BMI chart: healthy weight by height
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². It is a screening number, not a diagnosis: muscular people can read “overweight” while carrying little fat. The chart shows the healthy band (18.5–24.9) for common adult heights.
| Height | Healthy weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) | Equivalent in lbs |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 42–56 kg | 94–155 lbs |
| 155 cm | 44–60 | 97–165 |
| 160 cm | 47–64 | 105–175 |
| 165 cm | 50–68 | 111–185 |
| 170 cm | 54–72 | 119–194 |
| 175 cm | 57–76 | 125–203 |
| 180 cm | 60–81 | 132–213 |
| 185 cm | 63–85 | 140–224 |
| 190 cm | 67–90 | 147–234 |
| 195 cm | 70–95 | 155–244 |
Notes
- Full categories: under 18.5 underweight · 18.5–24.9 healthy · 25–29.9 overweight · 30+ obese.
- Asian populations often use lower thresholds (23 overweight, 27.5 obese).
- BMI ignores muscle, bone density and fat distribution — pair it with waist measurement (<94 cm men, <80 cm women).
How the healthy-weight band is calculated
Each band in the table is the BMI formula rearranged. With the healthy ceiling at 24.9, the top of the healthy range is 24.9 x height squared (in metres); the bottom is 18.5 x height squared. At 1.75 m that gives 18.5 x 3.0625 = 56.7 kg and 24.9 x 3.0625 = 76.3 kg — rounded to 57-76 kg in the table. The pounds column is the same band converted at 2.20462 lb per kilogram. Because both limits scale with the square of height, a taller person's healthy band is not merely shifted upward, it is wider in absolute kilograms.
Measuring height and weight properly
BMI is only as good as its inputs. Weigh yourself in the morning, after using the bathroom and before eating, in light clothing; a 1 kg error moves BMI by roughly 0.3 at average adult heights. Measure height barefoot, heels together, eyes level, against a wall — self-reported height is often inflated by 1-2 cm, which lowers BMI and can hide an overweight reading. Round to the nearest 0.5 cm and 0.1 kg, and use the same scale over time rather than comparing readings taken on different devices.
What to do with your result
Treat BMI as a prompt, not a verdict. If you land in the healthy band, the number itself needs no action — waist size, muscle mass and activity matter more. In the 25-29.9 band, small sustained changes work: losing 5-7% of body weight and doing 150 minutes of moderate activity a week reliably lowers risk. Above 30, or with a high waist circumference, diabetes or cardiovascular risk factors, see a clinician for a fuller assessment. None of these bands diagnose anything on their own.
Where BMI misleads: children, older adults and athletes
The thresholds above apply to adults only. Under 20, BMI is read against age- and sex-specific percentile curves, not the 18.5-24.9 band. Adults over 65 tend to carry less muscle, so a normal BMI can coexist with low muscle mass. Athletes with high muscle mass read high despite low body fat. Pregnancy and oedema shift the number too. That is why BMI is used alongside waist measurement, body-fat percentage or waist-to-height ratio rather than in isolation.
Doing the maths without the table
Away from the chart, the same maths works in either system. In metric, divide weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. In imperial, multiply weight in pounds by 703 and divide by height in inches squared. Working backwards from a target BMI is just as easy: multiply the BMI you want by your height squared to get a target weight. So at 1.70 m, a BMI of 22 corresponds to 22 x 2.89 = 63.6 kg. Running that for 18.5, 22 and 24.9 gives your band's floor, midpoint and ceiling in a few seconds of arithmetic.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a healthy BMI?
- 18.5 to 24.9 for most adults, though some Asian health authorities use 18.5–22.9.
- How do I calculate BMI?
- Divide weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. Example: 70 kg at 1.75 m → 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 22.9.
- Is BMI accurate for athletes?
- No — muscle is denser than fat, so muscular athletes often score “overweight” despite low body fat. Body-fat percentage or waist-to-height ratio is fairer.