U.S. Marine Corps — Body-Fat Limit for 46+ women

Maximum allowable body-fat percentage

The 46+ female maximum is part of the Marine Corps body-composition program (MCO 6110.3 / MARADMIN 066/26). The initial screen is a Waist-to-Height Ratio below 0.52; at or above that line a secondary body-fat evaluation applies.

PFT & CFT ≥ 285 → body-fat allowance capped at 26% (men) / 36% (women). ≥ 250 → +1% allowance (same cap).

Source: MCO 6110.3; MARADMIN 066/26 (dvidshub.net). Verified 2026-08-19. This is an educational reference, not official medical or administrative advice — always confirm current standards with your recruiter or command.

Where the 46+ band sits in the Marine Corps table

The Marine Corps standard is age-normed for women across 4 bands, so the allowance you receive depends on which age range you fall into rather than on one fleet-wide number. For 46+ women the ceiling is 26%. That is the tightest band in the table: 17–26 is the most restrictive point for women, and every older band allows more.

The practical consequence is that a reading which fails for one service member can pass for another at a different age, which is why the regulation is applied against the band matching the individual rather than against a single fixed target. If your measured value sits above the ceiling for 46+ women, the next step is the failure process your service defines rather than a re-test against the same standard.

How Marine Corps measures body composition

Effective January 1, 2026, the Marine Corps replaced height-and-weight tables with a Waist-to-Height Ratio screen set tighter than the DoD baseline at 0.52 (waist measured at the navel ÷ height). Exceeding 0.52 triggers a body-fat evaluation (multi-site tape or BIA). Body-fat standards remain sex- and age-normed.

The method matters as much as the number, because different techniques produce different readings on the same person. A circumference or tape assessment depends on where the tape is placed and how it is tensioned, while an impedance reading depends on hydration and recent exercise. That is why a regulation names an approved method and a measurement protocol, and why a value obtained by another route is an estimate you can plan with rather than a substitute for the official assessment.

All Marine Corps body-fat bands

The full verified table for this service, so you can compare your band with the others at a glance. Men and women are tracked separately because the physiological ranges differ, and every figure comes from the same regulation cited above.

Other Marine Corps cohorts

• 17–26 men · 17–26 women
• 27–39 men · 27–39 women
• 40–45 men · 40–45 women
• 46+ men · 46+ women

← Back to Marine Corps standards overview