What is a healthy BMI range?

A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30+ is classified as obese.

Is BMI accurate for athletes?

BMI does not distinguish between muscle and fat mass, so muscular individuals may show an elevated BMI despite having a healthy body composition. Consider using body fat percentage for a more accurate assessment.

How is BMI calculated?

BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared: BMI = kg / m². For pounds and inches: BMI = (weight × 703) / height².

Does BMI differ by age or gender?

The standard BMI formula is the same for all adults. However, interpretation may vary. For children and teens, BMI percentiles adjusted for age and sex are used instead.

BMI Calculator

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) using weight and height. See your BMI category and healthy weight range.

Weight ?

lbs

Height (feet)

Height (inches)

Your BMI

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Category —

Healthy Weight Range —

Distance from Healthy —

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Weight

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Height (feet)

Height (inches)

BMI

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Category —

Healthy Range —

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Weight

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Height (feet)

Height (inches)

Age

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Gender

Ethnicity Adjustment

Waist Circumference ?

BMI Analysis

BMI (Standard) —

WHO Category —

Ethnicity-Adjusted Category —

Advanced Indices

Ponderal Index (kg/m³) —

Body Surface Area (m²) —

Waist-to-Height Ratio —

WHtR Category —

Weight Targets

Ideal Weight Low (BMI 18.5) —

Ideal Weight High (BMI 24.9) —

Weight to Lose for Normal BMI —

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your weight in pounds and your height in feet and inches. The calculator instantly shows your BMI, category, healthy weight range, and how far you are from the healthy range.

Formula

BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)²

Or in imperial: BMI = (weight in lbs × 703) / (height in inches)²

Example

Example: A person weighing 170 lbs at 5'10" (70 inches) has a BMI of (170 × 703) / (70²) = 24.4, which falls in the "Normal weight" category.

Frequently Asked Questions

A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30+ is classified as obese.
BMI does not distinguish between muscle and fat mass, so muscular individuals may show an elevated BMI despite having a healthy body composition. Consider using body fat percentage for a more accurate assessment.
BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared: BMI = kg / m². For pounds and inches: BMI = (weight × 703) / height².
The standard BMI formula is the same for all adults. However, interpretation may vary. For children and teens, BMI percentiles adjusted for age and sex are used instead.

Related Calculators

Sources & References (5) ▾

WHO — Body Mass Index (BMI) Classifications — World Health Organization
NIH/NHLBI — Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults (1998) — NIH / NHLBI
Deurenberg P et al. — Body mass index as a measure of body fatness: age and sex-specific prediction formulas. Br J Nutr. 1991;65(2):105-114 — British Journal of Nutrition
CDC — About Adult BMI — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Keys A et al. — Indices of relative weight and obesity. J Chronic Dis. 1972;25(6-7):329-43 — Journal of Chronic Diseases