BF% based on measurements

I use this one: http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html#accurate

It only takes whole inch measurements, which seems to be it's only real flaw. Fortunately the only measurement that was not at a whole number was my hips at 39.5". I experimented with both rounding it down and rounding it up.

Last week I was calipered using the 7pt skinfold technique at 19.37% (Many of the trainers at 24hr Fitness know how to do this despite that their computer software only allows for a 4pt measurement, which I think does far more injustice to women than men, but as a whole is most accurate for both... So I use the following website for them to plug the measurements into via my iPhone: http://www.dietandfitnesstoday.com/skinfold7Site.php)

Using the measurements website I initially recommended, when I rounded my hip measurement down to 39", I got 22.2% Not far off the calipers. When I rounded up to 40", I got 23.2%. So for me, I'd say when in doubt, round down on the fat-storing body parts (hips for chicks, waist I think for men) and round up on non-fat-storing body parts such as calf & wrist (they ask for different sites for males) if you have irregular "half" measurements. If it's just a 1/4" off, I think you're pretty safe using regular mathematical rounding guidelines. By all means, experiment.

I know you asked about the BF% scales before on your page and it bears repeating here as well. If it's footpads only, DON'T. If I believed mine at it's reading of 32-34% currently I would've blown my brains out a long time ago and addressed my suicide note to "Tanita". Though I suppose there IS something to be said for the fact that I was getting reading of 38% or so when I started my MFP journey when I actually calipered at 26%, so it does reflect >changes< in BF% somewhat accurately (down 5% by the scale, down 7% by the calipers).

(especially ladies, it only sends the electrical current/pulse whatever through your lower body and we of the fairer gender are biologically programmed to stash the majority of our fat there so we can support a possible pregnancy; this distribution also varies by ethnicity as well. Women whose >distant ancestors< hail from warmer climes such as the mediterranean, Africa, mid-east, etc... will store more disproportionately in their hips as it isn't as temperature-efficient as storing it more evenly all over the body as found in people who hail from colder climes such as Scandinavians, Eskimos, etc... This is also why men are drawn to low waist-to-hip ratios subconsciously as easily accessible hip fat during a pregnancy holds higher quality amino acids that have been proven to produce more intelligent offspring. Ok, I geeked out a little there and the scientific-journal addict in me popped out there, apologies.)

I do think you also made mention of the hand-grip BF% reader on your page as well. Same flaw as the foot-pads only scales, the pulse/current/whatever only travels through your upper-body. I think I got 23% on the one they had on hand at the gym (POST-workout, mind you... makes a huge difference, those things are so hydration-sensitive) before my surgery when I was at 18.95% calipered. I'm scared to try it again post-op as I've been told saline breast-implants will give a falsely lower reading and the jury is still out on what the new cohesive gel silicone one's I just got will do, the answer varies with who I ask. *sigh* might as well give it a go though to find out for sure. My calipered BF% only went up half a % from pre to post-op with all the recovery time.

The most accurate electronic body-fat scale will have foot AND hand grips and will still have the hydration flaw.

I suppose it's also worth mentioning that calipered measurements only take into account subcutaneous fat, while the higher-end DEXA/bod-pod stuff does both the subcutaneous and (more important to your health) visceral, as does perhaps the bio-electrical impedance to a certain extent, but obviously not as accurate as the other two.

How much do bod-pod or DEXA-scans usually cost?

DEXA is the most expensive. The bod-pod in my area is $40 and the hydrostatic body composition is $60. Of the two, hydrostatic weiging is more accurate, but it also harder to find. You can see if this in your area here: www.getdunked.com or simply doing a search for "hydrostatic body composition."

You might be able to ask the hydrostatic comp. company how that affects the results. DEXA is scheduled through an MD's office, I think, because it measured via X-ray and used to measure bone density. Some colleges and universities offer this service, if they have "performace lab" or "health sciences" type area. A quick google search priced the DEXA around $300, but this of course can vary amongst providers.