BMI Calculator for Women and Men (lb or kg, with Chart)
A healthy adult BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, the same for women and men at any adult age (CDC, WHO). Enter your height and weight for your category, healthy weight range and waist-to-height ratio.
A screening number, not a verdict. BMI cannot see muscle, bone or where fat sits. It is for adults 20 and older (18 and older in Canada and Australia), not for children, teens or pregnancy. Under 20? Use the CDC child and teen BMI calculator, which uses percentiles by age and sex.
How BMI is calculated
The CDC gives one formula in two versions. They match to within a rounding error.
- Metric: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²
- Imperial: BMI = 703 × weight (lb) ÷ height (in)²
Two worked examples
170 cm, 68 kg. 1.70 × 1.70 = 2.89. Then 68 ÷ 2.89 = 23.5, in the healthy weight range.
5'4", 150 lb. 5'4" is 64 inches, and 64 × 64 = 4,096. Then 703 × 150 = 105,450, and 105,450 ÷ 4,096 = 25.7, just into the overweight range. The healthy range at 5'4" works backward the same way: 18.5 × 4,096 ÷ 703 = 108 lb and 24.9 × 4,096 ÷ 703 = 145 lb.
That second example is a good reminder of how blunt the categories are. Moving from 145 to 146 lb at 5'4" changes the label, not your health.
BMI categories for adults
The CDC uses these for adults 20 and older, "regardless of age, sex, or race." WHO, Health Canada and Healthdirect Australia use the same cut-offs. The UK's NICE recommends lower thresholds for people with a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean background, because cardiometabolic risk shows up at a lower BMI.
| Category | Standard BMI (CDC, WHO) | Lower cut-offs (NICE) |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | Below 18.5 | Below 18.5 |
| Healthy weight | 18.5 to 24.9 | 18.5 to 22.9 |
| Overweight | 25 to 29.9 | 23 to 27.4 |
| Obesity class 1 | 30 to 34.9 | 27.5 to 32.4 |
| Obesity class 2 | 35 to 39.9 | 32.5 to 37.4 |
| Obesity class 3 | 40 or more | 37.5 or more |
The lower column comes from NICE guideline NG246. The original 2004 WHO expert consultation found the BMI where risk rises varies from 22 to 25 across Asian populations, so it kept the international cut-offs and proposed 23, 27.5, 32.5 and 37.5 as extra public health action points. Countries and clinicians choose how to apply them, which is why the calculator makes it a choice, not a default.
Healthy weight range for your height
Run the formula backward and you get the weight range that puts you at BMI 18.5 to 24.9. It is wide on purpose: at 5'6" it spans 115 to 154 lb, almost 40 pounds. For your height in detail, including what the classic ideal body weight formulas say, open the ideal weight calculator or jump to a height: 5'2", 5'4", 5'6", 5'8", 5'10", 6'0".
BMI chart by height in pounds
The weight where each category starts, for adults of any sex. Tap a height for its full page.
