The Average Body Measurements by Muscle Group
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Once you have baseline measurements, use them to understand where you are and how to move forward. Workout in your goals and determine a healthy diet plan. This article's helpful content is designed to offer an overview of average body composition for different muscle groups so you can use it as a stepping stone before implementing changes that will make your training progress more easily.
Arms
If you're looking for the on an average arm length, it's 18.5 inches. If you want to find out how much of your arm muscle mass, it would be about 10% of your total body mass. The average width of an adult male’s wrist is 8 inches; for women, it’s 7½ inches wide on both sides (that means right-handed and left-handed). The thickness varies based on whether you are talking about forearms or biceps—but in either case, they make up only 3% of each side (so 6% total).
Legs
Most men are about 4-6 inches taller than women, but anyone who is not on the same height with others might be a little shorter or different in size than them. The standard leg length for men is around 32 inches (81 cm), and for women, it is 29.5 inches (75 cm). Here’s how you can measure your leg length:
- Make sure your back is against the wall to avoid slouching.
- Take a tape measure, place it on your inner thigh, and stay as close as possible to your crotch
- Extend the tape measure below your ankle and ensure it is not bent.
Chest
Men’s average chest circumference is typically about 40 inches, and women’s is about 35 inches. However, athlete's muscle size can vary significantly depending on their build. For example, a man with a highly muscular upper body has less chest circumference because their muscles are so prominent in the way they meet his arms & shoulders.
Shoulders
Now, I know the most important muscles in your body are those that help the amount of weight they can lift. And let's not overlook the importance of upper-body muscles like biceps and triceps, which are essential for building momentum when performing a squat or bench press with weight.
The average shoulder width of a woman is around 14.4 inches (36.7 cm), while for men, it is approximately 16.1 inches (41.1 cm). A difference of almost 2 inches! If you are wondering how to measure your shoulder width, you came to the right place! Here’s how you can measure your shoulder width accurately:
- Typically, shoulder width is the measure between the two joints (from the right shoulder tip to the left shoulder tip).
- Stand upright, relax your shoulders and ask a friend to measure the distance between the two tips using a measuring tape.
Biceps
The average bicep circumference for men is 14.2 inches (35 cm). For women, it’s 12.2 inches (31 cm). The average combined male/female measurement is 13.6 inches (34 cm). If you want to know how to measure biceps circumference, here’s what you should do: Wear loose-fitting clothes and sit or stand a few feet in front of a mirror so that you're seeing yourself in profile. Relax your shoulders and keep them parallel with the ground. Step away from the mirror, then ask someone else to stand behind you with a measuring tape and wrap it around your arm somewhere around the bicep area.
These numbers will vary depending on how much body fat you have. If you’re more muscular than average but still have some body fat left over from whatever training program got you there, then these measurements could be slightly different than what they are now after removing the extra fat with dieting and regular exercise like walking or cycling every day before work!
Triceps
The triceps are the back of your biceps. They’re responsible for straightening, flexing and extending your arm during pushups. When you do a pushup, the muscles that really work hard are the triceps!
Triceps measurements and size vary greatly from person to person. To get an idea of how they compare, here’s a quick rundown:
- Men have bigger triceps than women (considerably bigger in many cases). But this isn’t necessarily because men work out more or lift heavier weights—it’s just genetics. Women tend to have less muscle mass overall compared to men, which means that their triceps aren’t as big, even if they’re both doing similar amounts of exercise and weight training.
- The average woman has smaller triceps than the average man, but not much. On average, women measure about 14 inches when flexed at full extension (with her arm hanging down toward her side). Men, on the other hand, measure about 16 inches on average.
Calf's
Our calves often vary in size, so make sure to measure them correctly and get a good idea of where you stand before making any fast decisions . The average circumference for the calf is around 13.5 inches. Your standing measurements can provide a better indication of your overall body composition. It’s important to note that this is not a measurement taken while seated but while standing and with the foot in a neutral position (i.e., not back on its heel).
Hips
Your hip measurements are taken while you are seated, so there isn't any extra movement that can make the results inaccurate. There is no "correct" way to measure side-to-side, front-to-back, etc. What's important is consistency. Compare measurements over time for the best results.
The average hip size for men is 35-38 inches, and for women, it’s 35-37 inches. However, these numbers can vary depending on ethnicity and build. Pregnant women tend to have an even larger hip circumference, with typical measurements ranging from 50.2 inches at their smallest to 56 inches at their largest during pregnancy.
Many methods for measuring one's body size exist, but most people are most familiar with their weight and height. These metrics alone don't tell us much about our health or physical fitness level, and they give an estimate only. Body measurements can be very useful for tracking your progress and knowing how your body composition has changed over time.

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