Reverse BMI Calculator
Use this reverse BMI calculator to find the weight needed to reach a specific target BMI at your height.
Updated August 12, 2026
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers.
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 Reverse BMI Is Calculated
Our regular BMI Calculator answers one question: what is my BMI at my current weight? This calculator answers the reverse question: what weight would put me at a specific BMI? It uses the exact same formula and cutoffs, just solved for weight instead of BMI.
What This Calculator Measures
This returns a target weight, or a weight range if you choose a category rather than an exact number, for reaching a chosen BMI at your height. It doesn't tell you whether that weight is the right goal for your specific body, see the caveats below before treating it as a target.
The Formula
Metric: Weight (kg) = Target BMI × Height (m)²
Imperial: Weight (lb) = (Target BMI × Height in inches²) ÷ 703
This is the same formula and the same 703 conversion constant used by our standard BMI Calculator, solved for weight instead of BMI.
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Enter your height, then either type an exact target BMI or pick one of the standard categories (Underweight, Healthy, Overweight, Obese). If you enter an exact number, we return a single target weight. If you pick a category instead, we calculate the weight at both boundary values of that range and return it as a span, since a category like 'healthy' covers a range of BMI values, not one number.
What Your Result Means
Alongside your result, we show a reference table with the weight that corresponds to each standard BMI cutoff at your height, so you can see the full picture at a glance. For example, at 5'6", a BMI of 18.5 works out to about 115 lbs, a BMI of 25 to about 155 lbs, and a BMI of 30 to about 186 lbs¹.
BMI Cutoff | What It Marks | Weight at 5'6" (Example) |
18.5 | Underweight / Healthy boundary | ~115 lbs |
25.0 | Healthy / Overweight boundary | ~155 lbs |
30.0 | Overweight / Obese boundary | ~186 lbs |
Your own table on the results screen is calculated from the height you actually entered, this is just an illustrative example.
Why This Isn't a Prescriptive Target
This calculator inherits the same core limitation as the standard BMI Calculator: BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat⁵. A computed target weight assumes a fairly typical body composition, so for someone who is very muscular or very lean, hitting this number may not reflect a genuinely healthy body composition at all. Treat this as a reference point for goal-setting, not a prescriptive target, and pair it with a body fat percentage or waist measurement for a fuller picture.
The standard BMI cutoffs used here were developed primarily from research in European-descent populations. A WHO expert consultation found that Asian populations face meaningfully higher health risk at BMI levels these general cutoffs would still classify as healthy⁴, so a target weight calculated from the standard cutoffs may understate an appropriate goal for some Asian populations specifically.
A Note on Accuracy
If your entered target BMI is below about 15 or above about 50, we'll show a note that values outside this range are rare and may reflect a data-entry error, though we'll still calculate the result. This tool provides a reference weight based on a population-level formula, not a personalized recommendation, and works best alongside a body composition measurement rather than on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a target weight calculated from a BMI?
We use the standard BMI formula solved for weight instead of BMI: weight equals target BMI times height in meters squared (or the equivalent imperial formula using the 703 constant)¹. Enter your height and a target BMI, and we do the algebra for you.
Why does selecting a category give me a range instead of one number?
Categories like 'healthy' span a range of BMI values (18.5 to 24.9), not a single number², so the corresponding weight is a range too. If you want one exact number, enter a specific target BMI instead of picking a category.
Is this target weight actually healthy for me specifically?
Not necessarily. BMI, and by extension this calculator, cannot distinguish muscle from fat⁵. A muscular or very lean person may find their computed target weight doesn't match a genuinely healthy body composition for them. Pair this result with a body fat percentage or waist measurement for a fuller picture.
Does this apply the same way to everyone?
No. The standard cutoffs used here were developed primarily in European-descent populations, and research shows Asian populations face higher health risk at lower BMI levels than these general cutoffs suggest⁴. Anyone using this as a goal-setting reference should weigh that alongside their own background and, ideally, a healthcare provider's guidance.
