Army Height and Weight Standards Charts for Men and Woman

This blog post is all about the Army height and weight standards for both males and females. Keep reading to know if you meet those requirements for your next military enlist.

Being a member of the United States Army entails a number of obstacles, such as the numerous physical obstacles you will face during coaching and service. In general, soldiers are often put in a wide range of life-threatening situations, put through intensive training, and might also have to compete with aggressive tactical conditions, so you must be in excellent physical condition. 

The Army height and weight standards, as a consequence, are in place to maintain soldiers’ fitness and to offer guidance to our professional army. So, in this article, let’s go through the detailed requirements for army height and weight standards, size charts for female and male soldiers. This way, you can be well-prepared for your upcoming service.

See also: Army Body Fat Calculator

Army Height and Weight Standards by Age for US Males

Height (in inches)	Height (in centimeters)	Minimum Weight Requirement	Maximum Weight (17-20 Years Old)	Maximum Weight (21-27 Years Old)	Maximum Weight (28-39 Years Old)	Maximum Weight (Over 40 Years Old)
58	147	91
59	149	94
60	152	97	139	141	143	146
61	155	100	144	146	148	151
62	157	104	148	150	153	156
63	160	107	153	145	158	161
64	162	110	158	160	163	166
65	165	114	163	165	168	171
66	167	117	168	170	173	177
67	170	121	174	176	179	182
68	172	125	179	181	184	187
69	175	128	184	186	189	193
70	177	132	189	192	195	199
71	180	136	194	197	201	204
72	182	140	200	203	206	210
73	185	144	205	208	212	216
74	187	148	211	214	218	222
75	190	152	217	220	224	228
76	193	156	223	226	230	234
77	195	160	229	232	236	240
78	198	164	235	238	242	247
79	200	168	241	244	248	253
80	203	173	247	250	255	259

For men with altitudes greater than 80 inches, simply add 6 lbs for every inch.

Maximum Body Fat Standards for Male Military Members:

Age Group	Maximum Body Fat Percentage
17-20	20%
21-27	22%
28-39	24%
40 and over	26%

These updated body fat percentage standards are applicable to male military members across various age groups. It is crucial for individuals within the specified age ranges to maintain body fat levels within these prescribed limits in order to meet the required standards for military service.

To calculate and maintain your body fat percentage to meet the military requirements, use the Army Body Fat Calculator. It’s an easy and accurate way to ensure you are within the acceptable weight range for your height and age.

Army Height and Weight Standards by Age for US Females

Height (in inches)	Height (in centimeters)	Minimum Weight Requirement	Maximum Weight (17-20 Years Old)	Maximum Weight (21-27 Years Old)	Maximum Weight (28-39 Years Old)	Maximum Weight (Over 40 Years Old)
58	147	91	122	124	126	127
59	149	94	127	128	130	131
60	152	97	132	134	135	136
61	155	100	136	137	139	141
62	157	104	140	141	144	145
63	160	107	145	147	148	149
64	162	110	149	151	153	154
65	165	114	154	156	158	160
66	167	117	160	160	162	165
67	170	121	163	166	168	169
68	172	125	168	171	173	174
69	175	128	173	176	178	180
70	177	132	178	181	183	185
71	180	136	183	186	188	191
72	182	140	189	191	194	196
73	185	144	194	196	200	202
74	187	148	199	203	204	206
75	190	152	205	208	210	212
76	193	156	210	213	215	216
77	195	160	216	219	221	223
78	198	164	222	224	227	229
79	200	168	227	230	234	236
80	203	173	233	236	240	241

For women with altitudes greater than 80 inches, simply add 5 lbs for every inch.

If you’re a female hoping to join the US Army, you need to know what height and weight is required based on your age. The Army Body Fat Calculator can help you determine whether you meet the standards for joining the Army. It’s important to note that weight and height requirements vary based on age and physical fitness level.

Maximum Body Fat Standards for Female Military Members:

Age Group	Maximum Body Fat Percentage
17-20	30%
21-27	32%
28-39	34%
40 and over	36%

These updated body fat percentage standards apply to female military members in various age groups. It is essential for individuals within these age ranges to maintain body fat levels within the specified limits to meet the required standards for military service. Adhering to these guidelines ensures optimal physical fitness and readiness among female military personnel.

The Military Fitness Controversy

In reality, the Military Entrance Processing Station (also known as MEPS) is a required process that all members of the armed forces must undergo in order to become eligible for service. As such, you would  be evaluated on your athletic capabilities here to ensure they meet Army fitness requirements.

These benchmarks, on the other hand, are based on performance rather than an out-of-date chart of height and weight metrics.

A few members of the military are even questioning the present measurements being used in lieu of performance.

Even though specific physical characteristics are required for optimal physical ability, each body is unique, and evaluating all Americans in a similar way could really harm the military’s purpose. Already there have been substantial hiring challenges as a result of applicants falling short of Army height and weight requirements.

