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BMI Calculator

Calculate your adult BMI from height and weight in seconds. Use US units (lb, ft, in) or metric (kg, cm). See your BMI, screening category, and healthy weight range instantly.

BMI is a screening measure for adults, not a diagnosis. Default categories follow CDC adult cutoffs. Children and teens need BMI-for-age percentiles.

By Muhammad Abdullah Rauf · Founder, EverydayTools.proUpdated 2026-09-20· Reviewed by EverydayTools Editorial Team

What is BMI?

BMI answers “what is my BMI?” with one number from height and weight. Adults are then placed in screening categories such as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity classes. The number does not measure body fat, muscle, or health, and it is not a diagnosis.

How do I calculate BMI? Convert height to meters or inches, then use the matching formula. This calculator does that as you type, in US units (pounds, feet, inches) or metric (kilograms, centimeters).

CDC adult categories (default here): underweight below 18.5, healthy weight 18.5–24.9, overweight 25.0–29.9, obesity 30.0 or greater, with Class 1 (30.0–34.9), Class 2 (35.0–39.9), and Class 3 (40.0 or greater).

Children and teens need BMI-for-age percentiles, not these adult labels. Optional Asia-Pacific action points (from 23 and 27.5) are available in the calculator but are not the US default.

Enter height and weight above. You get adult BMI, a screening category, and the healthy weight range for that height — not a medical diagnosis.

How to calculate your BMI

  1. Choose US or metric units

    Use pounds with feet and inches, or kilograms with centimeters. Switching units converts values already entered.

  2. Enter height and weight

    For US units, put feet and leftover inches in separate fields (5 and 10 for 5′10″). Do not put total inches in the feet box.

  3. Read BMI, category, and healthy weight range

    BMI is shown to one decimal, with the matching adult category and the weight band that corresponds to a healthy BMI at your height.

  4. Add optional context only if you want it

    Waist adds circumference and waist-to-height ratio. Age under 18 or a pregnancy mark shows a warning. They do not change the adult formula.

BMI calculation examples

Metric — healthy weight

Input

175 cm
70 kg

Output

BMI 22.9 — Healthy Weight (18.5–24.9)
Healthy weight at 175 cm ≈ 56.7–76.3 kg

Height 1.75 m. 1.75 × 1.75 = 3.0625. 70 ÷ 3.0625 ≈ 22.86, shown as 22.9.

US units — overweight screening category

Input

5 ft 10 in (70 in)
180 lb

Output

BMI 25.8 — Overweight (25.0–29.9)
Healthy weight at 5′10″ ≈ 129–174 lb

703 × 180 = 126,540. 70 × 70 = 4,900. 126,540 ÷ 4,900 ≈ 25.82, shown as 25.8.

Same BMI, different category set

Input

170 cm · 68 kg · Asia-Pacific action points

Output

BMI 23.5 — Increased risk (23.0–27.4) in Asia-Pacific mode

The formula is unchanged. On CDC/WHO adult cutoffs, 23.5 is still healthy weight. Optional Asia-Pacific action points start increased risk at 23. Use that mode only when that guidance applies to you.

Adult BMI categories (CDC)

Default screening bands on this page. Obesity is also shown as one group at 30.0 or greater.

CategoryBMI range
UnderweightBelow 18.5
Healthy Weight18.5 to 24.9
Overweight25.0 to 29.9
Obesity30.0 or greater
Class 1 Obesity30.0 to 34.9
Class 2 Obesity35.0 to 39.9
Class 3 Obesity (Severe Obesity)40.0 or greater

Screening categories only — not a medical diagnosis. Source: CDC Adult BMI Calculator.

Optional Asia-Pacific action points

Same BMI formula. Different interpretation bands when that mode is selected.

BandCDC/WHOAsia-Pacific
UnderweightBelow 18.5Below 18.5
Healthy weight18.5–24.918.5–22.9
Next bandOverweight 25–29.9Increased risk 23–27.4
Higher bandObesity from 30Higher risk from 27.5

WHO expert consultation described additional public-health action points (notably 23 and 27.5) for many Asian populations. They are not the US default and are not automatic for every person.

