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BMI Calculator (Body Mass Index and Healthy Weight Range)

Enter your height and weight. Your BMI (body mass index), your weight category based on the WHO and CDC adult cut-offs, the healthy weight range for your height and more are calculated together.

Enter height in centimeters and weight in kilograms (for example, 170 cm and 65 kg). The category is a guide for adults aged 18 and over, not a diagnosis.
Result
Enter your height and weight in the fields on the left and press "Calculate". The result will appear here.

What you can do on this page

  • Enter your height (feet and inches) and weight (pounds), and get your BMI (body mass index) on the spot. Switch "Units" to Metric to use centimeters and kilograms
  • Your weight category for adults (from underweight to obesity class 3), based on the World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC cut-offs, is shown at the same time
  • It also calculates the healthy weight range for your height, the weight at BMI 22 (near the middle of that range), BMI Prime (BMI ÷ 25) and the ponderal index (weight divided by height cubed)
  • A plain-language explanation of the formulas and copy-and-paste formulas for Excel, Google Sheets and Python are all on this page
BMI and its categories are a guide for adults aged 18 and over, not a medical diagnosis. BMI does not show how much of your weight is muscle and how much is fat (body composition). For children and teens, doctors use BMI-for-age percentiles on growth charts instead of these adult categories. If you have questions about your weight and health, talk to your doctor.

What is this calculation used for?

Understanding your checkup results

BMI is often listed in the results of an annual physical, a workplace health screening or a wellness program. Doctors use it as a quick first check, together with other measures such as waist size and blood tests.
When you know how the BMI number is calculated, you can understand your own results instead of leaving them to others, and discuss any follow-up advice calmly with your doctor.

Setting a weight goal as a range

Before deciding to "lose 10 pounds" with no basis, it helps to know the healthy weight range for your height. For someone who is 5 ft 7 in tall, the weight at BMI 22 is \(22 \times 67^2 \div 703 \approx 140.5\) lb, and the healthy range is about 118.1 to 159.6 lb.
Aiming below the range through extreme dieting is said to harm your health. Checking a goal against this range is a number-based, safe way to think about it.

Knowing the weight gain guideline during pregnancy (health of mother and baby)

How much weight gain is recommended during pregnancy depends on BMI before pregnancy. Under the widely used US guidelines, the recommended total gain is 28 to 40 lb for a pre-pregnancy BMI below 18.5, 25 to 35 lb for 18.5 to 24.9, 15 to 25 lb for 25 to 29.9, and 11 to 20 lb for 30 or more, so the BMI group is the starting point of the advice.
Being able to calculate your pre-pregnancy BMI makes it easier to follow what your doctor or midwife explains (always follow their advice for your own care).

Noticing when weight may be too low

Being underweight (a BMI below 18.5) has been linked to risks such as lower bone density, anemia, irregular periods and a weaker immune system, and in pregnancy to a higher chance of a low-birth-weight baby.
BMI can check not only "Am I carrying too much weight?" but also "Am I too thin?" This is an important use that is easy to overlook.

Understanding life and health insurance applications

When you apply for life insurance, the insurer may use the BMI calculated from the height and weight you report as one reference measure of health risk. If BMI is very high or very low, the policy may be offered on special terms.
Knowing your BMI in advance lets you go through quotes and health questions understanding what the number means.

