Why BMI still matters
One number flags underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity so you know what to check next.
Free US-friendly BMI calculator with ft/in & lb support. Get BMI, healthy range 18.5-24.9 and ideal weight plus body fat and protein tools. No signup, instant result.
Free BMI Calculator
US users use feet, inches and pounds. Metric users use cm and kg. Result follows CDC BMI cutoffs.
18.5-24.9: healthy range. Keep 150 min moderate activity per week, balanced meals, steady sleep and monthly weigh-ins.
CDC BMI Chart
CDC adult cutoffs. Enter your ft/in and lb above to see where you land, then match advice below.
BMI Guide
BMI is a fast screen for US adults. Pair it with waist, body fat, activity, sleep and CDC guidance before you act.
One number flags underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity so you know what to check next.
CDC uses 18.5-24.9 as healthy for most adults. Use ft/in + lb or cm + kg, both give the same BMI.
Athletes, older adults, pregnancy and high muscle can skew BMI. Add waist and body fat for context.
Log food 2 weeks, set a 1-lb weekly goal, lift twice weekly and re-check BMI monthly.
Next Steps
500 kcal daily deficit, 0.7-1g protein per lb, 8000+ steps, 2 cardio + 2 lifting sessions weekly.
Add 300-500 kcal daily with milk, eggs, nuts, beans and meat plus full-body strength 3x weekly.
Weigh monthly, keep activity streaks, sleep 7-9 hours and fix 1 habit at a time when weight drifts.
BMI & Weight Guides
BMI FAQ
CDC calls 18.5-24.9 healthy for most adults. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25-29.9 is overweight, 30+ is obesity. Athletes, older adults and pregnancy need extra context.
Use BMI = 703 x weight (lb) / height (in)^2. Example: 5 ft 9 in (69 in) and 170 lb gives 703 x 170 / (69 x 69) = 25.1, just over the healthy range. Or switch to metric above and we do it for you.
No. BMI misses body fat, muscle, waist size and blood markers. Pair a normal BMI with waist under 40 in for men or 35 in for women, plus blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose checks.
Multiply the healthy BMI bounds by your height squared. Example at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m): 18.5 x 1.75^2 = 56.7 kg (125 lb) to 24.9 x 1.75^2 = 76.3 kg (168 lb). That 125-168 lb band is your CDC healthy window.
Muscle is dense, so lifters can hit BMI 27-30 with low body fat. If you train hard, add waist size and body fat percentage: men under 20% and women under 30% often signal fitness despite higher BMI.
BMI 30+ is obesity and 40+ is severe obesity. See your doctor soon if BMI is 30+, weight rises fast, or you have high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, joint pain or shortness of breath.
BMI cutoffs are the same for adult men and women, but women carry more essential fat. After 65, slightly higher BMI can be okay. Never use adult cutoffs for kids; use CDC child BMI percentiles by age and sex instead.
Weigh weekly under the same conditions and judge the 4-week trend. Aim for 1-2 lb per week loss or 0.5 lb per week gain. Recheck BMI monthly instead of daily.
Track both. BMI screens categories fast; body fat shows composition. Healthy body fat is roughly 10-20% for men and 18-28% for women. Try our free body fat calculator below for the second number.
Keep a 500 kcal deficit, 150 min brisk walking plus 2 lifting days, protein at each meal, no sugary drinks, 7-9 hours sleep. Most people drop 1 BMI point every 4-6 weeks this way.
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