BMI formula and adult categories

This tool uses the Quetelet index. Metric BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. US customary BMI multiplies pounds by 703, then divides by height in inches squared — the same convention CDC and NHLBI publish.

The default category set matches the CDC Adult BMI Calculator: underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity classes 1–3. The healthy weight range is the body weight that corresponds to BMI 18.5–24.9 at the height you entered (18.5–22.9 if Asia-Pacific mode is on).

CDC’s adult calculator is written for ages 20 and older. Ages 2–19 are interpreted with BMI-for-age percentiles. We still compute the adult formula if you enter numbers, but we do not apply pediatric percentiles.

Formula

Metric: BMI = weight (kg) / [height (m)]²
US customary: BMI = 703 × weight (lb) / [height (in)]²
Healthy weight (CDC/WHO): 18.5 × height(m)² to 24.9 × height(m)²

Assumptions

  • Inputs describe an adult standing height and current weight
  • Default categories are CDC/WHO adult cutoffs, not child percentiles
  • Sex does not change the BMI formula; it only changes optional waist thresholds

Limitations

  • BMI does not measure body fat, muscle, bone, or fat location
  • Not a pediatric BMI-for-age tool
  • Not designed for pregnancy weight interpretation
  • Asia-Pacific action points are optional and not universal

Common BMI calculation mistakes

Entering pounds in the kilogram field (or inches as centimeters)

Stay in one unit system. Use the US / Metric toggle. Mixing systems without converting produces a meaningless BMI.

Forgetting the 703 factor in the US formula

US customary BMI is 703 × lb ÷ in². The calculator applies 703 automatically when US units are selected.

Putting total inches in the feet box

5′10″ is 5 feet and 10 inches, not 70 feet. Total inches belong in the inches math, not the feet field.

Treating BMI as a diagnosis or a health verdict

BMI is a screening classification. It does not say you are healthy or unhealthy by itself.

Applying adult categories to children or teens

Under 18 (and, in CDC tools, through age 19) needs BMI-for-age percentiles. Use the CDC Child and Teen BMI Calculator.

Ignoring muscle, bone, or pregnancy

High muscle can raise BMI without high body fat. Pregnancy changes weight interpretation. Pair BMI with clinical context.

When this tool isn't the right choice

Child or teen BMI percentile

This page does not compute CDC growth-chart percentiles. Use CDC’s child and teen calculator.

Body fat percentage or lean mass

BMI is weight-for-height only. Use the body fat or lean body mass calculators for composition estimates.

Pregnancy weight targets

Adult screening cutoffs are not gestational weight-gain charts.

Clinical diagnosis or treatment decisions

BMI alone should not drive medication, surgery, or diagnosis. That belongs with a healthcare provider.

BMI calculator vs related EverydayTools

This page owns adult BMI. Use a different tool when the question is body fat, formula “ideal weight,” or daily calories.

Related toolUse this tool whenUse related tool when
Body Fat CalculatorYou want BMI, an adult category, or a healthy weight range from height and weight.You want an estimated body fat percentage from tape measurements or a BMI-and-age estimate.
Ideal Weight CalculatorYou want the CDC healthy-weight band converted to pounds or kilograms for your height.You want Devine, Robinson, Miller, or Hamwi formula estimates compared side by side.
Calorie CalculatorYou only need a height–weight screening number.You need BMR, TDEE, or a daily calorie target from age, sex, height, weight, and activity.
Lean Body Mass CalculatorYou are screening weight-for-height.You already have a body-fat estimate and want lean mass.

Workflow guides

Step-by-step chains that connect related tools for common tasks.

After a BMI screen, estimate calorie needs

  1. Use BMI only as a height–weight screen, not a meal plan.
  2. Estimate BMR and daily needs with the daily calorie calculator using age, sex, height, weight, and activity.

