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BMI Calculator

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if you are underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

Enter Your Measurements

cm
kg

BMI Scale

UnderweightBMI < 18.5
Normal weight18.5 ≤ BMI < 25
Overweight25 ≤ BMI < 30
ObeseBMI ≥ 30

BMI Limitations

  • Does not account for muscle mass
  • Does not consider age differences
  • Does not account for gender differences
  • May not be accurate for all ethnic groups

Body Mass Index is a quick screening number that compares your weight to your height. Enter your height and weight in metric or imperial units and the calculator returns your BMI and the standard category it falls into. It is the same formula used by the World Health Organization and most national health services.

BMI is a starting point, not a diagnosis. It does not measure body fat directly and does not distinguish muscle from fat, so very muscular people can read as "overweight" while the number can understate risk for others. Use it alongside measurements like waist circumference and advice from a health professional.

BMI formula

BMI is weight divided by height squared. The imperial version multiplies by 703 to convert units.

  • Metric: BMI = weight(kg) ÷ height(m)²
  • Imperial: BMI = 703 × weight(lb) ÷ height(in)²
  • Underweight = below 18.5
  • Healthy weight = 18.5 to 24.9
  • Overweight = 25 to 29.9
  • Obese = 30 and above

Worked examples

1.75 m tall, 70 kg

Height squared: 1.75 × 1.75 = 3.0625. BMI = 70 ÷ 3.0625 = 22.9 — within the healthy range.

5 ft 9 in tall, 185 lb

Height in inches: 69. Height squared: 4761. BMI = 703 × 185 ÷ 4761 = 27.3 — in the overweight range.

1.60 m tall, 45 kg

BMI = 45 ÷ (1.6 × 1.6) = 45 ÷ 2.56 = 17.6 — below 18.5, so the underweight category.

Same weight, more muscle

A 1.80 m athlete at 90 kg has a BMI of 27.8. The formula cannot tell that the extra weight is muscle, which is why BMI is only a screening tool.

When BMI is useful

  • A fast, free first check of whether your weight is in a healthy range for your height
  • Tracking a trend over months as you gain or lose weight
  • Population-level health studies and public-health targets
  • Pre-screening before a medical appointment or insurance assessment
  • Setting a rough goal weight range for a given height

How to use the calculator

  1. Choose metric (cm/kg) or imperial (ft-in/lb) units.
  2. Enter your height.
  3. Enter your weight.
  4. Read your BMI value and the category band it falls into.
  5. Treat the result as a prompt for a conversation with a doctor, not a verdict.

Frequently asked questions

What is a healthy BMI?

For most adults, 18.5 to 24.9 is classed as a healthy weight. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obese.

How do I calculate BMI by hand?

In metric, divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. In imperial, multiply your weight in pounds by 703 and divide by your height in inches squared.

Is BMI accurate for athletes?

Not very. Muscle is denser than fat, so people with a lot of muscle often have a high BMI despite low body fat. Body-composition methods are better for them.

Does BMI work for children?

Not directly. Children and teenagers are assessed with age- and sex-specific BMI percentile charts rather than the fixed adult categories.

Does BMI differ for men and women?

The formula and adult cut-offs are the same for both, though women on average carry more body fat at the same BMI. Some populations use lower cut-offs — for example 23 for overweight in many Asian guidelines.

Why is waist measurement also recommended?

Where you carry weight matters. A large waist relative to your height signals more abdominal fat and higher risk even when BMI looks normal.

Is my height and weight data private?

Yes. The calculation happens entirely in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.

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