Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) based on your height and weight. Works for adults.
BMI is a value derived from the mass and height of a person. It is a convenient rule of thumb used to broadly categorize a person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It does not measure body fat directly.
Metric: BMI = weight (kg) / [height (m)]²
Imperial: BMI = 703 × weight (lb) / [height (in)]²
Is BMI an accurate measure of health?
BMI is a useful screening tool for the general population, but it has limitations. It does not distinguish between fat and muscle mass. Therefore, very muscular individuals (like athletes) may have a high BMI but low body fat. Conversely, older adults with low muscle mass may have a normal BMI but a higher percentage of body fat. It should be used as one data point among others when assessing health.
Does the BMI calculation differ for men and women?
No, the standard BMI calculation formula is the same for adult men and women. However, healthy body fat percentages do differ between sexes. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific, known as BMI-for-age.