Look Up Your BMI by Height and Weight
The tables below let you find your BMI without calculating anything. Find your height in the left column, trace across to your weight, and the number in that cell is your BMI. Then read what it means directly below.
If your exact height or weight is not in the table, use the BMI calculator at the bottom of this page for a precise result.
Table of Contents
- BMI Chart — Metric (kg and cm)
- BMI Chart — Imperial (lbs and ft/in)
- How to Read This Chart
- What Each BMI Range Means for Your Health
- BMI Chart for Women — Key Context
- BMI + Waist Circumference — The Combined Risk Picture
- When to Use the Calculator Instead
- Frequently Asked Questions
BMI Chart — Metric (kg and cm)
Find your height in the left column. Read across to find the weight range for each BMI category.
| Height | Underweight (BMI <18.5) | Healthy Weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) | Overweight (BMI 25–29.9) | Obese (BMI ≥30) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | Under 41.6 kg | 41.6 – 56.2 kg | 56.3 – 67.4 kg | 67.5 kg and above |
| 155 cm | Under 44.4 kg | 44.4 – 59.9 kg | 60.0 – 71.9 kg | 72.0 kg and above |
| 160 cm | Under 47.4 kg | 47.4 – 63.7 kg | 63.8 – 76.7 kg | 76.8 kg and above |
| 165 cm | Under 50.3 kg | 50.3 – 67.9 kg | 68.0 – 81.6 kg | 81.7 kg and above |
| 170 cm | Under 53.5 kg | 53.5 – 72.1 kg | 72.2 – 86.6 kg | 86.7 kg and above |
| 175 cm | Under 56.7 kg | 56.7 – 76.5 kg | 76.6 – 91.8 kg | 91.9 kg and above |
| 180 cm | Under 59.9 kg | 59.9 – 80.8 kg | 80.9 – 97.1 kg | 97.2 kg and above |
| 185 cm | Under 63.3 kg | 63.3 – 85.4 kg | 85.5 – 102.6 kg | 102.7 kg and above |
| 190 cm | Under 66.8 kg | 66.8 – 90.1 kg | 90.2 – 108.2 kg | 108.3 kg and above |
BMI values calculated using the WHO standard formula: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²). Source: WHO BMI Classification; CDC Adult BMI Categories, June 2024.
BMI Chart — Imperial (lbs and ft/in) {#bmi-chart-imperial}
Find your height in the left column. Read across to find the weight range for each BMI category.
| Height | Underweight (BMI <18.5) | Healthy Weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) | Overweight (BMI 25–29.9) | Obese (BMI ≥30) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 11 in | Under 92 lbs | 92 – 123 lbs | 124 – 148 lbs | 149 lbs and above |
| 5 ft 0 in | Under 95 lbs | 95 – 127 lbs | 128 – 153 lbs | 154 lbs and above |
| 5 ft 2 in | Under 101 lbs | 101 – 136 lbs | 137 – 164 lbs | 165 lbs and above |
| 5 ft 4 in | Under 108 lbs | 108 – 145 lbs | 146 – 174 lbs | 175 lbs and above |
| 5 ft 6 in | Under 115 lbs | 115 – 154 lbs | 155 – 185 lbs | 186 lbs and above |
| 5 ft 8 in | Under 122 lbs | 122 – 164 lbs | 165 – 197 lbs | 198 lbs and above |
| 5 ft 10 in | Under 129 lbs | 129 – 174 lbs | 175 – 209 lbs | 210 lbs and above |
| 6 ft 0 in | Under 136 lbs | 136 – 184 lbs | 185 – 221 lbs | 222 lbs and above |
| 6 ft 2 in | Under 144 lbs | 144 – 195 lbs | 196 – 233 lbs | 234 lbs and above |
BMI values calculated using the NIH imperial formula: BMI = (weight in lbs ÷ height² in inches) × 703. Source: NIH Clinical Guidelines on Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults; American Heart Association, April 2026.
How to Read This Chart {#how-to-read}
Reading a BMI chart is straightforward once you know which column your height is in. Here is how:
Step 1: Find your height in the leftmost column. If your exact height is not listed, use the row closest to yours, or scroll to the bottom of this page and use the calculator for a precise result.
Step 2: Read across that row to find the weight range in each column.
Step 3: Find which column your weight falls into. The column heading is your BMI category.
Step 4: Read the section below — “What Each BMI Range Means for Your Health” — to understand what your category means in practical terms.
