BMI Chart by Height for Men and Women

Introduction

A BMI chart by height is one of the most practical tools for quickly determining whether your weight falls within a healthy range. Instead of calculating your BMI manually and then looking up what category you fall into, a BMI chart by height lets you find your height, locate your weight, and immediately see whether your BMI is underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. It is a visual shortcut that makes health assessment accessible to everyone.

Whether you are looking for a healthy weight by height for yourself, comparing BMI chart according to height for family members, or simply trying to understand how much you should weigh, this guide provides complete BMI charts for both men and women, step-by-step BMI calculation instructions, practical examples for common heights, and a detailed FAQ section.

BMI Chart by Height for Men

This table shows the BMI categories mapped to weight ranges for men at different heights. Use your height to find the row, then look across to see which weight range corresponds to each BMI category:

Height	Underweight (<18.5)	Normal (18.5–24.9)	Overweight (25–29.9)	Obese (30+)
5’4” (162.6 cm)	<107 lbs	107–145 lbs	146–174 lbs	175+ lbs
5’6” (167.6 cm)	<115 lbs	115–154 lbs	155–185 lbs	186+ lbs
5’8” (172.7 cm)	<122 lbs	122–163 lbs	164–196 lbs	197+ lbs
5’10” (177.8 cm)	<129 lbs	129–173 lbs	174–207 lbs	208+ lbs
6’0” (182.9 cm)	<136 lbs	136–183 lbs	184–219 lbs	220+ lbs
6’2” (188.0 cm)	<144 lbs	144–193 lbs	194–230 lbs	231+ lbs
6’4” (193.0 cm)	<152 lbs	152–204 lbs	205–242 lbs	243+ lbs

BMI Chart by Height for Women

This table shows the BMI categories mapped to weight ranges for women at different heights:

Height	Underweight (<18.5)	Normal (18.5–24.9)	Overweight (25–29.9)	Obese (30+)
4’10” (147.3 cm)	<90 lbs	90–123 lbs	124–148 lbs	149+ lbs
5’0” (152.4 cm)	<97 lbs	97–132 lbs	133–159 lbs	160+ lbs
5’2” (157.5 cm)	<104 lbs	104–141 lbs	142–170 lbs	171+ lbs
5’4” (162.6 cm)	<110 lbs	110–150 lbs	151–181 lbs	182+ lbs
5’6” (167.6 cm)	<117 lbs	117–159 lbs	160–191 lbs	192+ lbs
5’8” (172.7 cm)	<124 lbs	124–168 lbs	169–202 lbs	203+ lbs
5’10” (177.8 cm)	<132 lbs	132–178 lbs	179–213 lbs	214+ lbs

How to Calculate BMI by Height and Weight

Calculating your BMI by height and weight is straightforward. The formula is:

Metric: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²

Imperial: BMI = (weight in pounds ÷ height in inches²) × 703

Step-by-Step Example for a Man

A man who is 5’10” (177.8 cm = 1.778 m) and weighs 180 lbs (81.6 kg):

Metric: BMI = 81.6 / (1.778 × 1.778) = 81.6 / 3.161 = 25.8 (Overweight)

Imperial: BMI = (180 / 70²) × 703 = (180 / 4900) × 703 = 0.0367 × 703 = 25.8 (Overweight)

Looking at the BMI chart by height for men, a 5’10” man with a BMI of 25.8 weighs 180 lbs, which falls in the overweight category (174–207 lbs). To reach a normal BMI, this man would need to lose approximately 7 lbs.

Step-by-Step Example for a Woman

A woman who is 5’4” (162.6 cm = 1.626 m) and weighs 140 lbs (63.5 kg):

Metric: BMI = 63.5 / (1.626 × 1.626) = 63.5 / 2.644 = 24.0 (Normal)

Imperial: BMI = (140 / 64²) × 703 = (140 / 4096) × 703 = 0.0342 × 703 = 24.0 (Normal)

Looking at the BMI chart by height for women, a 5’4” woman with a BMI of 24.0 weighs 140 lbs, which falls in the healthy normal range (110–150 lbs).

Healthy Weight by Height: Quick Reference

The fastest way to find your healthy weight range is to look at the “Normal” column in the BMI chart tables above. Your healthy weight is the range between the underweight and overweight thresholds for your height. For a more personalized assessment, consider these factors:

Frame size: People with larger frames (wider shoulders, bigger wrists) can be healthy at the higher end of the normal range, while small-framed individuals may be healthiest at the lower end.

Muscle mass: Muscular people may weigh more than the “normal” range while having low body fat. Use body fat percentage as a secondary metric if you are athletic.

Age: Older adults may benefit from a BMI at the higher end of normal (22-25), while younger adults tend to be healthiest at 19-23.

Gender: Women naturally have higher body fat percentages than men, so the same BMI may mean different things. Women should also consider waist-to-hip ratio as a health indicator.

BMI Limitations You Should Know

While the BMI chart by height is a useful starting point, it has important limitations:

BMI does not measure body fat directly. It uses a mathematical formula based on weight and height. A muscular athlete may have an overweight BMI despite having very low body fat.

BMI does not account for body fat distribution. Visceral fat (around organs) is more dangerous than subcutaneous fat, but BMI cannot differentiate between the two. Waist circumference is a better indicator of visceral fat.

BMI does not consider age, gender, or ethnicity. Older adults, women, and people of certain ethnicities may face different health risks at the same BMI level. For example, Asian populations have higher health risks at lower BMI thresholds.

BMI does not reflect fitness level. An active person with a BMI of 27 may be metabolically healthier than a sedentary person with a BMI of 22. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar provide better metabolic health indicators.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a healthy BMI by height?

A healthy BMI is 18.5 to 24.9 regardless of height. The BMI chart by height simply shows what weight range corresponds to this BMI range at each height. For example, at 5’6”, a healthy weight is 115-154 lbs for men and 117-159 lbs for women.

How do I calculate my BMI by height and weight?

Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m²). For imperial measurements, divide weight in pounds by height in inches squared, then multiply by 703. For the easiest method, use an online BMI calculator by height and weight.

What is the BMI chart according to height?

A BMI chart according to height maps weight ranges to BMI categories for each height. It lets you find your height, locate your weight, and instantly see which BMI category you fall into. This is the fastest way to assess your weight status without doing calculations.

Is BMI the same for men and women?

The numerical BMI categories are the same (18.5-24.9 for normal), but healthy weight ranges by height differ slightly because men and women have different body compositions. Men typically have more muscle mass, so their healthy weight ranges are slightly higher at the same height.

What weight should I be for my height?

For a healthy BMI of 18.5-24.9, find your height in the BMI chart tables above and look at the “Normal” column. For a more personalized recommendation, use an ideal weight calculator that accounts for gender, age, and frame size.

Can BMI be wrong for short or tall people?

BMI may be less accurate for very short (under 4’10”) or very tall (over 6’4”) people. Studies show BMI tends to underestimate body fat in shorter people and overestimate it in taller people. Use additional measurements for a more accurate assessment.

Find Your Healthy Weight Now

Use our free BMI Calculator online to instantly calculate your BMI by entering your height and weight—no manual math required. For a personalized ideal weight estimate based on your height, age, and gender, try our Ideal Weight Calculator. For a deeper understanding of what BMI means for men and women, read our comprehensive BMI chart guide.

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