Muscle and sport
High muscle mass can raise your BMI without any extra body fat behind it. Pair the result with % body fat or tape measurements.
BMI calculator
Type weight and height. 70 kg and 170 cm give a BMI of about 24.2. 92 kg and 180 cm is about 28.4. A mass-to-height ratio, not body composition and not a clinic verdict.
A quick mass-to-height ratio, not a diagnosis. It does not tell muscle from fat. After lifting, try the Navy method. Daily calories live on TDEE.
Result
Weight (kg) and Height (cm). The result shows up here.
How results are calculated
BMI in this calculator is mass [kg] divided by height [m] squared. 70 kg and 170 cm: height 1.70 m, 70 ÷ 1.70² ≈ 24.2. 58 kg and 160 cm: 58 ÷ 1.60² ≈ 22.7.
92 kg and 180 cm: 92 ÷ 1.80² ≈ 28.4. With a US header the formula is 703 × weight [lb] ÷ height [in]². The healthy weight range is the mass for BMI 18.5-24.9 at your height.
WHO bands: under 18.5 underweight, 18.5-24.9 normal, 25-29.9 overweight, from 30 the obesity classes. A convention for a quick look at the kitchen table, not a health score and not a muscle measurement. The calculator also shows the mass band for 18.5-24.9: a map, not a medical target.
Type weight and height in the label units, then Calculate. The result is BMI, the band, and a mass range. A comma and a period in 70.5 both parse. The metric and US switch changes labels; do not mix kg with inches in one run.
Muscle is denser than fat, so a gym overweight label can mislead. Girth estimates live on the Navy method. Daily calories live on TDEE. In pregnancy the adult bands do not judge gain: that is a separate card from pre-pregnancy BMI.
48 kg and 170 cm give about 16.6. 52 kg and 162 cm is about 19.8, in range. Children and teens use age- and sex-specific percentile charts; this calculator is for adults. Sleep and labs your doctor ordered sit outside this ratio.
How to use
- Type weight, for example 70 kg. With a US header that field wants pounds, not kilograms.
- Type height, for example 170 cm. This formula uses meters in the formula: 170 cm is 1.70 m.
- Click Calculate. 70 and 170 give about 24.2 and the normal band.
- Compare with the 18.5-24.9 range and with 92 kg at 180 cm, about 28.4.
- If you lift, open the Navy method. Daily calories live on TDEE, not in this ratio.
BMI and the WHO band on this page
Mass divided by height in meters squared. 70 kg and 170 cm give about 24.2; 92 kg and 180 cm give about 28.4.
- BMI
- Body Mass Index, mass over height squared. Here 70 ÷ 1.70² ≈ 24.2. It is not body fat and not a clinic verdict.
- WHO
- World Health Organization, the source of the 18.5-24.9 adult band this calculator prints as a screening convention, not a diagnosis.
BMI categories at a glance
Five WHO adult bands - the same split you see in the silhouettes below. Once you calculate, we'll highlight the one that matches your result.
Weight is low for height. Worth reviewing diet and causes with a clinician.
The band most people call "healthy weight" for adults.
Higher weight for height - a good moment to look at food and movement.
WHO classes I and II. Risk climbs here - a check-up makes sense.
The highest screening band - plan care together with a doctor.
How to read your BMI
BMI sorts adults by weight relative to height. It's a screening tool: it shows which WHO band you land in - not whether you're "healthy" or "ill".
What BMI does well
It gives researchers a shared language and gives you a quick map: underweight, normal, overweight, obesity. Across large groups it works reasonably well.
What BMI doesn't do
It doesn't measure fat, see muscle, or know your age or whether you're pregnant. One number can't replace labs or a conversation with a clinician.
Where the healthy weight range comes from
For your height we compute the mass that matches BMI 18.5 and 24.9 (BMI 18.5-24.9). That's exactly the span shown as the healthy weight range.
It's orientation, not a personalized target. A muscular, older, or recovering person can sit outside the band for good reasons - and the reverse can be true too.
BMI vs muscle, age, pregnancy, and kids
Age
In older adults, body composition and risk patterns look different from a 30-year-old's. BMI is only one signal, not the whole story.
Pregnancy
Adult cut-offs aren't a pregnancy assessment. What matters is the rate of weight gain - that's why there's a dedicated calculator for it.