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Frequently asked questions

What is BMI?

Body mass index is weight relative to height. For adults it is used as a screening number, then mapped to categories such as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity classes. It does not measure body fat.

How do I calculate my BMI?

Enter height and weight in the calculator above. Metric: divide kilograms by height in meters squared. US customary: multiply pounds by 703, then divide by height in inches squared. Results are shown to one decimal.

What is a healthy BMI for adults?

On CDC and WHO adult cutoffs, a healthy-weight BMI is 18.5–24.9. The calculator also shows the weight range corresponding to that standard adult BMI range at the height you entered. It is a screening band, not a personalized medical target.

What BMI is considered overweight or obese?

For adults, overweight is BMI 25.0–29.9. Obesity is 30.0 or greater: Class 1 is 30.0–34.9, Class 2 is 35.0–39.9, and Class 3 is 40.0 or greater.

Is BMI the same for men and women?

The formula is the same. Adult category cutoffs on this page do not change by sex. Average body-fat patterns differ, so the same BMI can mean different composition. Optional waist thresholds do use sex.

How do I calculate BMI with pounds and inches?

BMI = 703 × weight(lb) ÷ height(in)². Example: 180 lb at 70 in (5′10″) → 703 × 180 ÷ 4,900 ≈ 25.8. Enter feet and inches separately here.

How do I calculate BMI with kg and cm?

Divide centimeters by 100 to get meters, square that height, then divide weight in kilograms by the result. Example: 70 kg at 175 cm → 70 ÷ 1.75² ≈ 22.9.

Can I use this BMI calculator for children?

Not for category interpretation. Children and teens need age- and sex-specific BMI-for-age percentiles. Use the CDC Child and Teen BMI Calculator. Adult cutoffs on this page do not apply.

Does BMI account for muscle?

No. Muscle and fat both add weight. A muscular person can land in overweight or obesity categories with relatively low body fat. Use waist context or a body fat percentage estimate when composition is the question.

Can I use BMI during pregnancy?

Standard adult categories are not designed for pregnancy. Weight-gain targets depend on pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational week. Follow obstetric guidance.

What is a healthy weight for my height?

The result panel shows the weight range corresponding to the standard adult BMI range (18.5–24.9, or 18.5–22.9 in Asia-Pacific mode) at the height you entered. That is a screening conversion from the BMI cutoffs, not an individualized recommended weight.

Does age change the BMI formula?

The adult formula does not include age. Interpretation does: children need percentiles, and some clinicians read older-adult BMI differently. Entering age here only controls warnings.

What is the difference between BMI and body fat percentage?

BMI is a height–weight screen. Body fat percentage estimates how much of weight is fat. Use this page for BMI; use the Body Fat Calculator when composition is the goal.

Is this BMI calculator free and private?

Yes. There is no signup. The calculation runs in your browser. Height and weight are not uploaded to EverydayTools for the calculation. A share link is created only if you choose to share. Last inputs can stay in this browser’s storage so you can return.

Privacy, accuracy, and trust

Privacy

BMI is calculated in your browser. Height and weight are not uploaded to EverydayTools servers for the core calculation. Optional local save and the BMI log use this device only. Sharing a link includes the values you choose to put in that URL.

Accuracy

Metric BMI matches kg ÷ m² to one decimal. US customary uses 703 × lb ÷ in², the CDC/NHLBI convention. Equivalent inputs can differ by about 0.1 after rounding.

How this tool works

Core math is client-side JavaScript. No server request is required to calculate BMI.

Verification guidance

Check the same height and weight in the CDC Adult BMI Calculator or the NHLBI calculator.

Limitations: Adult screening only. No child percentiles, no diagnosis, no body-fat measurement. Asia-Pacific mode is optional. Pregnancy shows a warning, not gestational targets.

General BMI screening estimate only — not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a healthcare provider for personal health decisions.

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Reviewed by EverydayTools Editorial Team on 2026-09-20.

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