OnSumo Tools

BMI Calculator

Calculate your Body Mass Index and see your WHO classification, healthy weight range, and how far you are from each category boundary.

Unit system

BMI

24.2

Normal

BMI Prime

0.97

Below upper normal boundary

1218.52530354050

Healthy weight range

53.5 kg – 72 kg

For your height (BMI 18.5–24.9)

Distance to boundaries

2.2 kg below overweight

WHO Classification Scale

CategoryBMI Range
Underweight< 18.5
Normal18.5 – 24.9
Overweight25.0 – 29.9
Obese Class I30.0 – 34.9
Obese Class II35.0 – 39.9
Obese Class III≥ 40.0

BMI is a population-level screening tool and is not validated for children under 20 or adults with high muscle mass. For a more complete picture, consider using a body fat calculator. This is not medical advice.

How this tool works

Body Mass Index divides your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres. For imperial units the formula is (weight in pounds / height in inches squared) × 703. The result is classified against six WHO categories: Underweight (below 18.5), Normal (18.5–24.9), Overweight (25–29.9), Obese Class I (30–34.9), Obese Class II (35–39.9), and Obese Class III (40+). The tool also derives a healthy weight range for your height by solving for the weights that produce BMI 18.5 and 24.9, and shows how far your current weight sits from each category boundary. BMI Prime is the ratio of your BMI to the upper normal boundary (24.9); a value below 1.0 means you are in the normal or underweight range.

Worked example

A person weighing 70 kg at 175 cm has BMI = 70 / 1.75² = 22.9 (Normal). Their healthy weight range is 56.7–76.3 kg. They are 13.3 kg above underweight and 5.6 kg below overweight. BMI Prime is 22.9 / 24.9 = 0.92.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is a healthy BMI?

    The World Health Organization defines a healthy BMI as 18.5 to 24.9 for adults. BMI is a population-level screening tool, not a diagnostic measure — muscle mass, age, sex, and ethnicity affect interpretation.

  • Is BMI accurate for athletes?

    BMI overestimates body fat in muscular individuals because muscle is denser than fat. A lean athlete may register as overweight on BMI while having very low body fat. Use body fat percentage tools for a more accurate picture.

  • Does BMI differ by age or sex?

    The BMI formula is the same for all adults, but healthy ranges may differ. Children and teens use age- and sex-specific growth chart percentiles rather than adult BMI cutoffs.

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