USMC Weight Charts

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What are the U.S. Marine Corps' height and weight standards?
First Sgt. Arturo Blanco, company first sergeant for Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Buena Park, California, uses an improvised bench press with 40-pound water jugs in Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia, July 22, 2013. (Sgt. Jonathan G. Wright/U.S. Marine Corps photo)

The Marine Corps has strict height and weight standards. However, it is considered acceptable not to meet the height and weight standards as long as you meet the service's body fat standards.

Now, a recent change has been added. If you do not meet either the height and weight standards or the body fat standards (charts below), you're still alright if you can crush the physical fitness test (PFT) and combat fitness test (CFT). The service is focused on its Marines' performance, not aesthetics.

How the Marine Corps Measures Height and Weight

When measuring height and weight, the Marine stands with their back to the wall, and using an approved measuring device, the height is measured to the nearest inch. Weight is measured on an approved digital or balance scale and rounded to the nearest pound. One pound is removed to account for clothing (PT shirt, shorts and socks).

Men and Women Marine Corps Height/Weight Standards Charts (inches/lbs.)

  MALE FEMALE
Height Max Weight Min Weight Max Weight Min Weight
56 122 85 115 85
57 127 88 120 88
58 131 91 124 91
59 136 94 129 94
60 141 97 133 97
61 145 100 137 100
62 150 104 142 104
63 155 107 146 107
64 160 110 151 110
65 165 114 156 114
66 170 117 155 117
67 175 121 161 121
68 180 125 171 125
69 186 128 176 128
70 191 132 181 132
71 197 136 186 136
72 202 140 191 140
73 208 144 197 144
74 214 148 202 148
75 220 152 208 152
76 225 156 213 156
77 231 160 219 160
78 237 164 225 164
79 244 168 230 168
80 250 173 236 173
81 256 177 242 177
82 263 182 248 182

If a Marine is BELOW the minimum standards for weight, no action is taken; however, the command may refer the Marine to human performance specialists or a nutritionist to make sure he or she is consuming a healthy diet/eating enough.

The Marine Corps changed its body fat standards and age groups for the PFT, CFT and Body Composition, effective 2017. These new standards are as follows:

As of 2017, Marines may have their height, weight and body fat composition disregarded if they master the physical fitness test (PFT) and the combat fitness test (CFT). The requirements are extremely challenging, however: A score of 285 or higher is required on both tests to be totally exempt from the body fat limits.

A score of 250 or above allows an additional 1% of body fat per the guidelines. The maximum body fat percentages Marines at each age group can have are listed below:

Male Marines must be within the 18%-21% body fat range, depending on age.

Female Marines must be within the 26%-29% body fat range, depending on age.

PT programs used to train for the Marine Corps PFT can be found in the following Military.com links:

Other Marine Corps fitness-related links:

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