Enter the facial width and the facial height into the Calculator. The calculator will evaluate the Facial Width to Height Ratio.
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Facial Width to Height Ratio Formula
FWHR = FW / FH
- FWHR is the Facial Width to Height Ratio (unitless)
- FW is the bizygomatic width (distance between zygomatic arch landmarks)
- FH is the upper facial height (same unit as FW; landmark protocol must be consistent)
Measurement Landmarks
Two protocols appear across published research. Mixing them inflates measurement variance by approximately 6 to 12 percent because they produce systematically different height values for the same face.
| Protocol | Width Landmark | Height: Top Point | Height: Bottom Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brow-based (Carre & McCormick 2008) | Bizygomatic (zygomatic arch) | Mid-brow / glabella | Top of upper lip (prosthion) |
| Nasion-based (Weston et al. 2007) | Bizygomatic (zygomatic arch) | Nasion (bridge of nose) | Top of upper lip (prosthion) |
For photo measurement: use a frontal image taken at eye level with a telephoto or portrait focal length to minimize perspective distortion. Tilt, expression change, and wide-angle lenses can shift measured values by several percentage points on the same face.
FWHR Reference Ranges
Values vary by study population, age, and measurement protocol. The following are approximate benchmarks from published samples:
| Benchmark | Brow-based fWHR | Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical adult range | 1.60 to 2.15 | American sample (Weston 2007) |
| Male adult average (~18-35) | ~1.80 | Widely replicated across Western samples |
| Male vs. female difference | Males slightly higher | Cohen’s d = 0.11; small and age-dependent |
| Turkish adult sample | 1.81 to 2.27 | Higher on average than Western samples |
| High fWHR threshold | > 2.0 | Upper quartile in most Western datasets |
| Low fWHR threshold | < 1.65 | Lower quartile in most Western datasets |
fWHR declines with age across both sexes as the face elongates more than it widens. After approximately age 48, females on average record higher fWHRs than males (Royal Society Open Science, 2022). Each 5-unit increase in BMI is a consistent positive predictor of a wider measured bizygomatic width, independent of skeletal structure.
Research Findings by Domain
fWHR is one of the most studied single facial metrics. The table below summarizes peer-reviewed findings with reported effect sizes where available. The key methodological insight: perceived effects are more consistently replicated than behavioral or biological ones.
| Domain | Finding | Effect / Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sex dimorphism | Males slightly wider-faced in young adulthood only | Cohen’s d = 0.11; reverses after ~age 48 |
| Testosterone (circulating) | No significant relationship in meta-analyses | Single studies: r = 0.13; not consistently replicated |
| Perceived dominance | Higher fWHR rated as more dominant by observers | Perceptual effect robust; actual behavior link weaker |
| Sports performance | Higher fWHR linked to MMA fight wins and basketball player efficiency | Significant in controlled studies; likely mediated by physical build |
| Executive leadership | Dow Jones CEOs and NGO leaders have above-average fWHR | Portrait-based samples; replicated with Catholic popes dataset |
| Celebrity endorsements | Lower fWHR (narrower face) correlated with higher male endorsement income | Negative correlation with 2012 male endorser earnings |
| Psychopathy traits | Weak positive association | Standardized beta = 0.17; not clinically diagnostic |
The primary driver of contradictory results across studies is landmark inconsistency. A 2024 Bayesian meta-analysis found that when studies are grouped by their exact measurement protocol, effect sizes become more consistent within groups but diverge across them.
Example Calculation
Facial width = 14 cm (bizygomatic), facial height = 9 cm (brow to upper lip): FWHR = 14 / 9 = 1.56. This falls at the lower end of the typical adult range, indicating a relatively narrow-to-height face using the brow-based protocol.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good FWHR score?
There is no universally good or bad fWHR. The typical adult range is approximately 1.60 to 2.15. A value near 1.80 is close to the most commonly reported mean for adult males in Western populations. Research associations (dominance perception, sports performance) are statistical tendencies across large groups, not individual predictors of any trait.
Why do different FWHR tools give different results for the same face?
The most common reason is a different height landmark. Brow-based fWHR (mid-brow to upper lip) produces values approximately 6 to 12 percent lower than nasion-based fWHR (bridge of nose to upper lip) on the same face. Always check which definition a tool uses before comparing scores between sources.
How do I measure facial width and height accurately?
Width: measure the horizontal distance between the outermost points of the zygomatic arches (cheekbones) on a frontal photo taken at eye level. Height: measure from mid-brow to the top of the upper lip (brow-based) or from the nasion to the top of the upper lip (nasion-based). Total face height (hairline to chin) is not used in fWHR and will produce a different ratio. Use a telephoto focal length to minimize wide-angle distortion.
Is FWHR related to testosterone?
Large meta-analyses have not found a significant positive relationship between circulating testosterone and fWHR in adults. Earlier individual studies reported a small correlation (r = 0.13, n = 188) but this has not replicated consistently. The proposed developmental testosterone mechanism for fWHR remains unconfirmed by current evidence.
Can FWHR change over time?
Yes. fWHR declines with age in both sexes because facial elongation outpaces facial widening from adolescence through middle adulthood. Weight changes also affect the measured ratio since higher BMI correlates with greater bizygomatic width. Photo variables (angle, lens focal length, facial expression) can shift apparent fWHR by several percentage points on the same face.
Does fWHR vary by ethnicity?
Yes. Normative ranges differ across populations. Turkish samples average approximately 1.81 to 2.27, higher than typical Western samples (1.60 to 2.15). Indian facial proportion studies show significant differences from Japanese and Caucasian benchmarks. This means using a single universal reference range without accounting for ancestry introduces systematic error.
