The pear measurement pattern
The deciding rule is the gap between hips and bust. When the hips are at least 3.6 in (9.1 cm) larger than the bust, this calculator returns Pear, unless the waist is nearly as large as both (which would be Apple).
The waist can be anywhere from moderately to very defined. When it is at least 10 in (25.4 cm) smaller than the hips, the result includes a note that some systems would call the pattern a “bottom hourglass.”
How the classification works
The calculator checks five rules in a fixed order — Apple, Hourglass, Pear, Inverted Triangle, then Rectangle — and returns the first one your measurements meet. The thresholds compare your measurements with each other, so your overall size does not affect the result. After classifying, it also tests whether a change of about 1 in (2.5 cm) in any single measurement would give a different shape, and tells you if so.
You can see every rule side by side on the body shape types overview.
Measurement examples
These examples show how specific numbers are classified, including a near miss for comparison.
Bust 86 cm|Waist 76 cm|Hips 98 cm
Result: PearThe hips are 12 cm larger than the bust, above the 9.1 cm threshold. The waist is 22 cm smaller than the hips, so no bottom-hourglass note appears.
Bust 34 in|Waist 28 in|Hips 40 in
Result: PearThe hips are 6 in larger than the bust. The waist is 12 in smaller than the hips, so the result also mentions the bottom-hourglass pattern.
Bust 35 in|Waist 29 in|Hips 38 in
Result: RectangleThe hips are larger, but only by 3 in — under the 3.6 in threshold — and the waist is not defined enough for hourglass, so the result is Rectangle.
Where the hip measurement is taken
The hip measurement is the most frequent source of confusion for pear results. It is taken around the fullest part of the hips and seat, with the tape parallel to the floor — not at the hip bones, and not at the top of the pelvis where many people wear their trousers.
Measuring too high usually produces a smaller number and can turn a Pear result into Rectangle or Hourglass. Looking sideways into a mirror helps you find the widest point of the seat.
Pear, triangle and spoon
Different guides use different names for hip-dominant shapes. “Triangle” and “pear” usually mean the same pattern. FFIT also describes a “spoon” shape, which uses an extra high-hip measurement to identify hips that flare out sharply just below the waist.
This calculator does not ask for high-hip measurements, so it cannot separate spoon from pear. If you have seen a different result elsewhere, a different number of categories is often the reason.
What the result is useful for
The most practical use of a pear result is in clothing fit. A larger hip-to-bust difference often means a person wears different sizes on top and bottom, or needs more room in the seat and thigh of trousers than standard size charts assume.
Comparing your measurements directly with a brand's size chart is still more useful than any shape label, because size charts differ between brands.
Common misconceptions
- “Pear means having extra weight on the hips.” The category compares bone structure and soft tissue together. Plenty of people have a pear pattern at very different body weights.
- “A pear shape needs to be changed or balanced.” Style guides sometimes frame shapes as problems to correct. A body shape is just a description; there is nothing to fix.
- “Hip measurements are taken at the hip bones.” For shape and clothing purposes the hip measurement is taken at the fullest part of the hips and seat, which is usually lower.