| Height | Healthy (18.5 to 24.9) | Overweight from (25) | Obesity from (30) | Class 2 from (35) | Class 3 from (40) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4'10" (147 cm) | 89 to 119 lb | 120 lb | 144 lb | 167 lb | 191 lb |
| 4'11" (150 cm) | 92 to 123 lb | 124 lb | 149 lb | 173 lb | 198 lb |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 95 to 127 lb | 128 lb | 154 lb | 179 lb | 205 lb |
| 5'1" (155 cm) | 98 to 132 lb | 132 lb | 159 lb | 185 lb | 212 lb |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 101 to 136 lb | 137 lb | 164 lb | 191 lb | 219 lb |
| 5'3" (160 cm) | 104 to 141 lb | 141 lb | 169 lb | 198 lb | 226 lb |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 108 to 145 lb | 146 lb | 175 lb | 204 lb | 233 lb |
| 5'5" (165 cm) | 111 to 150 lb | 150 lb | 180 lb | 210 lb | 240 lb |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 115 to 154 lb | 155 lb | 186 lb | 217 lb | 248 lb |
| 5'7" (170 cm) | 118 to 159 lb | 160 lb | 192 lb | 223 lb | 255 lb |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 122 to 164 lb | 164 lb | 197 lb | 230 lb | 263 lb |
| 5'9" (175 cm) | 125 to 169 lb | 169 lb | 203 lb | 237 lb | 271 lb |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 129 to 174 lb | 174 lb | 209 lb | 244 lb | 279 lb |
| 5'11" (180 cm) | 133 to 179 lb | 179 lb | 215 lb | 251 lb | 287 lb |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 136 to 184 lb | 184 lb | 221 lb | 258 lb | 295 lb |
| 6'1" (185 cm) | 140 to 189 lb | 189 lb | 227 lb | 265 lb | 303 lb |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 144 to 194 lb | 195 lb | 234 lb | 273 lb | 312 lb |
| 6'3" (190 cm) | 148 to 199 lb | 200 lb | 240 lb | 280 lb | 320 lb |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 152 to 205 lb | 205 lb | 246 lb | 288 lb | 329 lb |
| 6'5" (196 cm) | 156 to 210 lb | 211 lb | 253 lb | 295 lb | 337 lb |
| 6'6" (198 cm) | 160 to 215 lb | 216 lb | 260 lb | 303 lb | 346 lb |
BMI chart in kg and cm
The same chart in metric, for Australia, Canada and anyone who weighs in kilograms.
| Height | Healthy (18.5 to 24.9) | Overweight from (25) | Obesity from (30) | Class 2 from (35) | Class 3 from (40) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 41.6 to 56.0 kg | 56.2 kg | 67.5 kg | 78.8 kg | 90.0 kg |
| 155 cm | 44.4 to 59.8 kg | 60.1 kg | 72.1 kg | 84.1 kg | 96.1 kg |
| 160 cm | 47.4 to 63.7 kg | 64.0 kg | 76.8 kg | 89.6 kg | 102.4 kg |
| 165 cm | 50.4 to 67.8 kg | 68.1 kg | 81.7 kg | 95.3 kg | 108.9 kg |
| 170 cm | 53.5 to 72.0 kg | 72.2 kg | 86.7 kg | 101.1 kg | 115.6 kg |
| 175 cm | 56.7 to 76.3 kg | 76.6 kg | 91.9 kg | 107.2 kg | 122.5 kg |
| 180 cm | 59.9 to 80.7 kg | 81.0 kg | 97.2 kg | 113.4 kg | 129.6 kg |
| 185 cm | 63.3 to 85.2 kg | 85.6 kg | 102.7 kg | 119.8 kg | 136.9 kg |
| 190 cm | 66.8 to 89.9 kg | 90.2 kg | 108.3 kg | 126.3 kg | 144.4 kg |
| 195 cm | 70.3 to 94.7 kg | 95.1 kg | 114.1 kg | 133.1 kg | 152.1 kg |
Waist-to-height ratio: the check that sees what BMI misses
BMI cannot tell where fat sits, and fat around the middle is the kind most linked to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. NICE now tells adults with a BMI under 35 to measure their own waist-to-height ratio, with one simple goal: keep your waist to less than half your height.
| Waist-to-height ratio | NICE classification |
|---|---|
| 0.4 to 0.49 | Healthy central adiposity, no increased health risks |
| 0.5 to 0.59 | Increased central adiposity, increased health risks |
| 0.6 or more | High central adiposity, further increased health risks |
How to measure (NICE method): find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips, wrap the tape midway between them (just above the belly button), breathe out naturally, then read it. Use the same units for waist and height. NICE's own example: a 38 inch waist at 5'7" (67 inches) is 38 ÷ 67 = 0.57, the same as 96.5 cm ÷ 170 cm.
NICE says these bands work for both sexes, all ethnicities and people with a lot of muscle, which fixes BMI's biggest blind spots. A 2012 meta-analysis of 31 studies covering more than 300,000 adults found waist-to-height ratio picked out cardiometabolic risk better than BMI or waist size alone.
Australia and Canada also publish waist-only cut-offs. Healthdirect (AU): risk is increased at 80 cm or more for women and 94 cm or more for men, and greatly increased at 88 cm and 102 cm. Health Canada: 88 cm (35 in) or more for women and 102 cm (40 in) or more for men is linked with higher risk. For more on the middle specifically, see how to lose belly fat.