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
Reverse BMI Calculator
Use this reverse BMI calculator to find the weight needed to reach a specific target BMI at your height.
Updated August 12, 2026
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers.
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 Reverse BMI Is Calculated
Our regular BMI Calculator answers one question: what is my BMI at my current weight? This calculator answers the reverse question: what weight would put me at a specific BMI? It uses the exact same formula and cutoffs, just solved for weight instead of BMI.
What This Calculator Measures
This returns a target weight, or a weight range if you choose a category rather than an exact number, for reaching a chosen BMI at your height. It doesn't tell you whether that weight is the right goal for your specific body, see the caveats below before treating it as a target.
The Formula
Metric: Weight (kg) = Target BMI × Height (m)²
Imperial: Weight (lb) = (Target BMI × Height in inches²) ÷ 703
This is the same formula and the same 703 conversion constant used by our standard BMI Calculator, solved for weight instead of BMI.
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Enter your height, then either type an exact target BMI or pick one of the standard categories (Underweight, Healthy, Overweight, Obese). If you enter an exact number, we return a single target weight. If you pick a category instead, we calculate the weight at both boundary values of that range and return it as a span, since a category like 'healthy' covers a range of BMI values, not one number.
What Your Result Means
Alongside your result, we show a reference table with the weight that corresponds to each standard BMI cutoff at your height, so you can see the full picture at a glance. For example, at 5'6", a BMI of 18.5 works out to about 115 lbs, a BMI of 25 to about 155 lbs, and a BMI of 30 to about 186 lbs¹.
BMI Cutoff | What It Marks | Weight at 5'6" (Example) |
18.5 | Underweight / Healthy boundary | ~115 lbs |
25.0 | Healthy / Overweight boundary | ~155 lbs |
30.0 | Overweight / Obese boundary | ~186 lbs |
Your own table on the results screen is calculated from the height you actually entered, this is just an illustrative example.
Why This Isn't a Prescriptive Target
This calculator inherits the same core limitation as the standard BMI Calculator: BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat⁵. A computed target weight assumes a fairly typical body composition, so for someone who is very muscular or very lean, hitting this number may not reflect a genuinely healthy body composition at all. Treat this as a reference point for goal-setting, not a prescriptive target, and pair it with a body fat percentage or waist measurement for a fuller picture.
The standard BMI cutoffs used here were developed primarily from research in European-descent populations. A WHO expert consultation found that Asian populations face meaningfully higher health risk at BMI levels these general cutoffs would still classify as healthy⁴, so a target weight calculated from the standard cutoffs may understate an appropriate goal for some Asian populations specifically.
A Note on Accuracy
If your entered target BMI is below about 15 or above about 50, we'll show a note that values outside this range are rare and may reflect a data-entry error, though we'll still calculate the result. This tool provides a reference weight based on a population-level formula, not a personalized recommendation, and works best alongside a body composition measurement rather than on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a target weight calculated from a BMI?
We use the standard BMI formula solved for weight instead of BMI: weight equals target BMI times height in meters squared (or the equivalent imperial formula using the 703 constant)¹. Enter your height and a target BMI, and we do the algebra for you.
Why does selecting a category give me a range instead of one number?
Categories like 'healthy' span a range of BMI values (18.5 to 24.9), not a single number², so the corresponding weight is a range too. If you want one exact number, enter a specific target BMI instead of picking a category.
Is this target weight actually healthy for me specifically?
Not necessarily. BMI, and by extension this calculator, cannot distinguish muscle from fat⁵. A muscular or very lean person may find their computed target weight doesn't match a genuinely healthy body composition for them. Pair this result with a body fat percentage or waist measurement for a fuller picture.
Does this apply the same way to everyone?
No. The standard cutoffs used here were developed primarily in European-descent populations, and research shows Asian populations face higher health risk at lower BMI levels than these general cutoffs suggest⁴. Anyone using this as a goal-setting reference should weigh that alongside their own background and, ideally, a healthcare provider's guidance.
