Healthy weight at a glance
A BMI chart turns the body mass index categories into plain weights for each height, so you can see the healthy range without doing any maths. Find your height, read along the row, and you know where a weight sits: healthy, overweight or in the obesity range.
Enter your height above for an exact range, or use the two charts below. Both use the adult categories from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To work out the BMI for a weight you already know, use the BMI calculator.
How to read your range
- Choose metric or US units and enter your height.
- Read the healthy weight range for that height in the answer.
- Check the other lines for where the underweight, overweight and obesity ranges start.
- For a quick look without typing, find your height in the charts below.
How the ranges are worked out
weight at a given BMI = BMI × (height in metres)²
healthy weight: BMI 18.5 to 24.9
overweight: BMI 25 to 29.9; obesity: BMI 30 and overThe categories come from the CDC's adult BMI categories. Each line of the chart multiplies a BMI by your height squared, then converts to pounds where needed. They are the same for women and men, which is why there is one chart for both.
Worked example: 5 ft 6 in
- Height: 66 inches = 1.676 m, squared = 2.81
- 18.5 × 2.81 = 52 kg, which is 114.6 lb
- 24.9 × 2.81 = 70 kg, which is 154.3 lb
At 5 ft 6 in, a healthy weight is 114.6 lb to 154.3 lb. The overweight range runs from 154.9 lb to 185.3 lb, and the obesity range starts at about 185.9 lb.
BMI chart in pounds
| Height | Healthy (18.5 to 24.9) | Overweight (25 to 29.9) | Obesity (30+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | 89 to 119 lb | 120 to 143 lb | 144 lb and over |
| 5 ft 0 in | 95 to 127 lb | 129 to 153 lb | 154 lb and over |
| 5 ft 2 in | 102 to 136 lb | 137 to 163 lb | 165 lb and over |
| 5 ft 4 in | 108 to 145 lb | 146 to 174 lb | 175 lb and over |
| 5 ft 6 in | 115 to 154 lb | 155 to 185 lb | 186 lb and over |
| 5 ft 8 in | 122 to 163 lb | 165 to 196 lb | 198 lb and over |
| 5 ft 10 in | 129 to 173 lb | 175 to 208 lb | 210 lb and over |
| 6 ft 0 in | 137 to 183 lb | 185 to 220 lb | 222 lb and over |
| 6 ft 2 in | 145 to 193 lb | 195 to 232 lb | 234 lb and over |
| 6 ft 4 in | 152 to 204 lb | 206 to 245 lb | 247 lb and over |
Weights are rounded inwards so the ranges never overlap. That leaves a small gap of a pound or so between some rows, where a weight sits right on the line between two categories.
BMI chart in kilograms
| Height | Healthy (18.5 to 24.9) | Overweight (25 to 29.9) | Obesity (30+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 41.7 to 56.0 kg | 56.3 to 67.2 kg | 67.5 kg and over |
| 155 cm | 44.5 to 59.8 kg | 60.1 to 71.8 kg | 72.1 kg and over |
| 160 cm | 47.4 to 63.7 kg | 64.1 to 76.5 kg | 76.9 kg and over |
| 165 cm | 50.4 to 67.7 kg | 68.1 to 81.4 kg | 81.7 kg and over |
| 170 cm | 53.5 to 71.9 kg | 72.3 to 86.4 kg | 86.7 kg and over |
| 175 cm | 56.7 to 76.2 kg | 76.6 to 91.5 kg | 91.9 kg and over |
| 180 cm | 60.0 to 80.6 kg | 81.0 to 96.8 kg | 97.2 kg and over |
| 185 cm | 63.4 to 85.2 kg | 85.6 to 102.3 kg | 102.7 kg and over |
| 190 cm | 66.8 to 89.8 kg | 90.3 to 107.9 kg | 108.3 kg and over |
BMI is a screening number, not a diagnosis. It cannot tell muscle from fat or show where weight is carried, so a doctor will look at more than this chart.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal BMI?
For adults, a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 is in the healthy weight range, which many people call normal. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is in the obesity range. The charts on this page show what those numbers mean in pounds and kilograms for each height.
Is a BMI of 25 overweight?
Yes. On the CDC categories, a BMI of 25 is the start of the overweight range, which runs to 29.9. A BMI of 24.9 is still healthy weight. The line sits between them, so a small change in weight can move you across it. That is why BMI is best read as a rough guide.
Is the BMI chart different for women?
No. The adult BMI categories are the same for women and men, so one chart covers both. Women tend to carry more body fat than men at the same BMI, which is one of the reasons BMI is treated as a screening tool rather than a full measure of health.
Can I use a BMI chart for children?
Not this one. Children and teenagers are measured against growth charts for their age and sex, and their result is a percentile rather than a fixed category. These charts and the calculator above use the adult categories, which apply from age 20.
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