With the advances in the studies of body composition, it has been observed that several factors can interfere with the estimates of relative body fat using the skinfold thicknesses method. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the use of different skinfold calipers for the analysis of body composition by skinfold thicknesses measurements. Two hundred and fifty nine male subjects (23.3 ± 2.9 years) took part of the study. Nine skinfold thicknesses were measured (abdominal, subscapular, suprailiac, triceps, biceps, midaxillary, chest, medial calf, and thigh) using the Lange (USA) and the Cescorf (Brazil) calipers with accuracy of 1.0 and 0.1 mm, respectively. Significant differences were found in the comparison between the two calipers on all the investigated skinfold thicknesses (1.8 to 31.0%) with highest values obtained by the Lange caliper (p < 0.01). When these values were applied to four different predictive equations, developed by different researchers, the body fat estimate was significantly modified (p < 0.01), resulting in differences of 5.2 to 6.9%. Results indicate that the use of different skinfold calipers may maximize the errors of estimation produced by different predictive equations used for the analysis of body composition.93150153Lohman, T.G., Applicability of body composition techniques and constants for children and youth (1986) Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., 14, pp. 325-357Martin, A.D., Ross, W.D., Drinkwater, D.T., Clarys, J.P., Prediction of body fat by skinfold caliper: Assumptions and cadaver evidence (1985) Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 9, pp. 31-39Harrison, G.G., Buskirk, E.R., Carter, L.J.E., Johston, F.E., Lohman, T.G., Pollock, M.L., Skinfold thicknesses and measurement technique (1988) Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual, pp. 55-70. , Lohman TG, Roche AF, Martorell R, editors. Champaign: Human Kinetics BooksHeyward, V.H., Stolarczyk, L.M., Avaliação da composição corporal aplicada (2000), São Paulo: ManoleHayes, P.A., Sowood, P.J., Belyavin, A., Cohen, J.B., Smith, F.W., Subcutaneous fat thickness measured by magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and calipers (1988) Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 20, pp. 303-309Sloan, A.W., Shapiro, M.A., Comparison of skinfold measurements with three standard calipers (1972) Hum. Biol., 44, pp. 29-36Whitehead, J.R., A study of measurement variation among different skinfold calipers (1990) Br. J. Phys. Educ., 7, pp. 10-14Gordon, C.C., Chumlea, W.C., Roche, A.F., Stature, recumbent length, and weight (1988) Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual, pp. 3-8. , Lohman TG, Roche AF, Martorell R, editors. Champaign: Human Kinetics BooksDurnin, J.V.G.A., Womersley, J., Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: Measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years (1974) Br. J. Nutr., 32, pp. 77-97Jackson, A.S., Pollock, M.L., Generalized equations for predicting body density of men (1978) Br. J. Nutr., 40, pp. 497-504Petroski, E.L., Desenvolvimento e validação de equações generalizadas para a estimativa da densidade corporal em adultos (1995), Tese de Doutorado, Centro de Educação Física e Desportos, Universidade Federal de Santa MariaSiri, W.E., Body composition from fluid spaces and density: Analysis of methods (1961) Techniques for Measuring Body Composition, pp. 223-244. , Brozek J, Henschel A, editors. Washington: National Academy of ScienceBrozek, J., Grande, F., Anderson, J.T., Keys, A., Densitometric analysis of body composition: Revision of some quantitative assumption (1963) Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 110, pp. 113-140Gruber, J.J., Pollock, M.L., Graves, J.E., Colvin, A.B., Braith, R.W., Comparison of Harpenden and Lange caliper in predicting body composition (1990) Res. Q. Exerc. Sport, 61, pp. 184-190Hawkins, J.D., An analysis of selected skinfold measuring instruments (1983) J. Health Phys. Educ. Rec. Dance, 54, pp. 25-27Zando, K.A., Robertson, R.J., The validity and reliability of the Cramer Skyndes caliper in the estimation of percent body fat (1987) J. Athletic Training, 22, pp. 23-25Lohman, T.G., Pollock, M.L., Slaughter, M.H., Brandon, L.J., Boileau, R.A., Methodological factors and the prediction of body fat in female athletes (1984) Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 16, pp. 92-96Lohman, T.G., Skinfolds and body density and their relation to body fatness: A review (1981) Hum. Biol., 53, pp. 181-225Jackson, A.S., Research design and analysis of data procedures for predicting body density (1984) Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 16, pp. 616-622Lohman, T.G., Advances in body composition assessment (1992) Current Issues in Exercise Science Series, , Monograph No. 3. Champaign: Human Kinetics Books