Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) to understand your weight status and get personalized health recommendations.
Using our BMI calculator is simple and straightforward. Follow these steps to get your BMI calculation:
The calculator will provide your BMI value, weight category, healthy weight range, and personalized recommendations based on your results.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used metric for assessing whether a person has a healthy weight for their height. It's calculated by dividing a person's weight by the square of their height and is expressed in units of kg/m² for metric or lbs/in² × 703 for imperial.
BMI is used by healthcare professionals worldwide as a screening tool to identify potential weight-related health risks. While BMI is a useful indicator, it's important to remember that it doesn't distinguish between muscle mass and fat mass, so it may not be entirely accurate for athletes or individuals with high muscle mass.
The BMI formula varies depending on the unit system used:
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)²
BMI = (weight (lbs) / height (inches)²) × 703
The multiplication by 703 in the imperial formula is a conversion factor to ensure consistency with the metric calculation.
BMI is a useful screening tool but has limitations. It doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat mass, so athletes or muscular individuals might have a high BMI despite being healthy. It's best used as one indicator among others for assessing health.
A healthy BMI range for adults is typically between 18.5 and 24.9. However, this can vary based on age, gender, ethnicity, and other factors. Consult with a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
For most people, checking BMI monthly or quarterly is sufficient. If you're actively trying to lose or gain weight, you might want to check it more frequently as part of tracking your progress.
This calculator is designed for adults. Children and teenagers need age and sex-specific BMI percentiles rather than the standard adult BMI categories. Consult a pediatrician for children's BMI assessment.