Weight exemptions are, in general, available for individuals who do not fulfill the Army’s height and weight requirements, as long as their highest percentage of body fat is less than the norms for their sex and age.

It ought to be mentioned that, even though the Army has exemption initiatives, they are not available to everyone. Applicants are selected on an individual level.

Adversaries of the current specified requirements are not opposed to a combat-ready professional army. Who would that be? Those who are, however, question the concept of setting a specific body mass in order to keep benchmarks.

The current standards may encourage less-than-healthy ways of achieving target body mass for both those joining the Soldiers and Army who are assessed each six months through the standard Army Weight Control Program (also known as AWCP).

A request to concentrate solely on fat mass and performance instead of the amount on a spectrum persists to spark debate, but for the time being, the Army height and weight standard remains in place.

Army Height and Weight Standards for New Candidates

In fact, new members might also be subject to similar basic requirements as ongoing members of the armed forces. The procedure for coping with potential soldiers who do not fulfill fitness requirements differs significantly from that for individuals who have already finished fundamental training.

Trainees who do not fulfill Army fitness requirements, such as height/weight problems, would then be offered the chance to fulfill those benchmarks through arranged workout routines and other suggestions, just like their existing serving peers.

The most substantial variation for trainees is that achieving the Army’s norms here is the first step toward beginning a career in the military; those currently involved must satisfy those requirements in order to keep serving.

If you are considering joining the military, you need to know the enlistment age limits. The age requirements vary slightly depending on the country you are in. For instance, US, CA, AU Military Enlistment Age Limits. Whether you are enlisting in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines, you must be at least 18 years old. If you are below 18 years, you need your parent’s or legal guardian’s signature.

Minimum and Maximum Army Height

The height variety for trainees usually begins at 5 feet (approx. 152 cm) and ends at 6 feet 8 inches (approx. 203 cm) for males and from 4 feet 10 inches (approx. 147 cm) to 6 feet 8 inches (approx. 203 cm) for females, based on the authoritative hiring website of the United States Army. This is the spectrum indicated on the Army’s official site, where the weight and height calculator is available. For these standards, the minimum age must be from 17 years old.

Body Composition Guidelines for New Recruits

Not only do trainees have to fulfill the minimum and maximum height standards, but they must also meet minimum and maximum weight standards. These specifications are determined by age, sex, and tallness. An male Army trainee aged 18 years old standing 5 feet 5 inches (approx. 165 cm), accordingly, must weigh less than 163 lbs (approx. 74 kg). On the other hand, a male Army candidate of the same height but aging 25 years old cannot weigh more than 165 pounds (approx. 74.8 kg), and a male Army draftee of 5 feet 5 inches with the age of 30 years old cannot weigh more than 168 pounds (approx. 76.2 kg).

Body Fat vs. Body Mass for New Recruits

According to US Army Recruiting, body mass is defined as the amount of body a Military man has as compared to their total body weight.

The Army has height and weight standards (based upon age), and if you surpass those prerequisites, “you could still meet the criteria by staying under the defined fat mass for your age on the basis of benchmarks.

In addition, the Army estimates its applicants to assist in calculating the percentage and to demonstrate recruits techniques that could assist in monitoring effectiveness in addressing the enrollment and designing requirements in this area.

The Army takes its recruitment and selection benchmarks very seriously. How intense is it? Many may believe that it is simply a matter of meeting current standards and then discontinuing the workout routine once they have fulfilled benchmarks.

However, according to AR-900, any trainee who joins active-military service and screws up to keep fitness requirements within six months might be required to participate in the Army Body Composition Program (commonly known as ABCP), an absolutely required monitored and controlled fitness regimen for individuals who fail to keep fitness requirements.

Concerning Exemptions

In certain situations, a hiring manager might also be able to request for an exemption for specific candidates who do not satisfy the minimum standards, but this is on a specific instance, and there are no overarching guidelines for these kinds of situations. If you have any concern regarding, be certain to inquire the hiring manager about the possibility of an exemption and under what conditions Army regulations presently allow them.

What Are the Army Height and Weight Standards for Ongoing Soldiers?

Why are height and weight standards for enlisted military included in an article about enrollment requirements? Since, as previously stated, the new hire will be evaluated for muscle mass once more six months after entering active service. All troops are concerned about these problems throughout their careers.

Preceding AR-900 versions would include declarations aimed directly at currently serving troops that almost all people these days would take into account pejorative. In particular, the 1986 edition says that excessive body fat indicates an absence of self discipline, diverts attention from military look, and might even imply a poor condition of health, physical conditioning, or endurance.

The previous declaration from the 1986 version does not take into account health problems or even other variables that could affect a decision of an individual’s examination as being overweight.

In the 2019 adjustment of AR-900, linguistic states, “Troops are susceptible to several requirements and difficulties that could affect personal willingness. In addition, the Army Body Composition Program also offers captains a systems way to enforcing military requirements throughout the unit, while also providing soldiers with the supplies they really have to come back to a best possible level of personal preparedness.