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
Reverse BMI Calculator
Use this reverse BMI calculator to find the weight needed to reach a specific target BMI at your height.
Updated August 12, 2026
Calculated instantly in your browser — nothing is sent to or stored on our servers.
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 Reverse BMI Is Calculated
Our regular BMI Calculator answers one question: what is my BMI at my current weight? This calculator answers the reverse question: what weight would put me at a specific BMI? It uses the exact same formula and cutoffs, just solved for weight instead of BMI.
What This Calculator Measures
This returns a target weight, or a weight range if you choose a category rather than an exact number, for reaching a chosen BMI at your height. It doesn't tell you whether that weight is the right goal for your specific body, see the caveats below before treating it as a target.
The Formula
Metric: Weight (kg) = Target BMI × Height (m)²
Imperial: Weight (lb) = (Target BMI × Height in inches²) ÷ 703
This is the same formula and the same 703 conversion constant used by our standard BMI Calculator, solved for weight instead of BMI.
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Enter your height, then either type an exact target BMI or pick one of the standard categories (Underweight, Healthy, Overweight, Obese). If you enter an exact number, we return a single target weight. If you pick a category instead, we calculate the weight at both boundary values of that range and return it as a span, since a category like 'healthy' covers a range of BMI values, not one number.
What Your Result Means
Alongside your result, we show a reference table with the weight that corresponds to each standard BMI cutoff at your height, so you can see the full picture at a glance. For example, at 5'6", a BMI of 18.5 works out to about 115 lbs, a BMI of 25 to about 155 lbs, and a BMI of 30 to about 186 lbs¹.
BMI Cutoff | What It Marks | Weight at 5'6" (Example) |
18.5 | Underweight / Healthy boundary | ~115 lbs |
25.0 | Healthy / Overweight boundary | ~155 lbs |
30.0 | Overweight / Obese boundary | ~186 lbs |
Your own table on the results screen is calculated from the height you actually entered, this is just an illustrative example.
Why This Isn't a Prescriptive Target
This calculator inherits the same core limitation as the standard BMI Calculator: BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat⁵. A computed target weight assumes a fairly typical body composition, so for someone who is very muscular or very lean, hitting this number may not reflect a genuinely healthy body composition at all. Treat this as a reference point for goal-setting, not a prescriptive target, and pair it with a body fat percentage or waist measurement for a fuller picture.
The standard BMI cutoffs used here were developed primarily from research in European-descent populations. A WHO expert consultation found that Asian populations face meaningfully higher health risk at BMI levels these general cutoffs would still classify as healthy⁴, so a target weight calculated from the standard cutoffs may understate an appropriate goal for some Asian populations specifically.
A Note on Accuracy
If your entered target BMI is below about 15 or above about 50, we'll show a note that values outside this range are rare and may reflect a data-entry error, though we'll still calculate the result. This tool provides a reference weight based on a population-level formula, not a personalized recommendation, and works best alongside a body composition measurement rather than on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a target weight calculated from a BMI?
We use the standard BMI formula solved for weight instead of BMI: weight equals target BMI times height in meters squared (or the equivalent imperial formula using the 703 constant)¹. Enter your height and a target BMI, and we do the algebra for you.
Why does selecting a category give me a range instead of one number?
Categories like 'healthy' span a range of BMI values (18.5 to 24.9), not a single number², so the corresponding weight is a range too. If you want one exact number, enter a specific target BMI instead of picking a category.
Is this target weight actually healthy for me specifically?
Not necessarily. BMI, and by extension this calculator, cannot distinguish muscle from fat⁵. A muscular or very lean person may find their computed target weight doesn't match a genuinely healthy body composition for them. Pair this result with a body fat percentage or waist measurement for a fuller picture.
Does this apply the same way to everyone?
No. The standard cutoffs used here were developed primarily in European-descent populations, and research shows Asian populations face higher health risk at lower BMI levels than these general cutoffs suggest⁴. Anyone using this as a goal-setting reference should weigh that alongside their own background and, ideally, a healthcare provider's guidance.
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