Quick answer: the golden ratio is 1.618. In the classic “golden face”, face length is about 1.618 times face width, the mouth is about 1.618 times as wide as the nose, and the face divides into three equal thirds. Real faces rarely match exactly, and attractiveness does not depend on it.
What Is the Golden Ratio Face?
The golden ratio, about 1.618, appears in art and architecture as a proportion that feels balanced. Applied to faces, it suggests that certain measurements should relate by 1.618, for example face length to face width. Artists also use the rule of thirds (forehead, nose and lower face of equal height) and the rule of fifths (the face is five eye-widths across).
Ratios the Calculator Measures
| Measurement | Classic target | What it compares |
|---|---|---|
| Face length ÷ face width | 1.618 | Hairline to chin vs cheekbone to cheekbone |
| Mouth width ÷ nose width | 1.618 | Mouth corners vs nose wings |
| Lips-to-chin ÷ nose-to-lips | 1.618 | Lower face divisions |
| Face width ÷ jaw width | about 1.25 | Cheekbones vs jaw angles |
| Eye width ÷ gap between eyes | 1.0 | Rule of fifths |
| Forehead ÷ middle third | 1.0 | Rule of thirds |
| Lower third ÷ middle third | 1.0 | Rule of thirds |
How to Take a Good Photo
- Use a straight-on photo. Face the camera directly, with the camera at eye level, about an arm’s length or more away. A phone held close to the face distorts the nose and chin.
- Keep a neutral expression. Relax your face, close your mouth and look straight ahead. Smiles and raised eyebrows are rarely symmetrical.
- Use even light. Light from the front, such as a window behind the camera. Side light makes one half look different.
- Pull hair back. Clear the forehead, cheekbones and jawline so you can place the points accurately.
- Place points carefully. Zoom out the page if needed, drag each dot onto its feature, and use the arrow keys for fine adjustment.
Does the Golden Ratio Predict Beauty?
Not very well. When researchers have tested it, faces rated attractive did not cluster around 1.618. A study at the University of Toronto found the most attractive arrangement of features had an eye-to-mouth distance of about 36% of face length and an eye-to-eye distance of about 46% of face width, ratios close to the average face rather than the golden ratio. Averageness, symmetry, skin and expression all play a part, and preferences vary across cultures.
Treat the score as a fun look at your proportions, not a verdict on your looks.
Golden Ratio vs. Facial Symmetry
Proportion and symmetry are different things: a face can match the classic ratios and still be lopsided, or be very symmetrical with a long or wide shape. Check the other side with the face symmetry test. For body proportions, the golden ratio shows up again in the shoulder-to-waist ratio.
Golden Ratio Face FAQ
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The photo is processed only in your browser and is never uploaded or stored.
What is the golden ratio for a face?
The golden ratio is about 1.618. The most cited facial version is face length about 1.618 times face width, with the mouth about 1.618 times as wide as the nose.
What is a good golden ratio face score?
Most real faces score between about 70% and 90% on this calculator. A high score means your proportions are close to the classic targets, not that you are more attractive.
Do beautiful faces follow the golden ratio?
Studies have not found that attractive faces cluster around 1.618. Attractive faces tend to be close to the population average and fairly symmetrical.
What are the facial thirds?
The face is split horizontally at the brow and the base of the nose. In the classic ideal, the forehead, the middle third and the lower third are equal in height.
What is the rule of fifths?
Across the face at eye level, the classic ideal is five equal eye-widths: one for each eye, one between the eyes and one on each side of the face.
Sources
- Pallett PM, Link S, Lee K. New “golden” ratios for facial beauty. Vision Research. 2010;50(2):149–154.
- Holland E. Marquardt’s Phi mask: pitfalls of relying on fashion models and the golden ratio to describe a beautiful face. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2008;32(2):200–208.
- Farkas LG, et al. International anthropometric study of facial morphology in various ethnic groups/races. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2005;16(4):615–646.
For curiosity and education only. Scores depend on photo and point placement and say nothing about attractiveness or health.