BMI Calculator
Use this BMI calculator to calculate your body mass index and see where your weight falls on the standard BMI scale.
Kevin Cyr, MD
Kevin Cyr, MD, is a board-certified internist who trained at Stanford University School of Medicine and completed residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general estimate based on established research and is for educational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary based on health conditions, so consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
How Body Mass Index (BMI) Is Calculated
BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a number calculated from your height and weight that places you into a general weight category linked to health risk. It's the same basic measurement used in doctor's offices, public health research, and international health guidelines. Here's exactly how it's calculated and how to read your result.
What BMI Measures
BMI is a screening tool, not a body composition test. It does not measure body fat directly, and it cannot tell the difference between fat and muscle.
The Formula
For users working in metric units:
BMI = weight in kilograms ÷ (height in meters)²
For users working in imperial units:
BMI = [weight in pounds ÷ (height in inches)²] × 703
The 703 in the imperial formula converts pounds and inches into the same units the metric formula produces, so your BMI comes out the same either way. The formula itself dates back to the 1830s, and researcher Ancel Keys confirmed in 1972 that it remains one of the most reliable simple screening ratios available¹.
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Enter your height and weight in either imperial or metric units using the toggle above. We convert everything to a common unit behind the scenes, apply the formula, and round your result to one decimal place before matching it to a category.
What Your Result Means
BMI (kg/m²) | Category |
Below 18.5 | Underweight |
18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy Weight |
25.0 to 29.9 | Overweight |
30.0 and above | Obese |
These cutoffs come from the CDC² and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute³, and have been the U.S. clinical standard since 1998³.
Why the Cutoffs Differ for Some Populations
These ranges were built mostly from European and North American data. A WHO review found that several Asian populations face higher health risk at lower BMI levels than the standard cutoff of 25⁴. Because of this, the WHO added extra reference points for those populations rather than replacing the global standard⁴.
BMI Chart for Adults
Find your height and weight to see your BMI and the category it falls into. Hover over or tap any value for details.
- Underweight below 18.5
- Healthy Weight 18.5 to 24.9
- Overweight 25.0 to 29.9
- Obese 30.0 and above
| Height | Weight (lb) | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 140 | 150 | 160 | 170 | 180 | 190 | 200 | 210 | 220 | 230 | 240 | 250 | |
| 4'10" | 20.9 | 23.0 | 25.1 | 27.2 | 29.3 | 31.3 | 33.4 | 35.5 | 37.6 | 39.7 | 41.8 | 43.9 | 46.0 | 48.1 | 50.2 | 52.2 |
| 4'11" | 20.2 | 22.2 | 24.2 | 26.3 | 28.3 | 30.3 | 32.3 | 34.3 | 36.4 | 38.4 | 40.4 | 42.4 | 44.4 | 46.5 | 48.5 | 50.5 |
| 5'0" | 19.5 | 21.5 | 23.4 | 25.4 | 27.3 | 29.3 | 31.2 | 33.2 | 35.2 | 37.1 | 39.1 | 41.0 | 43.0 | 44.9 | 46.9 | 48.8 |
| 5'1" | 18.9 | 20.8 | 22.7 | 24.6 | 26.5 | 28.3 | 30.2 | 32.1 | 34.0 | 35.9 | 37.8 | 39.7 | 41.6 | 43.5 | 45.3 | 47.2 |
| 5'2" | 18.3 | 20.1 | 21.9 | 23.8 | 25.6 | 27.4 | 29.3 | 31.1 | 32.9 | 34.8 | 36.6 | 38.4 | 40.2 | 42.1 | 43.9 | 45.7 |
| 5'3" | 17.7 | 19.5 | 21.3 | 23.0 | 24.8 | 26.6 | 28.3 | 30.1 | 31.9 | 33.7 | 35.4 | 37.2 | 39.0 | 40.7 | 42.5 | 44.3 |
| 5'4" | 17.2 | 18.9 | 20.6 | 22.3 | 24.0 | 25.7 | 27.5 | 29.2 | 30.9 | 32.6 | 34.3 | 36.0 | 37.8 | 39.5 | 41.2 | 42.9 |
| 5'5" | 16.6 | 18.3 | 20.0 | 21.6 | 23.3 | 25.0 | 26.6 | 28.3 | 30.0 | 31.6 | 33.3 | 34.9 | 36.6 | 38.3 | 39.9 | 41.6 |
| 5'6" | 16.1 | 17.8 | 19.4 | 21.0 | 22.6 | 24.2 | 25.8 | 27.4 | 29.1 | 30.7 | 32.3 | 33.9 | 35.5 | 37.1 | 38.7 | 40.4 |
| 5'7" | 15.7 | 17.2 | 18.8 | 20.4 | 21.9 | 23.5 | 25.1 | 26.6 | 28.2 | 29.8 | 31.3 | 32.9 | 34.5 | 36.0 | 37.6 | 39.2 |
| 5'8" | 15.2 | 16.7 | 18.2 | 19.8 | 21.3 | 22.8 | 24.3 | 25.8 | 27.4 | 28.9 | 30.4 | 31.9 | 33.5 | 35.0 | 36.5 | 38.0 |
| 5'9" | 14.8 | 16.2 | 17.7 | 19.2 | 20.7 | 22.2 | 23.6 | 25.1 | 26.6 | 28.1 | 29.5 | 31.0 | 32.5 | 34.0 | 35.4 | 36.9 |
