BMI calculator
Enter your height and weight to see your body mass index and the adult category it falls in, the healthy weight range for your height, and an honest note on what BMI can and can’t tell you. For adults 20 and over.
Weights for 5 ft 7 in
- Underweight
- under 118 lb
- Healthy weight
- 118–159 lb
- Overweight
- 160–191 lb
- Obesity
- 192 lb or more
Healthy weight is a BMI of 18.5 to under 25. Obesity is split into class 1 (30 to under 35), class 2 (35 to under 40) and class 3 (40 or more).
What BMI can’t tell you
- It doesn’t separate fat from muscle and bone, so muscular people can score high without much body fat.
- At the same BMI, women tend to carry more body fat than men, and older adults more than younger ones.
- In many Asian populations health risks rise at lower BMIs. A WHO expert group added action points at 23 and 27.5 for them.
- It says nothing about where fat sits. The body fat calculator uses waist and neck measurements instead.
A screening number, not a diagnosis or medical advice. Your doctor looks at BMI alongside other measures such as waist size, blood pressure and blood tests. If your BMI is outside the healthy range, or you’re worried about your weight, talk to your doctor.
- Free, no sign-up
- Works on phone and desktop
How to calculate your BMI
- 1
Choose US units or Metric.
- 2
Enter your height (feet and inches, or centimeters) and your weight.
- 3
Read your BMI, to one decimal, and the adult category it falls in on the scale.
- 4
See the healthy weight range for your height, and what BMI can’t tell you about your health.
Features
CDC adult categories
Underweight, healthy weight, overweight and the three obesity classes, with the same cut-offs the CDC and WHO use.
Weights for your height
The healthy range and the other categories in pounds or kilograms, so the number means something.
Honest about its limits
BMI is a screening number. The tool says plainly where it falls short: muscle, age, sex and ethnicity.
Private
Your height and weight stay on your device. Nothing is sent anywhere or kept in the page address.
How BMI is calculated
Body mass index compares your weight with your height. The calculator uses the standard formula:
- Metric: BMI = weight in kg ÷ (height in m)².
- US units: BMI = 703 × weight in lb ÷ (height in inches)². The two give the same answer to one decimal.
- Rounding: BMI is shown to one decimal, and the category is read from that number, so 24.96 shows as 25.0 and counts as overweight, as in the CDC’s tables.
Worked examples
- 5 ft 7 in, 160 lb: 703 × 160 ÷ 67² = 25.06, so a BMI of 25.1, just inside the overweight range.
- 5 ft 4 in, 130 lb: 703 × 130 ÷ 64² = 22.31, a BMI of 22.3: healthy weight.
- 6 ft 0 in, 200 lb: 703 × 200 ÷ 72² = 27.12, a BMI of 27.1: overweight.
- 170 cm, 65 kg: 65 ÷ 1.7² gives a BMI of 22.5: healthy weight. The healthy range at 170 cm is 54 to 72 kg.
Adult BMI categories
| Category | BMI |
|---|---|
| Underweight | under 18.5 |
| Healthy weight | 18.5 to under 25 |
| Overweight | 25 to under 30 |
| Obesity, class 1 | 30 to under 35 |
| Obesity, class 2 | 35 to under 40 |
| Obesity, class 3 | 40 or more |
These are the CDC’s categories for adults 20 and over, and they match the World Health Organization’s. They apply to men and women of every age alike.
Weights by height
The weights in each category for common heights, in whole pounds, with the healthy range in kilograms too.
| Height | Healthy weight | Overweight | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in (147 cm) | 89–119 lb (41–54 kg) | 120–143 lb | 144 lb or more |
| 5 ft 0 in (152 cm) | 95–127 lb (43–57 kg) | 128–153 lb | 154 lb or more |
| 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) | 101–136 lb (46–61 kg) | 137–163 lb | 164 lb or more |
| 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | 108–145 lb (49–65 kg) | 146–174 lb | 175 lb or more |
| 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | 115–154 lb (52–70 kg) | 155–185 lb | 186 lb or more |
| 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | 122–164 lb (56–74 kg) | 165–196 lb | 197 lb or more |
| 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | 129–173 lb (59–78 kg) | 174–208 lb | 209 lb or more |
| 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | 137–183 lb (62–83 kg) | 184–220 lb | 221 lb or more |
| 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | 144–194 lb (66–88 kg) | 195–233 lb | 234 lb or more |
| 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | 152–204 lb (69–92 kg) | 205–246 lb | 247 lb or more |
What BMI can’t tell you
BMI is a quick screening number for groups of people, not a measure of your health. The CDC notes that it doesn’t separate fat from muscle and bone, so muscular people can read high. At the same BMI, women tend to carry more body fat than men, and older adults more than younger adults. It also says nothing about where fat sits, which is why the WHO notes that waist circumference can be used as well. The body fat calculator estimates body fat from a few tape measurements.
Ethnicity matters too. A WHO expert consultation found that in many Asian populations the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease starts to rise at a BMI between 22 and 25. It kept the international categories but suggested extra action points at 23, 27.5, 32.5 and 37.5, so a BMI of 24 may deserve more attention in someone of Asian heritage.
This calculator is for adults 20 and over. It doesn’t apply in pregnancy, and children and teens need BMI-for-age percentiles from the CDC’s child and teen BMI calculator. If you want to change your weight, the TDEE calculator estimates the calories you burn, the calorie deficit calculator turns a goal weight into a plan, and the macro calculator and protein calculator help with what to eat.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult BMI categories. CDC.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About body mass index (BMI). CDC.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body mass index: considerations for practitioners. CDC, 2011.
- WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. The Lancet, 2004.
- World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight (fact sheet). WHO.
BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, and this page isn’t medical advice. Your doctor can look at your BMI alongside your waist size, blood pressure, blood tests and history. If you’re concerned about your weight, or your BMI is under 18.5, talk to your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my BMI?
Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. In pounds and inches, multiply your weight by 703 and divide by your height in inches squared. For someone who is 5 ft 7 in (67 inches) and 160 lb, that’s 703 × 160 ÷ 67², about 25.1.
What is a healthy BMI?
For adults, a BMI of 18.5 to under 25 is in the healthy weight range. Under 18.5 is underweight, 25 to under 30 overweight, and 30 or more obesity. At 5 ft 7 in, the healthy range is about 118 to 159 lb.
Is BMI different for men and women?
No. Adult categories are the same for everyone 20 and over, whatever their sex or age. But BMI doesn’t measure body fat, and at the same BMI women tend to have more body fat than men. For children and teens, sex and age matter, which is why they use percentiles.
Is BMI accurate for muscular people?
Not very. BMI can’t tell muscle from fat, so athletes and people who lift weights can have a BMI in the overweight range while carrying little fat. A waist measurement or a body fat estimate gives a better picture for them.
What BMI counts as obesity?
A BMI of 30 or more. The CDC splits it into class 1 (30 to under 35), class 2 (35 to under 40) and class 3 (40 or more), which is sometimes called severe obesity.
Why are BMI cut-offs lower for some Asian populations?
A WHO expert consultation in 2004 found that in many Asian populations the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease rises at lower BMIs than in European populations. It kept the international categories but added public health action points at 23, 27.5, 32.5 and 37.5.
Can I use this BMI calculator for a child or during pregnancy?
No. Children and teens aged 2 to 19 need BMI-for-age percentiles, which compare them with others of the same sex and age: use the CDC’s child and teen BMI calculator. In pregnancy, weight changes for good reasons, so ask your doctor or midwife instead.
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