Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

This Body Mass Index calculator uses your height and weight to calculate your BMI.

Height in inches
Weight in pounds

BMI Weight Categories

Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5 - 24.9 Normal
25 - 29.9 Overweight
30.0 + Obese

How this calculator figures out your BMI

This calculater uses the standard BMI formula developed by Belgium Statistician Adolphe Quetelet approximately 150 years ago:

BMI = (Height x 703)/(Weight2)
BMI doesn't consider any factors other than height or weight. This means individual with a more muscle mass (like athletes and bodybuilders) may have a higher BMI and may fall into the overweight or obese categories despite having a low percentage of body fat.

How is BMI used?

Although BMI doesn't measure body fat or body composition, research has shown it is moderately correlated with levels of body fat. Individuals with a high BMI are more likelt to have a higher level of body fatness. BMI is used as a screening tool, not to diagnose fatness or health, but it does positively correlate with various metabolic disorders and diseases.

Even if people have the same BMI, their level of body fatness may differ.

While a person with a very high BMI is very likely to have high body fat, a moderately high BMI can indicate either elevated levels of body fat or more lean body mass.

BMI and Insurance Rates

According to the CDC, there is a correlation between a high BMI and the likelihood of developing a health condition, and this means more risk for insurance companies. Individuals with a high BMI are often charged higher premiums.