Formula

BMI (body mass index)
Standard notation (the usual math form)
\(\mathrm{BMI}\) \(=\) \(w\) \(\div\) \(h\) \(2\) \(\times\) \(703\)
In words (symbols replaced with words)
⑤ BMI (body mass index) \(=\) ① \(w\): weight (lb) \(\div\) ② \(h\): height (in) ③ squared \(\times\) ④ conversion factor 703
The formula in words
① Take the \(w\): weight (lb)
② divide it by the \(h\): height (in)
③ squared (the height times itself)
④ multiply by the conversion factor 703
⑤ and you get the BMI (body mass index)
Quick example
For someone who is 5 ft 7 in (67 in) tall and weighs 143 lb, the BMI is
BMI (body mass index) \(=\) weight (143 lb) \(\div\) height (67 in) squared \(\times\) 703
\(143 \div (67 \times 67) \times 703 = 143 \div 4{,}489 \times 703 \approx 22.4\)
Key idea
The most common mistake is the height: it must be in inches only, not feet and inches. 5 ft 7 in is \(5 \times 12 + 7 = 67\) inches (this calculator does the conversion for you). BMI is defined in metric units as weight (kg) ÷ height (m) squared. The number 703 simply converts pounds and inches to kilograms and meters (\(0.45359237 \div 0.0254^2 \approx 703.07\)), so both forms give the same BMI. For adults aged 18 and over, the WHO and the CDC group BMI like this: below 18.5 = underweight; 18.5 to less than 25 = healthy weight; 25 to less than 30 = overweight; 30 or more = obesity, which is divided into class 1 (30 to less than 35), class 2 (35 to less than 40) and class 3 (40 or more). Some countries use lower cut-offs for their own populations; in Japan, for example, a BMI of 25 or more already counts as obesity.
Weight at BMI 22 (near the middle of the healthy range)
Standard notation (the usual math form)
\(w_{22}\) \(=\) \(22\) \(\times\) \(h\) \(2\) \(\div\) \(703\)
In words (symbols replaced with words)
⑤ \(w_{22}\): weight at BMI 22 (lb) \(=\) ① target BMI \(22\) \(\times\) ② \(h\): height (in) ③ squared \(\div\) ④ conversion factor 703
The formula in words
① Take the target BMI \(22\)
② multiply it by the \(h\): height (in)
③ squared (the height times itself)
④ divide it by the conversion factor 703
⑤ and you get the \(w_{22}\): weight at BMI 22 (lb)
Quick example
For someone who is 5 ft 7 in (67 in) tall, the weight at BMI 22 is
weight at BMI 22 (lb) \(=\) target BMI (22) \(\times\) height (67 in) squared \(\div\) 703
\(22 \times 67 \times 67 \div 703 = 98{,}758 \div 703 \approx 140.5\ \mathrm{lb}\)
Key idea
Why 22? It is close to the middle of the healthy range from 18.5 to 25 (the exact middle is 21.75). In Japan, the weight at BMI 22 is called the "standard weight", because Japanese studies found that people with a BMI of around 22 had the least illness, and some doctors in other countries also use 22 × height squared as an "ideal body weight" formula. Solving the BMI formula for weight gives "weight = BMI × height squared ÷ 703", so putting in 22 for BMI gives this weight. It is only a guide based on statistics, not a weight you must reach.
Healthy weight range (BMI 18.5 to 25)
Standard notation (the usual math form)
\(w_{\mathrm{min}}\) \(=\) \(18.5\) \(\times\) \(h\) \(2\) \(\div\) \(703\)
\(w_{\mathrm{max}}\) \(=\) \(25\) \(\times\) \(h\) \(2\) \(\div\) \(703\)
In words (symbols replaced with words)
⑤ \(w_{\mathrm{min}}\): low end of the range (lb) \(=\) ① lowest healthy BMI \(18.5\) \(\times\) ② \(h\): height (in) ③ squared \(\div\) ④ conversion factor 703
⑦ \(w_{\mathrm{max}}\): high end of the range (lb) \(=\) ⑥ upper limit of healthy BMI \(25\) \(\times\) \(h\): height (in) squared \(\div\) conversion factor 703
The formula in words
① Take the lowest healthy BMI \(18.5\)
② multiply it by the \(h\): height (in)
③ squared (the height times itself)
④ divide it by the conversion factor 703
