Weight
Record in kgA body-weight reading taken during the same measurement session.
Enter the reading from the scale alongside the physical measurements.
Back to Methods
Method guide
Parrillo Body Fat Calculator
Uses body weight and skinfolds across the upper body, torso and legs.
Calculate
- Accuracy
- ±3-4%Typical error against a reference method
- Equipment
- skinfold calipers, a body-weight scale
- Measurement count
- 10
Counts include age, weight and height when required.
How to measure
How to take the measurements
Equipment and Good Technique
Use skinfold calipers on bare, dry skin. Mark every landmark before starting. Grasp skin and the fat beneath it between thumb and forefinger, lift the fold away from the muscle, and keep holding it while the caliper jaws close slightly below your fingers. The jaws stay perpendicular to the fold even when the fold itself is diagonal.
Put the body-weight scale on a firm, level surface and use the same scale when comparing sessions. Stand still with weight balanced before recording the displayed value.
Required Inputs and Measurement Locations
Measure every item listed for your calculation. Labels show when an input applies only to men or women.
Chest Skinfold
Record in mmOn the chest, between the armpit and nipple.
Fold direction: diagonal.
Mark the midpoint between the front of the armpit and nipple, then follow the natural diagonal fold.
Abdomen Skinfold
Record in mmOn the abdomen near the navel.
Fold direction: vertical.
Relax the abdomen, mark the same point beside the navel, and lift the fold away from the abdominal wall.
Thigh Skinfold
Record in mmOn the front of the thigh, halfway between the hip and knee.
Fold direction: vertical.
Unweight the measured leg, mark the midpoint, and lift the relaxed fold vertically.
Bicep Skinfold
Record in mmOn the front of the upper arm, over the biceps.
Fold direction: vertical.
Relax the arm, find the biceps peak, and lift the fold vertically.
Tricep Skinfold
Record in mmOn the back of the upper arm, halfway between the shoulder and elbow.
Fold direction: vertical.
Let the arm hang, mark the midpoint behind it, and lift vertically without tensing the triceps.
Subscapular Skinfold
Record in mmJust below the lower tip of the shoulder blade.
Fold direction: diagonal.
Find the blade tip by touch, mark immediately below it, and lift the fold diagonally.
Suprailiac Skinfold
Record in mmJust above the upper edge of the hip bone.
Fold direction: diagonal.
Find the hip bone’s upper edge, mark just above it, and follow the natural diagonal fold.
Lower Back Skinfold
Record in mmThis method requires a lower-back skinfold, but this guide does not specify a narrower landmark.
Do not guess. Use a verified Parrillo measurement protocol to confirm the landmark and fold direction before measuring.
Calf Skinfold
Record in mmOn the inside of the calf at its maximum circumference.
Fold direction: vertical.
Find the widest level, mark its inner side, and lift the fold vertically.
Measurement Protocol
Follow this sequence
- Confirm the lower-back landmark and fold direction from a verified Parrillo protocol before starting.
- Mark every skinfold on the right side and record body weight in the same session.
- Take one reading at each marked site, waiting briefly before recording the caliper value.
- Rotate through the full site sequence for repeat readings so each fold has time to settle.
- Average only consistent readings; if they disagree, check the mark, fold direction and caliper position before repeating.
Accuracy and mistakes
How accurate is the Parrillo method?
Parrillo has an estimated accuracy range of ±3–4% with proper technique. Use that range alongside the method’s practical limitations when deciding whether it suits your measurements.
Who it suits: Experienced caliper users, ideally with help for rear sites.
The trade-off: More required sites mean more preparation and more opportunities for technique to vary.
What This Method Measures
Uses body weight and skinfolds across the upper body, torso and legs.
Parrillo combines body weight with a bodybuilding-focused skinfold set spanning the upper body, torso and legs.
It suits experienced caliper users who can get help with rear folds. A fixed site order and clear marks keep the detailed routine comparable between sessions.
- Required inputs
- 10 per calculation.
- Equipment
- Prepare skinfold calipers and a body-weight scale.
Common mistakes that change the result
- Skipping a required fold.
- Confusing the biceps and triceps marks.
- Measuring the calf away from its maximum circumference.
- Guessing the lower-back landmark or direction when no verified protocol is available.
- Taking every repeat at one site before rotating.
What the estimate means
The calculator turns the recorded inputs into a body fat percentage estimate. For Parrillo, the estimated accuracy range is ±3–4% with proper technique. A range is not a promise that one reading is exact.
Treat the result as an estimate. When tracking changes, compare readings collected with the same method and procedure. A changed tool, landmark, body side, timing or operator can make readings less comparable. The number does not diagnose health or replace qualified advice, and formulas with different inputs are not interchangeable.
How this compares to other methods
Ordered by typical error, lowest first. Counts include age, weight and height when required.
| Method | AccuracyTypical error against a reference method | Measurement count | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| ParrilloCurrent method | ±3-4% | 10 | skinfold calipers, a body-weight scale |
| Jackson & Pollock 7-Site | ±3-4% | 8 | skinfold calipers |
| Jackson & Pollock 4-Site | ±3.5-4.5% | 5 | skinfold calipers |
| Durnin & Womersley | ±3.5-5% | 5 | skinfold calipers |
| Jackson & Pollock 3-Site | ±4-5% | 4 | skinfold calipers |
| Covert Bailey | ±4-5% | 5 | a soft tape measure |
| U.S. Navy | ±4-6% | 3 for men · 4 for women | a soft tape measure, a reliable way to measure standing height |
| Modified YMCA | ±4-6% | 2 for men · 5 for women | a soft tape measure, a body-weight scale |
| YMCA | ±5-7% | 2 | a soft tape measure, a body-weight scale |
Where to Go Next
Read the evidence guide
Review the sources and limitations behind Parrillo on its paired research page.
View research →Use the calculator app
Take your prepared readings to Body Fat Calculator, select Parrillo, and enter the measurements listed for your calculation.
PRO+ includes measurement history and progress tracking in the app. You can also sync app results with Apple Health on iOS when you enable the integration and grant permission.
Get the app →