Inverted Triangle Body Shape
Bust or shoulders noticeably wider than hips, tapering down through the waist.
An inverted triangle reading means bust or shoulders (whichever is larger) clears this site's 5% threshold over hips, with a waist smaller than both. It's also the most common read on the men's calculator, where a milder version of the same taper is called trapezoid instead.
How it's calculated
This site calls it inverted triangle when bust/shoulders are at least 5% larger than hips, with a defined waist. The hourglass test runs first, so measurements exactly on this threshold with a deep waist read as hourglass.
| Measurement | Worked example |
|---|---|
| Bust | 42" |
| Waist | 30" |
| Hips | 36" |
| Result | Inverted Triangle |
Bust/shoulders are 14.3% larger than hips, at or over the 5% threshold.
Dressing guide
- Add visual weight below. Wide-leg or bootcut bottoms, patch pockets, and lighter-colored bottoms balance a broader top.
- Simplify above the waist. V-necks, minimal shoulder detail, and darker or fitted tops avoid adding further width up top.
- Full or A-line skirts create the counter-taper a straight skirt won't.
- Define, don't hide, the waist. A fitted waistline is usually already the narrowest point on this shape -- worth showing rather than boxing over.
A training note
Upper-body hypertrophy training (shoulders, lats, chest) widens the exact measurement that drives this shape, so it can sharpen an inverted-triangle read significantly over a training block. Lower-body training moves hips the other direction. Re-measure after a real change rather than assuming last season's numbers.
Re-run the calculator
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Keep going
- Inverted triangle is also the most common male shape; the male-specific wizard uses the same broad-shoulders-to-hips logic with men's thresholds. Body Type Calculator for Men
- Shoulder and bust readings are the most error-prone measurements on this site; the measurement guide shows exactly how to take them. How to Measure Bust, Waist, and Hips
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from trapezoid on the men's calculator?
On the male wizard, a 5-10% shoulder-to-hip difference reads as trapezoid (a moderate taper); 10%+ reads as this shape, inverted triangle, a pronounced one. Trapezoid isn't broken out as its own page -- it's presented here as the softer version of the same taper.
Why does shoulders matter more than bust here?
The classifier uses whichever of bust or shoulders is larger for the upper-body side of the comparison. A broad-shouldered frame with an average bust measurement can still read as inverted triangle correctly, because shoulders carry the comparison instead.
Is this the same as an athletic build?
Often, but not necessarily -- this reading comes purely from the three or four circumference numbers entered, not from muscle definition or body fat. A visibly lean, muscular build and a broader-boned, softer build can land on the same inverted-triangle result if the ratios match.