⑤ and you get the \(w_{\mathrm{min}}\): low end of the range (lb)
⑥ Do the same calculation with the upper limit of healthy BMI \(25\)
⑦ and you get the \(w_{\mathrm{max}}\): high end of the range (lb)
Quick example
For someone who is 5 ft 7 in (67 in) tall, the weight range for a healthy BMI (18.5 to less than 25) is
low end (lb) \(=\) lowest BMI (18.5) \(\times\) height (67 in) squared \(\div\) 703
high end (lb) \(=\) upper BMI (25) \(\times\) height (67 in) squared \(\div\) 703
\(18.5 \times 67 \times 67 \div 703 = 83{,}046.5 \div 703 \approx 118.1\ \mathrm{lb}\)
\(25 \times 67 \times 67 \div 703 = 112{,}225 \div 703 \approx 159.6\ \mathrm{lb}\)
Key idea
This is the same "weight = BMI × height squared ÷ 703" as the formula above, with the lowest healthy BMI (18.5) and the upper limit (25) put in. For a height of 5 ft 7 in, the range runs from about 118 lb to about 160 lb, which shows how wide it is. Being inside the healthy weight range is not the same as being healthy. Use the range only as a statistical guide.
BMI Prime (ratio to the upper limit of the healthy range)
Standard notation (the usual math form)
\(\mathrm{BMI}'\) \(=\) \(\mathrm{BMI}\) \(\div\) \(25\)
In words (symbols replaced with words)
③ BMI Prime \(=\) ① BMI (body mass index) \(\div\) ② upper limit of healthy BMI \(25\)
The formula in words
① Take the BMI (body mass index)
② divide it by the upper limit of healthy BMI \(25\)
③ and you get the BMI Prime
Quick example
For someone with a BMI of 22.4, the BMI Prime is
BMI Prime \(=\) BMI (22.4) \(\div\) upper BMI (25)
\(22.4 \div 25 = 0.896 \approx 0.90\)
Key idea
BMI Prime shows your BMI as a ratio to 25, the upper limit of the healthy range. Exactly 1 means you are right at the limit, more than 1 means above it, and 0.9 means 90% of the limit. It is an extra measure that shows at a glance how far you are from the upper limit. It appears in some research papers, but it is rarely used at routine checkups.
Ponderal index (weight divided by height cubed)
Standard notation (the usual math form)
\(\mathrm{PI}\) \(=\) \(w\) \(\div\) \(h\) \(3\)
In words (symbols replaced with words)
④ \(\mathrm{PI}\): ponderal index \(=\) ① \(w\): weight (kg) \(\div\) ② \(h\): height (m) ③ cubed
The formula in words
① Take the \(w\): weight (kg)
② divide it by the \(h\): height (m)
③ cubed (the height times itself three times)
④ and you get the \(\mathrm{PI}\): ponderal index
Quick example
The ponderal index is normally given in kg/m³, so convert first. For 5 ft 7 in (about 1.70 m) and 143 lb (about 64.9 kg), the ponderal index is
ponderal index \(=\) weight (64.9 kg) \(\div\) height (1.70 m) cubed
\(64.9 \div (1.70 \times 1.70 \times 1.70) = 64.9 \div 4.913 \approx 13.2\)
Key idea
BMI (dividing by height squared) is said to make very tall people look heavier than they are and very short people look lighter. The ponderal index divides by height cubed instead, to correct for this effect of body size. To convert, 1 in = 0.0254 m and 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. A close relative is Rohrer's index (weight in kg ÷ height in cm cubed × 10 to the 7th power), which is used for school-age children in some countries such as Japan. In the United States, children's weight is usually checked with BMI-for-age percentiles on CDC growth charts.
BMI is weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared, or 703 × weight (lb) ÷ height (in) squared in US units. It is the international yardstick for weight relative to height. For adults, a BMI of 18.5 to less than 25 is the healthy range, and BMI 22 falls near its middle. It does not reflect personal differences such as muscle mass, so treat it as a statistical guide only.

