BMI calculator

Your body mass index, the category it falls in, and the weight range that goes with your height.

Your BMI

22.7

Healthy weight

Healthy range 126 lb to 169 lb
Healthy weight: BMI 18.5 to 24.9

At 5 ft 9 in and 154 lb, your BMI is 22.7, in the healthy weight range (18.5 to 24.9).

For your height, the healthy weight range (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) is 126 lb to 169 lb.

I’m not a doctor or a dietitian. This is an estimate, for information only. For decisions about your health, check with a professional.

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BMI categories at your height
Category	BMI	Weight at your height
Underweight	under 18.5	under 126 lb
Healthy weight (you)	18.5 to 24.9	126 lb to 169 lb
Overweight	25 to 29.9	170 lb to 203 lb
Class 1 obesity	30 to 34.9	204 lb to 237 lb
Class 2 obesity	35 to 39.9	238 lb to 270 lb
Class 3 obesity	40 or more	271 lb or more

How it works

BMI = weight in kilograms ÷ height in meters squared. In pounds and inches it’s the same number: weight in pounds ÷ height in inches squared × 703.
The adult categories are the same for men and women: under 18.5 underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 overweight, 30 and over obesity, split into class 1 (30 to 34.9), class 2 (35 to 39.9) and class 3 (40 and over).
The healthy weight range for your height is the weight that gives a BMI from 18.5 up to just under 25. The number is rounded so it never crosses into the next category: 24.97 shows as 24.9.

Worked example

5 ft 9 in (69 in) and 154 lb: 154 ÷ 69² × 703 = 154 ÷ 4,761 × 703 = 22.7, healthy weight. In metric, 69.85 kg ÷ 1.7526² = 22.7. For 5 ft 9 in, a BMI of 18.5 is 125.3 lb and 25 is 169.3 lb, so the healthy range is 126 to 169 lb. The WHO’s own example, 70 kg and 1.75 m, gives 22.9.

Sources

Text checked on September 30, 2026

Good to know

BMI can’t tell muscle from fat, and it doesn’t show where fat sits on your body. Someone with a lot of muscle can come out overweight without much body fat.
It’s a screening number, not a diagnosis: the CDC calls it one potential health indicator, to be considered with other factors. The WHO adds that measurements like waist size help.
For people with a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean background, the NHS uses lower cut-offs: overweight from 23 and obesity from 27.5.
It isn’t used during pregnancy, and under 20 it’s read on growth charts by age and sex instead of with these categories.

Frequently asked questions

What is a healthy BMI?

For adults, 18.5 to 24.9 is what the CDC calls healthy weight and the WHO normal weight. Under 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 overweight and 30 or more obesity. The range above turns that into pounds for your height.

Is BMI accurate if I’m muscular?

Not very. The CDC notes that people with a lot of muscle can have a BMI in the overweight or even obesity category, because BMI can’t tell fat from muscle and bone. A body fat estimate or a waist measurement tells you more.

How do you calculate BMI in pounds and inches?

Divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, then multiply by 703. For 154 lb at 5 ft 9 in (69 in): 154 ÷ 4,761 × 703 = 22.7.

Does BMI work for children and teens?

Not with the adult categories. From ages 2 through 19, the CDC compares a child’s BMI with others of the same age and sex on growth charts, as a percentile. This page shows the number but not an adult category under 18; a pediatrician can read the chart.

Why does the NHS use different cut-offs for some people?

Because people from Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean and Middle Eastern backgrounds have a higher chance of health problems at a lower BMI. For them, the NHS counts 23 to 27.4 as overweight and 27.5 or more as obesity.