What is a healthy BMI range?

For most adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a normal, healthy weight range.

Is BMI accurate for athletes?

BMI can overestimate body fat in very muscular people, since muscle weighs more than fat. Athletes with high muscle mass may show as "overweight" despite having low body fat.

Does BMI differ for men and women?

The BMI formula itself is the same for everyone, but body composition naturally differs between men and women, so BMI should be considered alongside other measures like waist circumference or body fat percentage.

Is BMI accurate for children?

No — children and teens need age- and sex-specific growth charts (BMI-for-age percentiles) rather than the standard adult BMI categories used here.

BMI Calculator

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) from your height and weight to see which standard weight category you fall into.

Weight

Weight unit

Height

Height unit

Your BMI

22.9

Normal weight

UnderweightNormalOverweightObese

How It Works

The BMI formula

BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared: BMI = kg ÷ m². For pounds and inches, the formula is (lb ÷ in²) × 703.

Reading your result

Your BMI number is compared against four standard ranges defined by the World Health Organization: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese.

Example Calculation

A person who weighs 70 kg and is 1.75 m tall has a BMI of 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 22.9, which falls in the normal weight range (18.5–24.9).

Common Mistakes

Entering height in centimeters while leaving the unit toggle set to inches, or vice versa.
Forgetting that BMI divides by height squared, not height alone.
Treating BMI as a complete health assessment — it doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, age, or sex.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a healthy BMI range?: For most adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a normal, healthy weight range.
Is BMI accurate for athletes?: BMI can overestimate body fat in very muscular people, since muscle weighs more than fat. Athletes with high muscle mass may show as "overweight" despite having low body fat.
Does BMI differ for men and women?: The BMI formula itself is the same for everyone, but body composition naturally differs between men and women, so BMI should be considered alongside other measures like waist circumference or body fat percentage.
Is BMI accurate for children?: No — children and teens need age- and sex-specific growth charts (BMI-for-age percentiles) rather than the standard adult BMI categories used here.