Symbols and terms

Symbols

\(\mathrm{BMI}\) B-M-I Short for body mass index. Weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared, or 703 × weight (lb) ÷ height (in) squared. It is used around the world as a guide to weight relative to height.
\(w\) double-u Weight (lb in the BMI formulas, kg in the ponderal index). It is the first letter of "weight".
\(h\) aitch Height (inches in the BMI formulas, meters in the ponderal index). It is the first letter of "height". Use inches only, not feet and inches (5 ft 7 in → 67).
\(h^{2}\) aitch squared Height multiplied by itself. The small raised 2 is an exponent meaning "multiply two of them together". (Example - \(67^2 = 67 \times 67 = 4{,}489\))
\(w_{22}\) double-u sub twenty-two The symbol used on this page for the weight at which BMI is exactly 22.
\(w_{\mathrm{min}},\ w_{\mathrm{max}}\) double-u min, double-u max The symbols used on this page for the low end (BMI 18.5) and high end (BMI 25) of the healthy weight range.
\(\mathrm{PI}\) P-I Ponderal index. Weight (kg) divided by height (m) cubed.

Terms

body mass index The full name of BMI. It compares weight with height and is also called the Quetelet index, after the Belgian scientist who first described it in the 1830s.
BMI category The groups adults are placed in by BMI. The WHO and CDC groups are - below 18.5 underweight, 18.5 to less than 25 healthy weight, 25 to less than 30 overweight, and 30 or more obesity (class 1 from 30, class 2 from 35, class 3 from 40). Some countries use stricter cut-offs; Japan, for example, counts 25 or more as obesity.
healthy weight range The range of weights that gives a BMI from 18.5 to less than 25 for your height. It is a guide based on statistics, not a target you must hit.
BMI Prime BMI divided by 25, the upper limit of the healthy range. Above 1 means above the limit; below 1 shows what fraction of the limit you are at.
ponderal index Weight (kg) divided by height (m) cubed. It aims to correct the distortion BMI tends to show for very tall or very short people.
BMI-for-age percentile How children and teens (ages 2 to 19) are checked in the United States. The BMI is calculated the same way, then compared with other children of the same age and sex on CDC growth charts, because healthy BMI changes as children grow.
Rohrer's index An index used for school-age children in some countries, such as Japan. It is weight (kg) ÷ height (cm) cubed × 10 to the 7th power, the same "divide by height cubed" idea as the ponderal index.

Good to know before you start

Here is what helps you use the calculation on this page with real understanding, not just by pressing the button.

Converting feet and inches (Grade 4)
  • Knowing that 1 foot = 12 inches, and being able to rewrite 5 ft 7 in as 67 inches
Multiplying and dividing with decimals (Grades 5–6)
  • Being able to multiply numbers such as \(67 \times 67 = 4{,}489\) and \(1.70 \times 1.70 = 2.89\)
  • Being able to do a division such as \(100{,}529 \div 4{,}489\) by hand or with a calculator
Exponents (Grade 6)
  • Knowing that \(h^2\) (squared) means multiplying two of the same number together and \(h^3\) (cubed) means three
Ratios and inequalities (Grade 6)
  • Being able to find "what fraction of 25 is 20" with a division such as \(20 \div 25 = 0.8\) (the idea behind BMI Prime)
  • Knowing what "or more" and "less than" mean, and deciding which group a boundary value belongs to (for example, a BMI of exactly 25 is in the overweight group)

How to calculate it in Excel

Copy the whole table below and paste it into cell A1 in Excel. It works as is.
Table to find the BMI
Height (ft) 5
Height (in) 7
Weight (lb) 143
BMI =703*B3/(B1*12+B2)^2
Table to find the weight at BMI 22
Height (ft) 5
Height (in) 7
Weight at BMI 22 (lb) =22*(B1*12+B2)^2/703
Table to find the healthy weight range
Height (ft) 5
Height (in) 7
Low end (lb, BMI 18.5) =18.5*(B1*12+B2)^2/703
High end (lb, BMI 25) =25*(B1*12+B2)^2/703
Table to find BMI Prime
BMI 22.4
BMI Prime =B1/25
Table to find the ponderal index
Height (ft) 5
Height (in) 7
Weight (lb) 143
Ponderal index (kg/m³) =(B3*0.45359237)/((B1*12+B2)*0.0254)^3
After pasting, the upper rows are your inputs and the formula in the last row is calculated automatically.
"B1*12+B2" turns feet and inches into inches only, and "^" is the exponent symbol (how many times to multiply). "=703*B3/(B1*12+B2)^2" means "703 times the weight, divided by the height in inches squared". In the last table, 0.45359237 and 0.0254 convert pounds to kilograms and inches to meters.
In the first table, for example, B4 shows about 22.39 (a BMI of about 22.4). Just replace the height and weight with your own numbers.

