation, your body should be straight but not rigid, your feet on a flat surface, and your chin parallel to the floor.

In case your weight surpasses the maximum restriction given by the U.S. Army force, the Military Entrance Processing Station authorities may conduct a body fat rate test before the process of enlisting

6. Physical preparation and readiness for enlistment

One of the Army Recruiting’s advice on preparing to meet physical standards is that “Good body composition is best gained via proper diet and workout”.

Besides, the Army indicates that poor body composition has a negative effect on appearance, self-esteem, and negatively influences attitude and morale. Therefore, they always encourage their applicants to get involved in a fitness program that consists of many activities such as running, swimming, and cycling which have been proven to have a positive effect on the physical health of US soldiers.

army basic training us army height and weight requirements — *The U.S Army basic training in fitness program*

What’s more, recruits had better consult their physicians prior to starting any new fitness diet, especially a severe one. Furthermore, Do not pursue fad diets and exercise programs that start only a few weeks before your weigh-in date, etc.

To sum up, we sincerely hope that this information about the U.S. Army height and weight standard requirements above will be helpful to you either during the registration process or during the serving procedure. Don’t forget to take our free ASVAB practice test if you want to pass the enlistment exam and enter the U.S. Army.