One thing to keep in mind: these tables show you which BMI category your weight falls into, not your exact BMI number. Your precise BMI — to one or two decimal places — comes from the calculator. If you are close to a category boundary, use the calculator to see exactly where you land.
What Each BMI Range Means for Your Health {#what-each-range-means}
Underweight — BMI below 18.5
Being underweight is associated with reduced bone density, weakened immune function, hormonal disruption, and in some cases malnutrition. For women specifically, being significantly underweight can disrupt menstrual cycles and accelerate bone density loss over time. If you are underweight without explanation, a GP visit and basic blood panel is a sensible first step.
Healthy Weight — BMI 18.5 to 24.9
This range is associated with the lowest overall risk of weight-related disease for most adults. It is the target range used in clinical guidelines from the WHO, CDC, NIH, and American Heart Association. If your weight falls here, the most useful action is to note the number and track it every 3–6 months — trends over time are more meaningful than any single reading.
Overweight — BMI 25 to 29.9
A BMI in this range indicates mildly elevated risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Research from the NIH and NHLBI consistently shows that losing 5–10% of body weight produces clinically meaningful improvements in blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol — even without reaching the healthy weight range. A waist circumference measurement adds important context here: a waist above 35 inches (88 cm) for women or 40 inches (102 cm) for men signals elevated cardiovascular risk regardless of BMI category.
Obese — BMI 30 and above
Obesity is classified into three levels by the WHO and CDC:
| Class | BMI Range | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | 30.0 – 34.9 | High |
| Class II | 35.0 – 39.9 | Very High |
| Class III | 40.0 and above | Extremely High |
A BMI of 30 or above is independently associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, certain cancers, and joint disease. In 2021, higher-than-optimal BMI was estimated to have contributed to 3.7 million deaths globally from noncommunicable diseases. (WHO Obesity and Overweight Fact Sheet, December 2025)
Importantly, obesity classification is evolving. A December 2025 study published in JAMA Network Open, drawing on nationally representative data from over 14,000 Americans, found that when waist circumference is added to BMI criteria, approximately 75% of US adults meet the criteria for obesity — compared to 40% using BMI alone. The study’s lead author, Yale Medicine cardiologist Dr. Kamil Faridi, noted that “factors such as an expanded waistline are associated with increased risk for poor health outcomes” in ways that BMI alone does not capture. This does not mean BMI is broken — it means it is one screening tool in a larger picture.
BMI Chart for Women — Key Context {#bmi-chart-women}
The BMI chart thresholds are the same for men and women. But there are two important adjustments that apply specifically to women.
Women of Asian descent: The standard healthy weight cut-off of 25 does not apply equally. The WHO recommends lower thresholds for East and South Asian populations: overweight begins at BMI 23 (not 25), and obesity at BMI 27.5 (not 30). For Asian women, waist circumference thresholds are also lower — elevated metabolic risk begins at a waist above 80 cm (31.5 inches), compared to 88 cm (35 inches) for non-Asian women. (StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf, updated September 2025)
Women over 40 and postmenopausal women: As oestrogen declines during perimenopause and menopause, fat that was previously stored in the hips and thighs redistributes to the abdomen. A woman can gain significant visceral abdominal fat during this period without any change in her scale weight or her BMI category. For women over 40, waist circumference becomes an essential companion to the BMI chart — not a replacement for it.
The full women-specific guide, including a BMI-by-age reference table and guidance on how hormones affect BMI interpretation across the lifespan, is on the BMI Calculator for Women page.
BMI + Waist Circumference — The Combined Risk Picture {#combined-risk}
One of the most clinically useful things you can do alongside reading your BMI from this chart is measure your waist. Used together, BMI and waist circumference predict health risk more accurately than either measurement alone.
The NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute publishes a combined disease risk table:
| BMI Category | Waist within threshold | Waist above threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Weight (18.5–24.9) | Low risk | Increased risk |
| Overweight (25–29.9) | Increased risk | High risk |
| Obese Class I (30–34.9) | High risk | Very high risk |
| Obese Class II (35–39.9) | Very high risk | Very high risk |
| Obese Class III (40+) | Extremely high risk | Extremely high risk |
Waist threshold: above 40 inches / 102 cm for men; above 35 inches / 88 cm for women. For people of Asian descent: above 35.4 inches / 90 cm for men; above 31.5 inches / 80 cm for women. Source: NIH NHLBI Clinical Guidelines; StatPearls, September 2025.
