Quick lookup
BMI ranges for common heights (healthy weight range, 18.5 – 24.9 BMI)
Quick reference for the weight range associated with a 'normal' BMI at each height. Adult ranges only. Use as a screening starting point, not a target.
| Height | Healthy lb | Healthy kg | Overweight at | Obese at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 97 – 127 | 44 – 58 | 128 lb / 58 kg | 153 lb / 70 kg |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 104 – 135 | 47 – 61 | 136 lb / 62 kg | 164 lb / 74 kg |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 110 – 144 | 50 – 65 | 145 lb / 66 kg | 175 lb / 79 kg |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 118 – 154 | 53 – 70 | 155 lb / 70 kg | 186 lb / 84 kg |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 125 – 163 | 57 – 74 | 164 lb / 74 kg | 197 lb / 89 kg |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 132 – 173 | 60 – 78 | 174 lb / 79 kg | 209 lb / 95 kg |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 140 – 183 | 63 – 83 | 184 lb / 84 kg | 221 lb / 100 kg |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 148 – 193 | 67 – 88 | 194 lb / 88 kg | 233 lb / 106 kg |
These ranges apply to adults 20 and over. Athletes with significant muscle mass often fall above the 'overweight' BMI line without elevated body fat — BMI does not distinguish muscle from fat.
The basics
What is Body Mass Index?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a single number that compares your weight to your height. It was developed in the 1830s by Belgian statistician Adolphe Quetelet as a way to study populations, then adopted in the 1970s as an individual screening tool by physiologist Ancel Keys. BMI is widely used because it is cheap, fast, and reasonably correlated with body fat at the population level.
BMI is calculated as weight ÷ height². Metric: kg ÷ m². Imperial: (lb × 703) ÷ in². The result puts you into one of six categories ranging from underweight to severely obese.
Reading your result
The BMI categories
Underweight (under 18.5)
May indicate insufficient body mass. Risk for nutrient deficiency, weakened immune system, osteoporosis later in life.
Normal weight (18.5 – 24.9)
Associated with lowest health risk for most adults. Maintain through balanced eating and regular activity.
Overweight (25 – 29.9)
Modestly elevated risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea. A 5-10% weight loss meaningfully reduces these risks.
Obese Class I (30 – 34.9)
Significantly elevated risk. Lifestyle interventions are typically first-line, with medical support recommended.
Obese Class II (35 – 39.9)
High risk. Professional medical guidance is recommended; some patients are candidates for medications or bariatric procedures.
Obese Class III (40+)
Highest risk. Comprehensive medical care is typically warranted. Bariatric surgery is one effective option discussed with a specialist.
Important caveats
The limits of BMI
BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis
Where BMI works well
- Population-level studies (where individual variation averages out)
- Tracking your own weight changes over time at a constant body composition
- Quick screening when paired with waist circumference and lifestyle context
Where BMI fails
- Athletes with high muscle mass (often classified 'overweight' or 'obese' despite low body fat)
- Older adults with sarcopenia (muscle loss can hide unhealthy fat gain)
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Children and teens (use BMI-for-age percentiles instead)
- People with very short or very tall statures (the formula's accuracy decreases at extremes)
What to measure alongside BMI
Waist circumference is the single best at-home complement. A waist over 40 inches (men) or 35 inches (women) is associated with elevated metabolic risk independent of BMI. Body fat percentage (via skinfold calipers, bioelectrical impedance, or DEXA scan) gives a more direct measure of composition.
An alternative view
BMI Prime
BMI Prime is your BMI divided by 25 — the upper end of the healthy range. A BMI Prime of 1.0 means you are right at the upper threshold. Numbers under 1.0 are healthy or underweight; over 1.0 indicates overweight or obesity.
BMI Prime is useful because it is dimensionless and works across all height units. It also makes comparisons easier: BMI Prime 1.2 means you are 20% above the upper healthy threshold, regardless of whether you measure in pounds or kilograms.
What the calculator shows
The healthy weight range
The "healthy weight" range shown is the weight that would put your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 at your current height. It is calculated by multiplying those BMI values by your height squared:
min healthy weight = 18.5 × height_m²max healthy weight = 24.9 × height_m²
For a 5'9" (1.75 m) adult: min ≈ 56.7 kg (125 lb), max ≈ 76.3 kg (168 lb). This is the BMI range only. A healthy target weight for you specifically may differ based on body composition, history, and medical context.
Behind the scenes
Privacy and how it runs
No data leaves your device
Common questions
What BMI is considered ideal?
For most adults, a BMI between 20 and 22 is associated with the lowest mortality risk in large studies. The full "normal" range (18.5 – 24.9) is healthy for most people; individual targets within that range depend on body composition and health history.
Can I be metabolically healthy with a high BMI?
Yes — there is a concept called "metabolically healthy obesity" where BMI is in the obese range but blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol are all normal. Studies suggest this is less stable than it sounds: many "metabolically healthy obese" people develop metabolic disease within 10-15 years. Use BMI as one of several signals.
Should I aim for a specific BMI number?
Aim for a BMI in the healthy range (18.5 – 24.9) if you are not already there, and combine that with measures of body composition (waist, body fat %), strength, and cardiovascular fitness. Hitting a specific BMI number is not as meaningful as building sustainable habits.
Why is my BMI different from another calculator?
Two reasons. First, rounding — some calculators round inputs before calculating. Second, the imperial formula constant: the exact value is 703.0696 (lb·in² to kg·m²), but most calculators use 703 even. The difference is well under 0.1 BMI points.
Related calculators
If you're tracking health metrics, these related tools cover the rest of the picture.
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