At a glance
- Term
- FWHR (facial width-to-height ratio)
- Area
- Face geometry
- Measurable from a selfie
- Yes: bizygomatic width divided by upper-lip-to-brow height
- Evidence
- Mixed evidence
- Related
- Bizygomatic width, Sexual dimorphism (face), Golden ratio face
How to calculate FWHR
Divide bizygomatic width, meaning cheekbone width, by upper-lip-to-brow height. Use the same image and units for both distances. Width goes above the dividing line; height goes below it.
A higher facial width-to-height ratio means more cheekbone width relative to that height. A lower result means less width relative to height. Neither description, on its own, tells you how attractive or aggressive you are.
What the aggression evidence says
Carré and McCormick linked this ratio to aggression in a 2008 hockey study. Their paper is titled 'In your face: facial metrics predict aggressive behaviour in the laboratory and in varsity and professional hockey players'.
Later work finds the link small and inconsistent. That's why the evidence status is mixed, rather than a clear endorsement of the original claim. The finding doesn't give you a reliable way to judge someone's behaviour from their face.
Don't use a facial width ratio as a personality label. A measurement and a claim about character require different evidence.
Why one photo isn't a fixed verdict
The common mistake is treating one number from one photo as a permanent fact about your face. Start with what the result actually describes: the distances marked in that image.
Check the formula before comparing your result with another person's. A value labelled 'face ratio' may not tell you which height was measured. Without that detail, you can't know whether you're comparing the same measurement.
The glossary explains related terms. Keep FWHR separate from the golden ratio; these names don't describe the same formula.
What to do with a scan result
The free face-symmetry scan reads landmark distances from one selfie. It reports left-right differences and basic ratios, and names what it measured. Check that label before calling a result FWHR.
You can use the result to understand the relationship between cheekbone width and upper-face height. Keep the image and formula if you record it. The number alone doesn't justify changing your appearance or judging someone's temperament.
Questions people ask
- Can a selfie measure FWHR?
- Yes. Divide bizygomatic width by upper-lip-to-brow height in the same photo. Check that the measurement uses those landmarks.
- Does a high FWHR mean you're aggressive?
- You can't reliably draw that conclusion. The evidence is mixed, and later work finds the reported link small and inconsistent.
- Is a higher FWHR better?
- Higher means wider cheekbones relative to upper-lip-to-brow height. That mathematical description doesn't establish a better-looking face or a target you should pursue.
Written from the measurements and ingredient facts on this site, then checked for the usual mistakes. Not medical advice.
Related pages
The closest pages in this section, picked by topic rather than by date.
- golden ratio face meaning: What the number tells youLearn the golden ratio face meaning, which proportions a selfie can measure, and why mixed evidence doesn't support a universal beauty targe
- Facial thirds meaning: what the distances tell youLearn facial thirds meaning, which distances a selfie can measure, and why equal thirds don't give you a reliable verdict on your looks.