For those currently involved in the United States Army, the very next height and weight standards apply:

• Soldiers must fulfill Army body fat benchmarks, which are proffered in a chart with height and weight proportions.
• Troops are evaluated and weighed at least once every six months to guarantee adherence.
• The diameter-based tape technique is the one and only approved standard of assessing fat mass in the Army.
• Senior officers have been given permission to use the Army’s height and weight chart as a screening instrument.
• Army regulations stipulate no fat mass evaluation when soldiers “do not surpass the approved screening chart mass for their age and evaluated size.
• Military leaders are authorized to guide a fat mass evaluation on every Soldier who does not show a Soldierly look.
• Troops who do not satisfy Army body fat norms should be recognized and registered in the Army Body Composition Program, which requires them to fulfill Army benchmarks.

Troops joining the Army Body Composition Program must not anticipate to participate in an unmonitored workout program. Workout directions would be provided by the unit strength and conditioning master coaching or the unit wellness NCO. According to AR-900, you might also be obligated to take part in dietary professional help or other health care programs in order to achieve and keep ideal body proportion and performance.

Any military member who fails to reach body fat requirements six months after entering active duty would be placed in the ABCP.

Army height and weight requirements are determined by a number of variables, such as your  biological gender, age, and size. Below is a quick overview of the United States. Height and weight guidelines for the Army in 2022 to assist you in meeting prerequisites for both females and males:

When it comes to maintaining Army height and weight standards, it can be challenging to stay within the range. However, there are various resources available to help you achieve your goals. For example, Military Child and Youth Services (CYS) offers programs and resources for families and children, including health and wellness programs that can support your fitness goals.

Use The Army Body Fat Calculator To Satisfy The Army’s Height And Weight Requirements

Generally speaking, the Army Body Fat Calculator uses benchmarks and computation from the United States Army Standards of Medical Fitness to decide if you meet the requirements set by the United States Department of Defense (commonly known as DoD).

For a rough understanding of where you hold, simply comply with the instructions, such as calculating the median of your 3 estimations. Once more, there could be exclusions, but you could still start comparing your figures to the percentages that drop within the benchmark as mentioned.

Reaching the Army’s height and weight requirements is a necessary stage in entering and staying in the service. It is really reassuring to see discussions about how to improve the method for evaluating Soldiers while preserving greatness.

These norms are inherently flawed, but they assist in establishing the tone for how significant Soldiers and all military units in the American Armed Forces take keeping in shape.

Army Recruiting Tips for Meeting Physical Requirements

In general, the Army does have several general advice for everyone keeping in view a career in the military. Accordingly, the Army website advises that great  physical structure is best achieved through a well-balanced exercise and eating plan. Poorly developed core muscles or surplus fat percentage are instances of poor muscle mass. What should a prospective trainee do to make preparations for the metrics and weigh-ins demanded for draftee performance?

Bad body composition, according to Army ideology, has a detrimental impact on look, ego, and significantly impacts mindset and team spirit.  The Army inspires candidates to participate in a physical program that includes swimming, running, and biking.

Before beginning any new workout routine, particularly one that is strenuous, seek medical advice. Do not depend heavily on diet plans or workout programs that begin only a few weeks prior to actually your weigh-in deadline, for example.

Your hiring manager would then advise you on what types of workout routines will adequately prepare you for fundamental training, but if you are having difficulty meeting the fitness requirements noted above, you might be required to follow a customized form of such a curriculum.

Maintaining Physical Fitness in the Army

All active service and reserve troops are required to adhere to the Army’s height and weight benchmarks. In addition, almost all Army jobs require sufficient physical activity to keep a soldier’s mass and fat mass composition low, but some of those delegated to desk duty should start a daily physical workout routine to avoid gaining excess body mass.

Ordinary soldiers are not permitted to have bad body composition for an extended period of time in the Army because it could reduce the efficiency to his unit.

Members of the military who are overweight undertake worse and are more likely to sustain work-related injuries. They are also more likely to develop long-term illness.

In addition, graduate percentages from fundamental training are linked to comparable numbers, implying a higher likelihood of injury and inability to finish training.

Looking for a comprehensive list of Army jobs? Check out Hood MWR’s Army MOS list. Find out which Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) best suits your interests, skills, and goals. With over 150 MOSs, there is something for everyone. Explore the options and start planning your Army career path today.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Lines

Both active service and reserve troops must adhere to the military’s height and weight requirements.

More frequently than not, the Army’s regular physical activity keeps their mass and fat mass composition within acceptable limits. Those designated desk duties, on the other hand, must adhere to a consistent physical workout program in order to remain their bodies fit.

The military does not tolerate overweight troops or officers with bad body composition for extended periods of time because this might result in reduced personal performance, leading to disruption to their different departments.

Each military person must be physically active in order to respond to the request to protect their country.