Is a 27 Inch Waist Small?
Waist circumference is a universal measurement for determining clothing size, fitness, and general health. But how do you know what is a good waist size for you?
If you have a 27 inch waist, you may wonder if this is big, small, or average. So I will answer all your waist size questions in this article.
What is a 27 Inch Waist?
A 27-inch waist is a circumference measurement around the abdomen. And you can use this number for everything from buying clothing to assessing your risk for health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
But it’s critical to measure your waist correctly to know if it really is 27 inches around.
How to Measure Your Waist
To check your waist size, you will need a flexible tape measure. First, wrap the tape measure around your waist parallel to the floor just above your hip bone.
Now pull the tape snug but not so tight that it indents into your skin. Also, take the reading at the end of a normal exhale but do not suck in your stomach. The number where the end of the tape intersects is your waist size.
27-Inch Waist Statistics
Generally speaking, a 27-inch waist is on the small side. However, the likelihood of a 27-inch waist depends on your gender and overall fitness. So let’s look at some waist size statistics for men and women.
Is a 27-Inch Waist Small for Women?
The average waist size for American women is 35.6 inches. That means a 27-inch waist would be smaller than 95% of average women.
However, it’s important to remember that 3 out of 4 adult women in the US are overweight or obese. So you might not want to compare yourself to the general population.
A survey of women in the US Army, who are generally more fit, shows that their average waist size is 28.2 inches. And a 27-inch waist falls somewhere between the 25th and 40th percentiles, or slightly smaller than the typical fit woman.
Table 1. 27 Inch Waist for Women
| Normal | Fitness | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 25.4 | 23.9 |
| 5th | 27.8 | 25.1 |
| 10th | 28.9 | 25.7 |
| 15th | 30.0 | 26.1 |
| 20th | 30.7 | 26.5 |
| 25th | 31.6 | 26.8 |
| 40th | 33.9 | 27.7 |
| 50th | 35.6 | 28.2 |
| 60th | 37.2 | 28.9 |
| 75th | 40.3 | 30.0 |
| 80th | 41.5 | 30.5 |
| 85th | 42.8 | 31.1 |
| 90th | 44.7 | 31.9 |
| 95th | 47.6 | 33.2 |
| 99th | 53.8 | 35.8 |
Can Men Have a 27-Inch Waist?
The average waist size for an American man is 38.2 inches. So a 27-inch waist is almost a foot smaller in circumference and is extremely rare.
Even among fit individuals, a 27-inch waist is smaller than at least 99% of men, according to the US Army’s measurements.
Table 2. 27 Inch Waist for Men
| Normal | Fitness | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 27.8 | 27.5 |
| 5th | 30.0 | 28.7 |
| 10th | 31.6 | 29.5 |
| 15th | 32.8 | 30.0 |
| 20th | 33.9 | 30.5 |
| 25th | 34.8 | 31.0 |
| 40th | 36.9 | 32.1 |
| 50th | 38.2 | 32.8 |
| 60th | 39.6 | 33.6 |
| 75th | 42.2 | 35.0 |
| 80th | 43.4 | 35.5 |
| 85th | 44.8 | 36.2 |
| 90th | 46.4 | 37.0 |
| 95th | 49.5 | 38.2 |
| 99th | 56.2 | 40.5 |
See Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead’s 30 Inch Waist
27 Inch Waist FAQ
Now you know how big a 27-inch waist is for men and women. But you might have more questions about this topic. So here are some quick answers to common queries.
What size is a 27 inch waist?
A 27-inch waist typically corresponds to a US dress size of 2-4, which is about 32-34 in Euro sizes. Additionally, this waist circumference should put you in an international size Extra Small (XS) for women’s clothing.
What pants size is a 27 inch waist?
A waist size of 27 inches generally corresponds to a pant size of 26-28 for women. So your jeans size doesn’t necessarily reflect your actual waist size.
One reason for this is that the waist measurement site is sometimes different than where your pants’ waistline sits. In addition, your actual waist size may not reflect your pant size if you have thicker thighs or a bigger butt.
Is a 27 inch waist good for a woman?
For women, a 27-inch waist is roughly 9″ smaller than the average female’s. And even among fit women, a 27-inch waist is on the small side. So it’s a good target for overall health and fitness.
However, your ideal waist size depends on your body type and height. So take that into consideration when setting realistic fitness goals.
Custom Meal Plan
Get a personalized meal plan designed specifically for your body and lifestyle. Including custom recipes formulated to fit your macros and calories – no counting required!
All this for just $13.99/mo! Click here to choose your plan.
Waist Size and Body Type
Your waist circumference can be affected by your body type. For example, the ectomorph body type has straighter lines and a naturally smaller waist. By comparison, the endomorph body type has more curves and a thicker waist.
As a result, it’s vital to use specific diet and workout strategies to reduce your waist size based on your body type.
Next Step:Take My Free Body Type Quiz
More Waist & Body Size Statistics
If you found this waist size information useful, you’ll definitely be interested in these related body measurement articles.
Average Male Chest Size
What Is a Normal Size for Hips?
Is a 33 Inch Waist Healthy?
Likelihood of a 30 Inch Waist
What a 20 Inch Waist Looks Like
More Articles For You
Squats are hard. But they're worth the effort! Find out why you should never skip leg day with these 21 benefits of squats for men & women.
How To Make Your Veins Show
Visible veins are a sign of fitness and a desirable trait for many. Learn how to make your veins show with these 17 natural methods.
Learn how to build a big chest with strategic training, specific exercises, and an example workout. Start adding mass to your pecs today.
How To Do The Plate Front Raise for Bigger Shoulders
The plate front raise is a simple exercise for building bigger shoulders with basic equipment. Learn how to use it in your workouts!
Creating A Calorie Surplus For Muscle Gain
Learn how to calculate your ideal calorie surplus to maximize muscle gain without gaining excess fat.
The lying dumbbell tricep extension is great for building your arms. Learn how to do it properly with detailed instructions & a short video.
I compared the top five brands to help you find the best deadlift bar for your home gym based on quality, durability, and budget.
References
1) Dobbelsteyn, C. J., et al. “A comparative evaluation of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index as indicators of cardiovascular risk factors. The Canadian Heart Health Surveys.”International journal of obesity25.5 (2001): 652-661.
2) Feller, Silke, Heiner Boeing, and Tobias Pischon. “Body mass index, waist circumference, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: implications for routine clinical practice.”Deutsches Ärzteblatt international107.26 (2010): 470.
3) World Health Organization. “Waist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation, Geneva, 8-11 December 2008.” (2011).
4) Ford, Earl S., Ali H. Mokdad, and Wayne H. Giles. “Trends in waist circumference among US adults.”Obesity research11.10 (2003): 1223-1231.
7) National Health Statistics Reports, & Stierman, B., National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 Prepandemic Data Files—Development of Files and Prevalence Estimates for Selected Health Outcomes (n.d.).
6) United States, Congress, Research, Development, and Engineering Center, et al.1988 ANTHROPOMETRIC SURVEY OF U.S. ARMY PERSONNEL: METHODS AND SUMMARY STATISTICS, 1988, pp. 298-299.
