body fat % formula accuracy?

Schwiggity · August 2011

I know the most accurate way to test is not by using these formulas, however it's all I currently have access to, and the three I've used, Miltary BF%, Fat2Fit Radio BF%, and Covert Bailey BF%, give me a somewhat large range of BF% (from 26.4% on the Miltary BF% and 21.5% on the Covert Bailey). I'm wondering if there's any way of grading which of these is most accurate?

I'd like to think the Covert Bailey one since it's the lowest lol (and also because there were more inputs, so my train of thought is that it taking into account more measurements/information gives it a better chance of accuracy), however if anyone has some input on this I'd appreciate it.

NatalieWinning · August 2011

bump

javaruck · August 2011

I think that Covert Baily is the best method by far since it uses a lot more measurement points. I've also had my BF measured on a Tanita scale and at the hospital using some high tech system in the cardiac rehab unit and these seem to tie better with the Covert Baily method.

Larius · August 2011

Since they're all just estimates, I think the most accurate would be a mean average of all. The military calculator gives me 2.5% less than Covert Bailey, which is the opposite of yours, so I don't think either one is skewed high or low. The only other bf% measurement I have is from my EIA scale which gives me very close to the military calculator (lower) number.