BMI Chart for Adults: Healthy Weight by Height (kg and lb)
BMI chart for adult women and men: healthy, overweight and obese weight ranges by height in cm/kg and ft/lb, plus the lower WHO cut-offs for Asian adults.
By Awais, Founder and editor-in-chiefPublished
Find your height in the chart below and read across to see which weights count as healthy (BMI 18.5–24.9), overweight (25–29.9) and obese (30 or more) for adults. If you’d rather get your exact BMI, the BMI calculator works it out from your height and weight in either units.
The chart applies to adults aged 20 and over, men and women alike. It does not apply to children and teens, who are assessed with age- and sex-specific percentiles, or during pregnancy. BMI is a screening number, not a diagnosis; a doctor looks at it alongside waist size, blood pressure, blood tests and other factors.
BMI chart in feet and pounds
| Height | Healthy weight | Overweight | Obese |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | 89–119 lb | 120–143 lb | 144 lb or more |
| 5 ft 0 in | 95–128 lb | 129–153 lb | 154 lb or more |
| 5 ft 2 in | 102–136 lb | 137–164 lb | 165 lb or more |
| 5 ft 4 in | 108–145 lb | 146–174 lb | 175 lb or more |
| 5 ft 6 in | 115–154 lb | 155–185 lb | 186 lb or more |
| 5 ft 8 in | 122–164 lb | 165–197 lb | 198 lb or more |
| 5 ft 10 in | 129–174 lb | 175–209 lb | 210 lb or more |
| 6 ft 0 in | 137–184 lb | 185–221 lb | 222 lb or more |
| 6 ft 2 in | 145–194 lb | 195–233 lb | 234 lb or more |
| 6 ft 4 in | 152–205 lb | 206–246 lb | 247 lb or more |
Below the healthy range is underweight (BMI under 18.5). Weights are rounded to the nearest whole pound inside each range.
BMI chart in centimetres and kilograms
| Height | Healthy weight | Overweight | Obese |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 41.6–56.0 kg | 56.2–67.3 kg | 67.5 kg or more |
| 155 cm | 44.4–59.8 kg | 60.1–71.8 kg | 72.1 kg or more |
| 160 cm | 47.4–63.7 kg | 64.0–76.5 kg | 76.8 kg or more |
| 165 cm | 50.4–67.8 kg | 68.1–81.4 kg | 81.7 kg or more |
| 170 cm | 53.5–72.0 kg | 72.2–86.4 kg | 86.7 kg or more |
| 175 cm | 56.7–76.3 kg | 76.6–91.6 kg | 91.9 kg or more |
| 180 cm | 59.9–80.7 kg | 81.0–96.9 kg | 97.2 kg or more |
| 185 cm | 63.3–85.2 kg | 85.6–102.3 kg | 102.7 kg or more |
| 190 cm | 66.8–89.9 kg | 90.2–107.9 kg | 108.3 kg or more |
If your height falls between two rows, the BMI calculator or ideal weight calculator gives the exact range.
How the chart is calculated
Every number in the chart comes from one formula:
BMI = 703 × weight (lb) ÷ height (in)²
Turn it around to get the weight for any BMI:
Weight (lb) = BMI × height (in)² ÷ 703
Example for 170 cm: 1.70² = 2.89. The healthy range is 18.5 × 2.89 = 53.5 kg to 24.9 × 2.89 = 72.0 kg. Obesity starts at 30 × 2.89 = 86.7 kg.
Example for 5 ft 8 in (68 inches): 68² = 4,624. At BMI 25: 25 × 4,624 ÷ 703 = 164.4 lb, so 165 lb is the first whole pound in the overweight range.
Adult BMI categories
| BMI | WHO category |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy (normal) weight |
| 25.0 to 29.9 | Overweight (pre-obese) |
| 30.0 to 34.9 | Obesity class I |
| 35.0 to 39.9 | Obesity class II |
| 40 and above | Obesity class III |
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses the same cut-offs, and calls 40 and above “severe obesity”.
Lower cut-offs for Asian adults
People of Asian descent tend to have more body fat and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease at the same BMI. A WHO expert consultation (published in The Lancet, 2004) kept the international categories but identified 23 and 27.5 as extra public-health action points for Asian populations. Several health bodies now use lower thresholds. NICE in England, for example, treats a BMI of 23–27.4 as overweight and 27.5 or more as obese for adults of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background.
For an Asian adult, a practical reading is: increased risk from BMI 23, high risk from 27.5.
| Height | Healthy (18.5–22.9) | Increased risk (23–27.4) | High risk (27.5+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 155 cm | 44.4–55.0 kg | 55.3–65.8 kg | 66.1 kg or more |
| 160 cm | 47.4–58.6 kg | 58.9–70.1 kg | 70.4 kg or more |
| 165 cm | 50.4–62.3 kg | 62.6–74.6 kg | 74.9 kg or more |
| 170 cm | 53.5–66.2 kg | 66.5–79.2 kg | 79.5 kg or more |
| 175 cm | 56.7–70.1 kg | 70.4–83.9 kg | 84.2 kg or more |
Our guide BMI explained covers the reasons behind the lower cut-offs and the limits of BMI in more detail.
What the chart can’t tell you
- Muscle vs fat. A muscular athlete can be “overweight” on the chart with little body fat. The body fat calculator gives a second view.
- Where fat sits. Fat around the waist carries more risk than fat on the hips. NICE guidance in England suggests keeping your waist to less than half your height (a waist-to-height ratio under 0.5).
- Older adults. People over 65 lose muscle, and a BMI at the lower end of the healthy range may not be ideal for them. Doctors often look at weight changes over time rather than BMI alone.
- Children and teens. Use a child BMI-for-age calculator, not this chart.
- Pregnancy. BMI before pregnancy is used to guide weight gain; the chart doesn’t apply while pregnant.
Using the chart well
- Measure accurately. Weigh yourself in the morning in light clothes, and measure height without shoes.
- Find the range, not a single number. For most heights, the healthy range spans 15–20 kg (35–45 lb). Anywhere inside it is fine.
- Watch the trend. A steady gain of a few kilos a year matters more than which side of a line you’re on today.
- Talk to a doctor if you’re in the underweight or obese range, have lost weight without trying, or have a health condition.
FAQ
What is a healthy weight for my height?
For adults, any weight that gives a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9. For 165 cm that’s about 50.4–67.8 kg; for 5 ft 6 in, about 115–154 lb.
Is the BMI chart different for men and women?
No. Adult BMI cut-offs are the same for men and women. Women tend to have more body fat than men at the same BMI, which is one reason BMI is a screening tool rather than a diagnosis.
What BMI is considered obese?
A BMI of 30 or more. For Asian adults, health risks rise at lower levels, with 27.5 used as a high-risk point.
Is BMI accurate?
It’s a fast, cheap way to screen large groups and track change over time, but it doesn’t measure body fat directly. Combine it with waist size and a doctor’s assessment.
Sources
- WHO: Obesity and overweight fact sheet
- CDC: Adult BMI categories
- WHO Expert Consultation (2004). Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations. The Lancet 363:157–163
- NICE guideline NG246: Overweight and obesity management (ethnicity-adjusted BMI thresholds and waist-to-height ratio)
This chart is general information, not medical advice.