How to calculate it in Google Sheets

Copy the whole table below and paste it into cell A1 in Google Sheets. It works as is.
Table to find the BMI
Height (ft) 5
Height (in) 7
Weight (lb) 143
BMI =703*B3/(B1*12+B2)^2
Table to find the weight at BMI 22
Height (ft) 5
Height (in) 7
Weight at BMI 22 (lb) =22*(B1*12+B2)^2/703
Table to find the healthy weight range
Height (ft) 5
Height (in) 7
Low end (lb, BMI 18.5) =18.5*(B1*12+B2)^2/703
High end (lb, BMI 25) =25*(B1*12+B2)^2/703
Table to find BMI Prime
BMI 22.4
BMI Prime =B1/25
Table to find the ponderal index
Height (ft) 5
Height (in) 7
Weight (lb) 143
Ponderal index (kg/m³) =(B3*0.45359237)/((B1*12+B2)*0.0254)^3
The same formulas as in Excel work as is. Copy the whole table, paste it into cell A1, and replace the height and weight with your own numbers.

How to calculate it in Python

height_ft = 5      # height (feet)
height_in = 7      # height (inches)
weight_lb = 143    # weight (pounds)

height_total_in = height_ft * 12 + height_in           # height in inches only
bmi = 703 * weight_lb / height_total_in ** 2           # BMI (body mass index)
weight_bmi22 = 22 * height_total_in ** 2 / 703         # weight at BMI 22
healthy_min = 18.5 * height_total_in ** 2 / 703        # low end of the healthy range
healthy_max = 25 * height_total_in ** 2 / 703          # high end of the healthy range
bmi_prime = bmi / 25                                   # BMI Prime
weight_kg = weight_lb * 0.45359237                     # lb -> kg
height_m = height_total_in * 0.0254                    # in -> m
ponderal_index = weight_kg / height_m ** 3             # ponderal index (kg/m3)

print(f"BMI: {round(bmi, 1)}")
print(f"Weight at BMI 22: {round(weight_bmi22, 1)} lb")
print(f"Healthy weight range: {round(healthy_min, 1)} - {round(healthy_max, 1)} lb")
print(f"BMI Prime: {round(bmi_prime, 2)}")
print(f"Ponderal index: {round(ponderal_index, 1)} kg/m3")
Runs with the standard library only. "**" is the exponent symbol (squared, cubed). Change the height and weight at the top and run it.

How to write it in LaTeX and other math languages (copy and paste)

