TryPSLFree Chin-to-Philtrum Ratio Calculator
Measure your chin-to-philtrum ratio from a front-facing photo. Check the four points, adjust them if needed and download your result. It’s free, and your photo stays in your browser.
Upload a photo to calculate your chin-to-philtrum ratio
One adult. Front-facing. No beauty filter.
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How to read your chin-to-philtrum ratio
Here, the philtrum measures 52 px, from the nose base to the top of the upper lip. The chin measures 112 px, from the bottom of the lower lip to the bottom of the chin. Divide 112 by 52 and you get 2.15: the chin is about 2.15 times as tall as the philtrum.
For the inverse, or philtrum-to-chin ratio, divide the other way: 52 ÷ 112 ≈ 0.46. The measurements haven’t changed, just their order.
Try it with your photo- Chin-to-philtrum ratio
- 2.15
- Inverse ratio
- 0.46
The upper solid line is the philtrum and the lower one is chin height. The dashed section covers the lips, which this ratio leaves out.
This illustration uses invented values.
How to measure your chin-to-philtrum ratio from a photo
- 01
Take a level photo
Face the camera at eye level, relax your jaw and gently close your lips. Keep your chin level and make sure its bottom edge is visible. A beard or shadow can hide it.
- 02
Check the four points
The blue points should sit at the nose base, the upper lip’s top edge, the lower lip’s bottom edge and the bottom of the chin. Drag any point that looks misplaced, or select it with Tab and use the arrow keys.
- 03
Read and save your result
Your result shows chin height divided by philtrum length, plus the inverse with the division reversed. Download the card if you want to save it. For comparisons, use photos taken at the same angle and distance.
What is the chin-to-philtrum ratio?
The chin-to-philtrum ratio is chin height divided by philtrum length. Here, chin height runs from the center of the lower lip’s bottom edge to the bottom of the chin. Philtrum length runs from the base of the nose (subnasale) to the center of the upper lip’s top edge. Neither measurement includes the lips.
Chin-to-philtrum ratio = chin height ÷ philtrum length
Detect the landmarks
We use MediaPipe Face Landmarker to locate the four points in your photo. This runs in your browser. You can move any point it places incorrectly.
Measure the philtrum
The philtrum is the groove between the nose and upper lip. We measure a straight line from the base of the nose to the center of the upper lip’s top edge.
Measure chin height
We measure a straight line from the center of the lower lip’s bottom edge to the bottom of the chin. The dashed line across the lips is left out.
Calculate the ratio
We divide chin height by philtrum length, then round the answer to two decimal places. The inverse divides the same lengths in the opposite order. Resizing without stretching scales both lengths equally, so their ratio stays the same.
How to calculate the chin-to-philtrum ratio by hand
Open a front-facing photo in an image editor and zoom in. Mark four points down the center of the face: nose base, top edge of the upper lip, bottom edge of the lower lip and bottom of the chin. Measure nose base to upper lip for philtrum length, then lower lip to chin for chin height. Divide chin height by philtrum length.
Measure straight lines and use the same units for both; pixels work fine. Take care with the two philtrum points. A 1 px error on a 50 px philtrum changes the ratio by about 2% if chin height stays the same.
This is a 2D photo estimate and hasn’t been clinically validated. TryPSL’s overall score uses a different measurement: chin height relative to the whole lower third, with a correction for head angle. Methodology and limitations
What is a good chin-to-philtrum ratio?
A ratio of 2.00 means chin height is twice philtrum length. Whether that looks good depends on more than this one proportion. Online “ideal” values vary, and we haven’t validated a target range for this tool. We use 2.00 below because it’s easy to picture, not because it’s an average or a goal.
Below 2.00
Chin height is less than twice philtrum length. The drawing shows 1.60: the chin is 1.6 times as tall as the philtrum.
Close to 2.00
Chin height is about twice philtrum length. Small point adjustments can move a result just above or below 2.00, so check their placement before comparing decimals.
Above 2.00
Chin height is more than twice philtrum length. At 2.40, as shown here, the chin is 2.4 times as tall as the philtrum.
These TryPSL drawings show 1.60, 2.00 and 2.40. We’ve kept philtrum length the same and changed only chin height.
A Golden Face Ratio article, for example, suggests about 2.0 for women and 2.25 to 2.5 for men. It cites no studies to support those targets.
Why chin-to-philtrum calculators can give different results
Two calculators can give different numbers for the same photo if they use different points. Starting at the crease below the lower lip gives a shorter chin measurement than starting at the lip’s edge. In our example, a starting point 20 px lower would change the result from 112 ÷ 52 ≈ 2.15 to 92 ÷ 52 ≈ 1.77.
