Objective To determine if calf circumference (CC) could predict skeletal muscle wasting in male patients with stable COPD, and to provide reference for early identification of high-risk patients. Methods A total of 116 male patients attending outpatient clinic were recruited. CC was measured and skeletal muscle wasting was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The optimal cut-off value of CC was obtained by the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results Approximately 6.90% male COPD patients had skeletal muscle wasting. CC of 116 COPD patients averaged (34.58±3.03) cm. CC was positively correlated with the appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and the ASM index (both P＜0.05）. The optimal cut-off value of CC for predicting skeletal muscle wasting was 31.8 cm (with the sensitivity of 1.000, the specificity of 0.861, and the AUC of 0.963). After adjusting for age, the AUC was enhanced to 0.973. Conclusion CC is a useful tool for screening skeletal muscle wasting in male patients with stable COPD.