BMI (body mass index)
BMI = w ÷ h² × 703
\mathrm{BMI} = \dfrac{w}{h^{2}} \times 703
<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block">
  <mrow>
    <mi>BMI</mi>
    <mo>=</mo>
    <mfrac>
      <mi>w</mi>
      <msup><mi>h</mi><mn>2</mn></msup>
    </mfrac>
    <mo>&#xD7;</mo>
    <mn>703</mn>
  </mrow>
</math>
BMI = w / h^2 xx 703
w/h^2*703
BMI := w/h^2*703;
bmi = w/h^2*703;
BMI = w/h^2 × 703
Weight at BMI 22 (near the middle of the healthy range)
w₂₂ = 22 × h² ÷ 703
w_{22} = \dfrac{22 \times h^{2}}{703}
<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block">
  <mrow>
    <msub><mi>w</mi><mn>22</mn></msub>
    <mo>=</mo>
    <mfrac>
      <mrow><mn>22</mn><mo>&#xD7;</mo><msup><mi>h</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow>
      <mn>703</mn>
    </mfrac>
  </mrow>
</math>
w_(22) = (22 xx h^2) / 703
22*h^2/703
w22 := 22*h^2/703;
w22 = 22*h^2/703;
w_22 = (22 × h^2)/703
Healthy weight range (BMI 18.5 to 25)
wmin = 18.5 × h² ÷ 703, wmax = 25 × h² ÷ 703
w_{\mathrm{min}} = \dfrac{18.5 \times h^{2}}{703}, \quad w_{\mathrm{max}} = \dfrac{25 \times h^{2}}{703}
<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block">
  <mrow>
    <msub><mi>w</mi><mi>min</mi></msub>
    <mo>=</mo>
    <mfrac>
      <mrow><mn>18.5</mn><mo>&#xD7;</mo><msup><mi>h</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow>
      <mn>703</mn>
    </mfrac>
    <mo>,</mo>
    <msub><mi>w</mi><mi>max</mi></msub>
    <mo>=</mo>
    <mfrac>
      <mrow><mn>25</mn><mo>&#xD7;</mo><msup><mi>h</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow>
      <mn>703</mn>
    </mfrac>
  </mrow>
</math>
w_(min) = (18.5 xx h^2) / 703, w_(max) = (25 xx h^2) / 703
{18.5*h^2/703, 25*h^2/703}
wmin := 18.5*h^2/703; wmax := 25*h^2/703;
w_min = 18.5*h^2/703; w_max = 25*h^2/703;
w_min = (18.5 × h^2)/703, w_max = (25 × h^2)/703
BMI Prime (ratio to the upper limit of the healthy range)
BMI′ = BMI ÷ 25
\mathrm{BMI}' = \dfrac{\mathrm{BMI}}{25}
<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block">
  <mrow>
    <msup><mi>BMI</mi><mo>&#x2032;</mo></msup>
    <mo>=</mo>
    <mfrac>
      <mi>BMI</mi>
      <mn>25</mn>
    </mfrac>
  </mrow>
</math>
"BMI Prime" = "BMI"/25
bmi/25
bmiPrime := bmi/25;
bmi_prime = bmi/25;
BMI Prime = BMI/25
Ponderal index (weight divided by height cubed)
PI = w ÷ h³
\mathrm{PI} = \dfrac{w}{h^{3}}
<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block">
  <mrow>
    <mi>PI</mi>
    <mo>=</mo>
    <mfrac>
      <mi>w</mi>
      <msup><mi>h</mi><mn>3</mn></msup>
    </mfrac>
  </mrow>
</math>
PI = w / h^3
w/h^3
ponderal := w/h^3;
pi_index = w/h^3;
PI = w/h^3

How to have ChatGPT  do the calculation

You are a calculation assistant for health measures. Do the following calculation by actually running Python code, and base your answer only on the numbers from the execution result (do not answer by mental math or guessing).

For an adult who is 5 ft 7 in tall and weighs 143 lb, find each of the following:
1. BMI (703 × weight in lb ÷ height in inches squared; convert the height to inches first)
2. The weight category using the WHO and CDC adult cut-offs (below 18.5 = underweight, 18.5 to less than 25 = healthy weight, 25 to less than 30 = overweight, 30 to less than 35 = obesity class 1, 35 to less than 40 = obesity class 2, 40 or more = obesity class 3)
3. The weight at BMI 22 (22 × height in inches squared ÷ 703)
4. The healthy weight range (18.5 × height in inches squared ÷ 703 to 25 × height in inches squared ÷ 703)
5. BMI Prime (BMI ÷ 25) and the ponderal index (weight in kg ÷ height in m cubed; 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg, 1 in = 0.0254 m)

Show the formulas you used and the numbers from the execution result. Also add a note that this is a statistical guide, not a medical diagnosis.

How to Use
  1. 1
    Enter your numbers
    Type the numbers you want to calculate with into the input fields
  2. 2
    Calculate
    Press the "Calculate" button
  3. 3
    Check the result
    The result appears on the spot. The same page also explains the idea behind the calculation and the formula
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