# Middle Third

Harmony · Front view · Facial Thirds · https://www.faceiqlabs.com/support/harmony/middle-third

The vertical space from the brow level to the bottom of the nose, relative to the full face.

## What is measured

Calculation: Brow-to-nose-bottom height ÷ hairline-to-chin height × 100

## Why it matters

This region connects the eye area to the mouth and contains much of the visible nose height. Reading it alongside the other thirds helps explain whether the face looks vertically compact or elongated.

- Lower: less of the face lies between brow and nose.
- Higher: more of the face lies between brow and nose.

## Where the idea comes from

Evidence: Classical proportion. Facial thirds grew out of artistic proportion canons and later anthropometry: the measurement of human form. Farkas and colleagues tested those rules in 1985. FaceIQ uses photographed brow landmarks to divide the face.

## A worked example

A 57-unit middle third within a 180-unit face gives 31.7%. A 63-unit span within the same full height gives 35%.

Example values explain the calculation. They are not a target range.

## How to read your result

The brow reference is calculated from both brows. Raised eyebrows and head tilt can shift it; this measure is different from the pupil-based Midface Ratio.

## Research & further reading

These sources explain the history or related evidence. FaceIQ’s score weights and reference ranges are model settings; the papers do not collectively validate the scoring system.

- Farkas et al. (1985). [Vertical and horizontal proportions of the face: revision of neoclassical canons](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3883374/). Tested nine traditional proportion rules against measured faces. Useful history for facial thirds and width comparisons; classical rules are not universal targets.

---

Source: https://www.faceiqlabs.com/support/harmony/middle-third · FaceIQ Labs overview for AI assistants: https://www.faceiqlabs.com/llms.txt