Harmony & facial ratios
Lower Third
1 min read · Updated October 4, 2026
The band from the base of the nose to the bottom of the chin, as a share of total face height.
What it is
The lower third contains the mouth, jaw and chin. It runs from the base of the nose to the lowest point of the chin (the menton) and is shown as a share of the full face height.
How it's measured
The nose base and chin bottom are landmark points, measured vertically in a levelled frame and divided by the hairline-to-chin height. Like the other thirds, the number is a share of one shared total.
How it's read
A lower third a little longer than the others is common in adult faces and often reads as mature and strong, particularly on men. A very long lower third can look elongated, and a very short one can look compressed. Ideal ranges differ slightly between men and women.
What affects it
Smiling, opening your mouth or lifting your chin all change this band, so keep a relaxed closed mouth. Leaner cheeks and a defined jaw change how the lower face looks more than they change the measurement.
For more detail, see the full guide: Facial thirds.
Related measurements
In the same group: Lower Third Proportion, Top Third and Middle Third. The full list is on the Harmony overview.
See it on a full report
Open the sample report to see every measurement, score and highlight on a real example.