The most important row in this table is the second one. A person with a BMI in the healthy weight range but a waist above the threshold moves from low to increased risk — entirely because of where their weight is distributed, not how much they weigh. This is the scenario clinicians call normal-weight obesity, and it is more common than most people expect.
How to measure your waist correctly: stand upright, breathe out naturally, and place a tape measure halfway between the bottom of your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone. Do not pull your stomach in. Read the measurement in the morning before eating for the most consistent result.
When to Use the Calculator Instead {#use-calculator}
This chart covers the most common height ranges but is not exhaustive. Use the calculator below if:
- Your height falls between two rows in the table
- You want your precise BMI number to one decimal place
- You are close to a category boundary and need to know exactly which side you are on
- You want to track a specific number over time rather than a category range
[EMBED BMI CALCULATOR TOOL HERE — positioned directly below this section. Include a one-line prompt: “Don’t see your exact height or weight in the table above? The calculator gives you a precise result in seconds.”]
Frequently Asked Questions {#faq}
What BMI is considered a healthy weight?
For most adults aged 20 and over, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is classified as a healthy weight by the WHO and CDC. For people of Asian descent, the upper end of the healthy range is lower — overweight begins at 23, per WHO adjusted thresholds. For adults over 65, a BMI at the higher end of this range (23–27) may be associated with lower frailty risk.
Is the BMI chart the same for men and women?
Yes — the chart uses the same thresholds for all adults. However, the health implications of a given BMI number differ between men and women because of differences in body composition, hormones, and fat distribution. A dedicated women’s guide with age-specific context is available on the BMI Calculator for Women page.
What weight should I be for my height?
The tables above show the weight ranges associated with each BMI category for your height. The healthy weight column gives you the range associated with the lowest overall health risk for most adults. Keep in mind this is a general reference — individual factors including muscle mass, age, ethnicity, and body fat distribution all affect how a given weight relates to your personal health.
My BMI is in the healthy range but my waist is large — should I be concerned?
Yes — this is worth paying attention to. A normal BMI combined with an elevated waist circumference (above 35 inches / 88 cm for women, above 40 inches / 102 cm for men) signals likely visceral fat accumulation, which carries cardiovascular and metabolic risk independent of total weight. The NIH combined risk table above shows this clearly. Mention it to your GP at your next visit.
Does BMI change as you get older?
The formula does not change for adults over 20, but the health meaning of a given number does. Older adults naturally lose muscle mass and gain fat even without weight changes, meaning a BMI that appears healthy may represent a less healthy body composition at 65 than at 35. Adults over 65 should not interpret the standard chart thresholds as rigidly as younger adults. The BMI Calculator by Age page covers age-specific interpretation in full.
How accurate is a BMI chart?
The weight ranges in this chart are mathematically precise — they are calculated directly from the WHO and NIH standard BMI formula with no rounding beyond one decimal place. The question of accuracy applies to whether BMI itself is a reliable indicator of health, which depends on the individual. For most average-build, non-athlete adults, it is a useful screening reference. For athletes, very muscular people, people of Asian descent, and adults over 65, the numbers need additional context. The main BMI Calculator page covers these limitations in full.
Related Tools and Guides
- BMI Calculator — calculate your precise BMI and read a full explanation of what every number means
- BMI Calculator for Women — women-specific BMI context including hormones, age groups, and waist circumference guidance
- BMI Calculator for Men — why BMI can mislead men with significant muscle mass, and what to use instead
- Body Fat Calculator — estimate your body fat percentage using the Navy Method, with separate healthy ranges for men and women
- BMI Calculator by Age — specific BMI guidance for children, teenagers, and adults over 65
Sources
- WHO — BMI Classification and Obesity Classification: who.int
- CDC — Adult BMI Categories (June 2024): cdc.gov/bmi
- American Heart Association — Body Mass Index in Adults (April 2026): heart.org
- NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute — Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: nhlbi.nih.gov
- WHO — Obesity and Overweight Fact Sheet (December 2025): who.int
- StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf — Secondary Causes of Obesity and Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation (updated September 2025): ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Faridi K et al. — “What Does the New Definition of Obesity Mean to You?” JAMA Network Open, December 2025. Reported by Yale Medicine
Last updated: [5/528/2026] | Reviewed by: [DR TANZEELA]