What BMI gets wrong, and what it gets right
It misses body fat in both directions. In a 2010 meta-analysis of 32 samples and 31,968 people measured with body composition scans, standard BMI cut-offs had a sensitivity of 0.50 for excess body fat: they missed about half the people who had it. Specificity was 0.90, so a high BMI usually does reflect high body fat, but a normal BMI does not rule it out. Strength athletes run into the opposite problem, which is why NICE says to interpret BMI with caution in adults with high muscle mass.
Age changes the picture. In a meta-analysis of 32 studies and 197,940 adults aged 65 and older, mortality was lowest around BMI 23 to 23.9, rose at 21.9 and below, and did not start rising until above 33. NICE tells clinicians to interpret BMI with caution at 65 and over because a slightly higher BMI may be protective, and Health Canada notes its cut-offs may misjudge risk past 65. The categories do not change, but what they mean for you might.
Sex and ethnicity matter too. The cut-offs are identical for women and men, yet the 2016 Global BMI Mortality Collaboration (10.6 million people, 239 studies) found risk rose faster per 5 BMI units above 25 in men than in women. The WHO consultation and NICE both found risk starts at a lower BMI in many Asian and other populations, and Healthdirect lists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander, Maori, South Asian, Chinese and Japanese people as groups where BMI is less reliable.
What it gets right. Across large populations, BMI tracks risk well. That same 239-study collaboration, limited to never-smokers without chronic disease, found the lowest death rates at BMI 20 to 25, with risk rising below and above. The 2025 Lancet commission on clinical obesity landed in the sensible middle: use BMI for screening, confirm with a waist measure or body fat measurement, and judge health by how the body is actually working. Your doctor reads BMI alongside blood pressure, labs, history and how you feel, and so should you.
BMI for children and teens
Kids are still growing, so a fixed number does not work. For ages 2 to 19 the CDC compares BMI with others of the same age and sex: below the 5th percentile is underweight, 5th to below 85th is healthy, 85th to below 95th is overweight, and 95th or above is obesity. This calculator does not do percentiles, so use the CDC child and teen calculator and talk to your pediatrician or GP.
What to do with your number
If your BMI and waist are both in the healthy bands, the job is mostly keeping your habits going. If you want to change something, start with what you eat every day rather than the label. Work out your daily calorie needs, then a gentle target with the calorie deficit calculator, and track progress in percent with the weight loss percentage calculator, which says more than a category does. Losing weight is one goal among many, and sleep, strength, energy and lab results count just as much.
Tracking what you eat helps here. A systematic review of 22 studies found self-monitoring was consistently linked with weight loss, though the authors rated the evidence as weak because of study design limits. The useful part is simple: you cannot adjust what you cannot see.
If numbers like BMI stir up worry, or you have a history of disordered eating, please work with a doctor or registered dietitian instead of a chart. Support: US, call or text 988 or visit NEDA; Australia, Butterfly 1800 33 4673; Canada, NEDIC 1-866-633-4220.
Related tools and guides
The ideal weight calculator breaks down the range for every height from 4'10" to 6'6". The BMR calculator shows what your body burns at rest, the goal weight date calculator sets a realistic timeline, and the protein intake calculator helps you hold on to muscle. For the why behind the numbers, read TDEE explained and why you might not lose weight in a deficit.
FAQ
What is a healthy BMI?
For adults, a healthy BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, according to the CDC and WHO. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obesity. It is a screening range, so your doctor will read it alongside your waist, blood pressure and labs.
Is BMI different for women and men?
No. The CDC applies the same adult categories regardless of sex, so a healthy BMI is 18.5 to 24.9 for women and men. Body composition at the same BMI can differ, which is one reason a waist-to-height ratio is a useful second check.
What is a healthy BMI for women over 50 or adults over 65?
The official categories do not change with age. Research does suggest older adults may do better a little higher: a meta-analysis of adults 65 and over found the lowest mortality around BMI 23 to 23.9 and no rise until above 33. NICE asks clinicians to interpret BMI with caution at 65 and over, so check what is right for you with your doctor.
How do I calculate BMI in kg and cm?
