BMI Calculator
Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) to assess your weight category.
What Is the BMI Calculator?
The Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator estimates whether your weight falls within a healthy range for your height. BMI is a widely used screening tool, though it does not directly measure body fat or account for muscle mass, bone density, or body composition.
Formula
How to Use
Choose metric (kg/cm) or imperial (lb/ft) units. Enter your weight and height. Click Calculate BMI. The result shows your BMI value and weight category with a visual indicator.
Example Calculation
A person weighing 70 kg and 175 cm tall: BMI = 70 / (1.75)² = 70 / 3.0625 = 22.9 (Normal weight).
Understanding BMI
Body Mass Index is one of the simplest and most widely used methods to screen for weight-related health risks. Developed by Adolphe Quetelet in the 1830s, it relates weight to height using a straightforward formula.
While BMI is useful as a population-level screening tool, it has limitations. It does not account for muscle mass (athletes may be classified as overweight), body fat distribution (abdominal fat carries higher risk), age, sex, or ethnicity. For a complete health assessment, consult a healthcare professional.
This calculator supports both metric and imperial units and provides a visual scale to help you understand where your BMI falls within standard categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the BMI categories?
Underweight: below 18.5. Normal weight: 18.5 to 24.9. Overweight: 25 to 29.9. Obese: 30 and above. These are standard WHO classifications.
Is BMI accurate for athletes?
BMI does not distinguish between muscle and fat. Athletic individuals with high muscle mass may have a high BMI despite being healthy. Consider it a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
Does BMI apply to children?
BMI for children uses age and sex-specific percentile charts rather than the fixed adult categories shown here.