BMI Calculator

Body mass index, or BMI, compares your weight with your height. It's the quick check doctors use to see whether your weight is in a healthy range. Enter your height and weight to see your BMI, what it means, and the weight range that's healthy for your height.

FreeAsian cut-offskg or lbs
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BMI ranges to use

Pick Asian if your family is from South Asia (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh), East or Southeast Asia. Health risks start at a lower BMI for these groups.

Your BMI

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Healthy
  • Healthy weight for your height0
  • To reach the healthy range0
  • BMI Prime0

BMI chart for adults

These are the ranges this calculator uses. Your current category is highlighted, and switching to Asian ranges above updates the table.

CategoryStandard (WHO)Asian

Sources: World Health Organization BMI classification; WHO Expert Consultation on BMI in Asian populations (The Lancet, 2004).

What is BMI?

BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. So someone who weighs 72 kg and is 1.70 m tall has a BMI of 72 ÷ (1.70 × 1.70), which is about 24.9.

It was never meant to measure body fat directly. It's a quick screening number that works well across large groups of people, which is why doctors still use it as a first check before looking at anything else.

What BMI doesn't tell you

  • Muscle and fat weigh the same on a scale. A rugby player and a desk worker of the same height and weight get the same BMI.
  • It ignores where you carry weight. Fat around the belly is linked to more health problems than fat on the hips and thighs.
  • Age changes things. Older adults lose muscle, so a "healthy" BMI can hide extra body fat.
  • Check your waist too. As a rough guide, try to keep your waist under half your height. At 170 cm, that's under 85 cm.

BMI questions

What is a healthy BMI?

For most adults, a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. For people of South Asian, Chinese and other Asian backgrounds, health risks start to rise at a lower BMI, so a range of 18.5 to 22.9 is often used instead.

Is BMI accurate?

BMI is a quick screening number, not a diagnosis. It doesn't know how much of your weight is muscle or fat, or where you carry it. Very muscular people can show as overweight, and older adults can show as healthy while carrying extra fat. Waist size is a useful second check.

Why are there different BMI ranges for Asian people?

Research reviewed by the World Health Organization found that many Asian populations develop type 2 diabetes and heart disease at a lower BMI than European populations. That's why lower cut-offs, 23 for overweight and 27.5 for obesity, are often used for public health in Asia.

Can I use this BMI calculator for children?

No. Children and teens need a BMI-for-age percentile chart, because their bodies change as they grow. This calculator is for adults aged 18 and over.

How do I lower my BMI?

BMI only changes when your weight changes. A small, steady calorie deficit of around 300 to 500 calories a day, along with regular movement, is the most reliable way. Our calorie calculator can give you a daily target for that.

Want to move into a healthier range? Get a daily calorie target that gets you there at a safe pace.

Open the calorie calculator