Convert your height to meters, square it, then divide your weight in kg by that number. At 165 cm and 60 kg: 1.65 × 1.65 = 2.7225, and 60 ÷ 2.7225 = 22.0. In pounds and inches, use 703 × lb ÷ in².
Is a BMI of 25 overweight?
Yes, 25 is where the CDC and WHO overweight category starts, and 30 is where obesity starts. The line is a screening convention, not a health cliff, and nothing changes overnight at 25.0. A BMI of 23 or 24 sits inside the standard healthy range.
Is BMI accurate?
It is a rough screen. A meta-analysis of 31,968 people found standard BMI cut-offs missed about half of those with excess body fat, while a high BMI usually did reflect high body fat. It also cannot tell muscle from fat, so pair it with a waist measurement.
What BMI should Asian people use?
NICE recommends lower cut-offs for South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African and African-Caribbean backgrounds: overweight from 23 and obesity from 27.5. A 2004 WHO expert consultation found risk rises at BMI 22 to 25 across different Asian populations, kept the international cut-offs and proposed 23 and 27.5 as action points. Tick the box in the calculator to use them.
Is BMI the same as body fat percentage?
No. BMI uses only height and weight, so it cannot separate fat, muscle and bone, as the CDC notes. Body fat percentage needs a scan or other body composition test. BMI is moderately to strongly associated with those measures across groups, but it can be off for one person.
What waist size is healthy?
NICE says to keep your waist under half your height, a waist-to-height ratio below 0.5. Healthdirect Australia flags increased risk from 80 cm for women and 94 cm for men, and Health Canada from 88 cm (35 in) for women and 102 cm (40 in) for men.
Can I use a BMI calculator for kids or teens?
Not this one. For ages 2 to 19 the CDC compares BMI with percentiles for the same age and sex, because children are still growing. Use the CDC child and teen BMI calculator and talk to your child's doctor.
What is the easiest way to track what I eat if I want to change my BMI?
Use an app that makes tracking take seconds. In Nouri you type or say what you ate, like "chicken wrap and a flat white," and it works out calories and macros with every item shown, so you can adjust anything. You can even say "Hey Siri, track food in Nouri" from the lock screen.
Sources
- CDC, Adult BMI Categories (checked Nov 1, 2026): cdc.gov/bmi/adult-calculator/bmi-categories.html
- CDC, About Body Mass Index (checked Nov 1, 2026): cdc.gov/bmi/about
- CDC, Child and Teen BMI Categories (checked Nov 1, 2026): cdc.gov/bmi/child-teen-calculator/bmi-categories.html
- NHLBI, Calculate Your BMI (checked Nov 1, 2026): nhlbi.nih.gov/calculate-your-bmi
- WHO, Obesity and overweight fact sheet (checked Nov 1, 2026): who.int
- NICE guideline NG246, Overweight and obesity management, section 1.9 (checked Nov 1, 2026): nice.org.uk/guidance/ng246
- Health Canada, Canadian Guidelines for Body Weight Classification in Adults, Q&A (checked Nov 1, 2026): canada.ca
- Healthdirect Australia, BMI and waist circumference (checked Nov 1, 2026): healthdirect.gov.au
- WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations. The Lancet, 2004;363:157-163 (checked Nov 1, 2026): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14726171
- Okorodudu DO et al. Diagnostic performance of body mass index to identify obesity as defined by body adiposity. International Journal of Obesity, 2010;34:791-799 (checked Nov 1, 2026): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20125098
- Ashwell M, Gunn P, Gibson S. Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors. Obesity Reviews, 2012;13:275-286 (checked Nov 1, 2026): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22106927
- Winter JE et al. BMI and all-cause mortality in older adults: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014;99:875-890 (checked Nov 1, 2026): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24452240
- Global BMI Mortality Collaboration. Body-mass index and all-cause mortality: individual-participant-data meta-analysis of 239 prospective studies in four continents. The Lancet, 2016;388:776-786 (checked Nov 1, 2026): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27423262
- Rubino F et al. Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2025;13:221-262 (checked Nov 1, 2026): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39824205
- Burke LE, Wang J, Sevick MA. Self-monitoring in weight loss: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2011;111:92-102 (checked Nov 1, 2026): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21185970