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BMI Calculator

Calculate your Body Mass Index using metric or imperial units. See your BMI category, healthy weight range, target weight difference, body-shape context and waist-to-height ratio guidance.

Calculator

Enter your height in centimetres.

cm

Enter your weight in kilograms.

kg

BMI categories here are intended for adults.

years

BMI formula is the same, but context can differ.

Used for waist-to-height ratio context.

cm

Used to estimate a target weight.

Adjustment context

BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Use these options to add context to the interpretation.

Result breakdown

Height used
Weight used
BMI calculation

Personalised interpretation

How BMI is calculated

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It compares weight against height and gives a simple screening number for adults.

BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²)

For adults, the common BMI categories are: below 18.5 underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 healthy weight, 25.0 to 29.9 overweight, and 30.0 or above obese.

The healthy weight range is calculated by rearranging the same formula using BMI 18.5 and 24.9 for your height.

Note: BMI does not directly measure body fat. It can be less accurate for children, pregnant people, older adults, very muscular people, some disabled people and people from backgrounds where health-risk thresholds may differ.

When BMI can be misleading

High muscle mass

Athletes or strength-trained people can have a high BMI because muscle is dense, even when body fat is not high.

Low muscle mass

A person may have a “healthy” BMI but still have low muscle mass or higher body fat, especially with low activity levels.

Children and teenagers

Children need age- and sex-specific centile charts rather than adult BMI categories.

Pregnancy

BMI is not suitable for judging weight status during pregnancy because healthy weight gain is expected.

Practical ways to use your BMI result

  • Use it as a starting point. BMI is useful for a quick screening result, not a complete health assessment.
  • Compare it with waist-to-height ratio. Waist size can add useful context around central body fat.
  • Look at trends over time. A gradual change in BMI can be more useful than a single reading.
  • Consider strength and fitness. Weight alone does not show muscle, cardiovascular fitness, blood pressure or blood markers.

Common questions

Is BMI accurate?
BMI is useful for population-level screening and a quick personal estimate, but it is not perfect. It does not distinguish fat from muscle, measure fitness, or show where body fat is stored.
What is a healthy BMI?
For most adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is commonly classed as the healthy weight range. Some people may need different interpretation depending on age, body composition and medical context.
Why include waist-to-height ratio?
Waist-to-height ratio gives extra context because fat stored around the waist is more closely linked with metabolic health risk than weight alone.
Can BMI be high if I am muscular?
Yes. BMI uses total body weight, so people with a lot of muscle can fall into the overweight category despite having a healthy body fat level.

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