| 5'10" | 14.3 | 15.8 | 17.2 | 18.7 | 20.1 | 21.5 | 23.0 | 24.4 | 25.8 | 27.3 | 28.7 | 30.1 | 31.6 | 33.0 | 34.4 | 35.9 |
| 5'11" | 13.9 | 15.3 | 16.7 | 18.1 | 19.5 | 20.9 | 22.3 | 23.7 | 25.1 | 26.5 | 27.9 | 29.3 | 30.7 | 32.1 | 33.5 | 34.9 |
| 6'0" | 13.6 | 14.9 | 16.3 | 17.6 | 19.0 | 20.3 | 21.7 | 23.1 | 24.4 | 25.8 | 27.1 | 28.5 | 29.8 | 31.2 | 32.5 | 33.9 |
| 6'1" | 13.2 | 14.5 | 15.8 | 17.2 | 18.5 | 19.8 | 21.1 | 22.4 | 23.7 | 25.1 | 26.4 | 27.7 | 29.0 | 30.3 | 31.7 | 33.0 |
| 6'2" | 12.8 | 14.1 | 15.4 | 16.7 | 18.0 | 19.3 | 20.5 | 21.8 | 23.1 | 24.4 | 25.7 | 27.0 | 28.2 | 29.5 | 30.8 | 32.1 |
| 6'3" | 12.5 | 13.7 | 15.0 | 16.2 | 17.5 | 18.7 | 20.0 | 21.2 | 22.5 | 23.7 | 25.0 | 26.2 | 27.5 | 28.7 | 30.0 | 31.2 |
| 6'4" | 12.2 | 13.4 | 14.6 | 15.8 | 17.0 | 18.3 | 19.5 | 20.7 | 21.9 | 23.1 | 24.3 | 25.6 | 26.8 | 28.0 | 29.2 | 30.4 |
Use the arrow keys to move between cells.
Healthy Weight Range for Your Height
Each bar shows the weights that fall in each BMI category at that height. The Healthy Weight range is the span of weights with a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.
- Underweight below 18.5
- Healthy Weight 18.5 to 24.9
- Overweight 25.0 to 29.9
- Obese 30.0 and above
Show data table
| Height | Underweight | Healthy Weight | Overweight | Obese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4'10" | below 89 lb | 89 to 119 lb | 120 to 143 lb | 144 lb and above |
| 4'11" | below 92 lb | 92 to 123 lb | 124 to 148 lb | 149 lb and above |
| 5'0" | below 95 lb | 95 to 127 lb | 128 to 153 lb | 154 lb and above |
| 5'1" | below 98 lb | 98 to 132 lb | 132 to 158 lb | 159 lb and above |
| 5'2" | below 101 lb | 101 to 136 lb | 137 to 163 lb | 164 lb and above |
| 5'3" | below 104 lb | 104 to 141 lb | 141 to 169 lb | 169 lb and above |
| 5'4" | below 108 lb | 108 to 145 lb | 146 to 174 lb | 175 lb and above |
| 5'5" | below 111 lb | 111 to 150 lb | 150 to 180 lb | 180 lb and above |
| 5'6" | below 115 lb | 115 to 154 lb | 155 to 185 lb | 186 lb and above |
| 5'7" | below 118 lb | 118 to 159 lb | 160 to 191 lb | 192 lb and above |
| 5'8" | below 122 lb | 122 to 164 lb | 164 to 197 lb | 197 lb and above |
| 5'9" | below 125 lb | 125 to 169 lb | 169 to 202 lb | 203 lb and above |
| 5'10" | below 129 lb | 129 to 174 lb | 174 to 208 lb | 209 lb and above |
| 5'11" | below 133 lb | 133 to 179 lb | 179 to 214 lb | 215 lb and above |
| 6'0" | below 136 lb | 136 to 184 lb | 184 to 220 lb | 221 lb and above |
| 6'1" | below 140 lb | 140 to 189 lb | 189 to 227 lb | 227 lb and above |
| 6'2" | below 144 lb | 144 to 194 lb | 195 to 233 lb | 234 lb and above |
| 6'3" | below 148 lb | 148 to 199 lb | 200 to 239 lb | 240 lb and above |
| 6'4" | below 152 lb | 152 to 205 lb | 205 to 246 lb | 246 lb and above |
A Note on Accuracy
BMI cannot tell fat from muscle. A very muscular person may score as overweight despite low body fat, while someone with little muscle may score as healthy despite carrying more fat than the number suggests. Treat your BMI as a starting point, and pair it with a waist measurement or body fat estimate for a fuller picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy BMI?
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 falls in the healthy weight range for most adults². Below 18.5 is considered underweight, and 25 or above is considered overweight or obese.
Is BMI accurate, or does it miss things like muscle mass?
It misses body composition entirely. BMI cannot measure fat directly, and a widely cited clinical review documents it as an imperfect stand-in for actual body fat percentage⁵. A muscular person can score as overweight without carrying excess fat.
Do BMI categories apply the same way to everyone?
Not quite. Some Asian populations face higher health risk at lower BMI levels than the standard cutoff⁴. The WHO added extra reference points for those groups rather than replacing the global categories.
How often should I recalculate my BMI?
After a noticeable weight change, or about once a year at a routine checkup. Small day-to-day weight shifts rarely move you into a new category.
Sources
Indices of Relative Weight and Obesity, Keys et al., 1972
Adult BMI Categories, CDC
The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, NHLBI
Appropriate Body-Mass Index for Asian Populations, WHO Expert Consultation, 2004
Body Mass Index: Obesity, BMI, and Health: A Critical Review, Nuttall, 2015