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How to measure neck circumference girth.

Neck circumference is used in combat sports for weight class determination, in the US Navy body fat formula, and as a health screening for sleep apnea risk.

Convert Neck measurement

Typical range: 37–44 cm for adult men, 32–38 cm for adult women

How to measure

Stand looking straight ahead with shoulders relaxed and not hunched. Place a flexible tape measure around the neck just below the larynx (Adam's apple in men), with the tape level all the way around. The tape should sit horizontally — not sloping up at the back. Apply only enough tension to keep the tape in place without compressing soft tissue.

Tips for accuracy

  • Don't tilt the head up or down — look straight ahead
  • Measure just below the Adam's apple in men; at the narrowest point in women
  • Don't pull the tape tight; just enough to maintain contact with skin
  • Neck > 43 cm (17 in) in men correlates with elevated sleep apnea risk

What it's used for

US Navy body fat formula, combat sports weight assessment, sleep apnea screening, shirt sizing

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