Check the order of division, too. Some tools report philtrum ÷ chin. And the 1:2 lower-face rule uses a different split: the point where the lips meet. That includes part of the lips in each length.
| Measurement | Formula | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chin-to-philtrum ratio (TryPSL) | Lower lip bottom to chin bottom ÷ nose base to upper lip top | Lips excluded. A higher number means a taller chin relative to the philtrum. |
| Philtrum-to-chin ratio | Nose base to upper lip top ÷ lower lip bottom to chin bottom | The division is reversed: 2.00 becomes 0.50. |
| Chin from the labiomental fold | Fold beneath the lower lip to chin bottom ÷ philtrum | Shorter chin height, so a lower number for the same face. There is no fixed conversion. |
| Lower-face 1:2 rule | Nose base to lip junction : lip junction to chin bottom | Both lengths include part of the lips. See the 1:2 proportion discussed by Milutinovic et al. (2014). |
| Chin-to-lower-third ratio | Lower lip bottom to chin bottom ÷ nose base to chin bottom | Used in TryPSL’s overall score; see the methodology |
Milutinovic and colleagues studied photos of 24 female models and actresses and 83 female university students. They measured to the point where the lips meet, so their measurements included lip height. The study doesn’t establish an ideal for the chin-to-philtrum ratio used here.
Why your chin-to-philtrum ratio changes between photos
Your face can measure differently from one photo to the next. A small change in head angle or expression is enough to affect the result, especially over the short length of the philtrum.
Lips and expression
Keep your lips gently closed and your jaw relaxed. Smiling stretches the upper lip, and parting your lips moves the lower lip toward the chin.
Chin and camera height
Keep the lens at eye level and your chin neutral. Tipping your head up or down changes how long the philtrum and chin appear.
Camera distance
Hold the camera at least an arm’s length away, or use a timer. Close selfies exaggerate the features nearest the lens.
Facial hair and resolution
A beard or deep shadow can hide the bottom of the chin, and a mustache can hide the lip edge. Use a sharp, high-resolution original photo.
Camera distance matters because features closer to the lens appear larger. A 2018 study in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery modeled this effect: at 30 cm (12 in), it predicted about 30% more apparent nose width relative to face width than in a view without perspective distortion. At 1.5 m (5 ft), the difference was small. The study looked at nose width; it didn’t measure the error in a chin-to-philtrum ratio.
Chin-to-philtrum ratio FAQs
What does a 2:1 chin-to-philtrum ratio mean?
Your chin measures twice the length of your philtrum. We show that as 2.00. Reverse the order and the philtrum-to-chin ratio is 1:2, or 0.50. These describe the same two lengths, so check which one comes first.
How do you calculate the chin-to-philtrum ratio?
Divide chin height by philtrum length, using the same units for both. Measure each as a straight line: nose base to the center of the upper lip’s top edge for the philtrum, and the center of the lower lip’s bottom edge to chin bottom for chin height. For example, 112 px ÷ 52 px ≈ 2.15.
What is the ideal chin-to-philtrum ratio?
TryPSL doesn’t set an ideal target. You may see 2.0 or 2.25 described as “ideal” online, but the sources discussed here don’t establish those numbers as clinical standards. Also check where a guide starts and ends each measurement before comparing its numbers with yours.
Is the chin-to-philtrum ratio different for men and women?
The formula is the same for everyone. Some guides suggest a higher target for men, but we haven’t validated separate male and female ranges. You don’t need to select a gender to use the tool.
What does a low chin-to-philtrum ratio mean?
It means the chin is shorter in relation to the philtrum. It doesn’t tell you whether either feature is unusually short or long compared with other people. This measurement also can’t tell you whether your chin is recessed in profile.
Is this the same as the 1:2 lower-face rule?
No. The 1:2 rule splits the lower face where the lips meet. It compares nose base to lip junction with lip junction to chin bottom, so each length includes part of the lips. The chin-to-philtrum ratio leaves the lips out. You can’t use one number in place of the other.
Why do chin-to-philtrum calculators give different results?
They may divide in the opposite order or use different points. Some start chin height at the crease below the lower lip, which gives a shorter length than starting at the lip’s edge. Automatic detection and manual adjustments can also differ. TryPSL shows the points and both versions of the ratio so you can check.
How accurate is this chin-to-philtrum calculator?
We haven’t established an error margin. The philtrum takes up few pixels, so a slightly misplaced point can noticeably change the result. The 1 px example beside your result shows what happens if the measured philtrum is a little shorter while chin height stays the same. It doesn’t tell you how accurate the measurement is.
Why does my chin-to-philtrum ratio change between photos?
Head angle, smiling, an open mouth and a close camera can all change the visible lengths. A beard or shadow can lead the detector to place the chin point incorrectly. Use the same camera height, distance and relaxed expression when comparing photos.
Can I move the points?
Yes. Drag a blue point, or select it with Tab and move it with the arrow keys. Hold Shift for larger steps. “Reset points” brings back the original positions. The downloaded card uses your latest adjustments.
Can you change your chin-to-philtrum ratio?
A different photo can give you a different result even when your face hasn’t changed. Pose, expression and point placement all matter. The chin point follows the visible outline, including soft tissue, rather than measuring bone alone. This tool can’t confirm a change in facial structure or advise on treatments.
Is the chin-to-philtrum ratio calculator free and private?
Yes. You can measure and download your result for free, without an account. Your photo and measurements stay in your browser; they aren’t sent to our analysis server. Select “Clear & choose another” or reload the page to clear them. Any card you download stays on your device.