Children and teens
They need age- and sex-specific percentiles instead. This tool is built for adults.
BMI vs other metrics
BMI only answers one question: weight relative to height. These three tools answer different ones - and they're often the better "what next".
BMI vs body fat
What it measures: BMI - weight for height. Body fat % - an estimate of fat share from tape measurements.
When it helps: if you lift, you're showing a "high" BMI while feeling fit, or you just want to know whether your weight is mostly muscle.
What it misses: BMI can't tell fat from muscle. Body-fat estimates are still estimates, not a DXA scan.
Calculate body fat →BMI vs BMR
What it measures: BMR - a rough resting calorie need.
When it helps: when you're planning food, want an energy baseline, or you're comparing diet phases.
What it misses: BMR doesn't judge whether your BMI is "good", and it ignores training load.
Calculate BMR →BMI vs TDEE
What it measures: TDEE - daily energy with activity (usually BMR × activity factor).
When it helps: when you want to maintain, build, or reduce weight without guessing calories.
What it misses: TDEE doesn't score your BMI category and doesn't replace clinical care.
Calculate TDEE →In short
- Enter weight and height in the header units.
- Read your BMI, category, and the healthy range (18.5-24.9).
- Check out "what to check next" - body fat, BMR/TDEE, or the hub below.
Real-world examples
Three categories - three different "what next" panels. Card units follow the header (kg/cm or lb/in).
Example 1
- Weight: 48 kg
- Height: 170 cm
BMI ~16.6 - underweight
The panel points to body-composition context plus protein/TDEE - not just the label.
Example 2
- Weight: 52 kg
- Height: 162 cm
BMI ~19.8 - normal weight
Inside the WHO band, but the panel still points to body fat, protein, and water as useful next checks.
Example 3
- Weight: 92 kg
- Height: 180 cm
BMI ~28.4 - overweight
The label can be misleading with strength training - the panel leads with body fat, then BMR and TDEE.
Example 4
- Weight (kg): 58
- Height (cm): 160
BMI ≈ 22.656
What is BMI at 58 kg and 160 cm? BMI ≈ 22.656.
Example 5
- Weight (kg): 70
- Height (cm): 170
BMI ≈ 24.221
What is BMI at 70 kg and 170 cm? BMI ≈ 24.221.
Example 6
- Weight (kg): 82
- Height (cm): 178
BMI ≈ 25.881
What is BMI at 82 kg and 178 cm? BMI ≈ 25.881.
Example 7
- Weight (kg): 68
- Height (cm): 165
BMI ≈ 24.977
What is BMI at 68 kg and 165 cm? BMI ≈ 24.977.
Example 8
- Weight (kg): 95
- Height (cm): 175
BMI ≈ 31.02
What is BMI at 95 kg and 175 cm? BMI ≈ 31.02.
Related health calculators
BMI is a solid start. These tools answer the next questions: body composition, daily needs, and the cases where adult BMI cut-offs just don't fit.
Body composition
Daily needs
Pregnancy & exceptions
FAQ
What BMI do I get at 70 kg and 170 cm?
About 24.2. 70 ÷ 1.70². That sits high in the 18.5-24.9 adult WHO band.
What range counts as normal?
For adults, usually 18.5-24.9. A screening convention, not a point score for health. Under 18.5 is underweight, 25-29.9 overweight, from 30 the obesity classes.
Does BMI still help if I lift?
It often reads high. Muscle is denser than fat, so a lean lifter can land in overweight. Add the Navy method when that happens.
Will BMI give me an ideal weight?
The result is the mass band for 18.5-24.9 at your height. A map, not a medical target and not a body-shape guarantee.
What about 58 kg and 160 cm?
58 ÷ 1.60² ≈ 22.7, in range. 48 kg and 170 cm give about 16.6, under 18.5.
What about children and teens?
They use age- and sex-specific percentile charts. This calculator is for adults.
Do these bands work in pregnancy?
Adult bands do not judge pregnancy. Gain is paced from pre-pregnancy BMI on the pregnancy-gain card.
What else is worth checking?
Girths and % BF on the Navy method, daily calories on TDEE, sleep, and labs your doctor ordered. BMI is a kitchen-table start, not the whole report.
Is 92 kg and 180 cm overweight here?
92 ÷ 1.80² ≈ 28.4, the 25-29.9 band. After lifting that label can mislead: Navy tape first, then TDEE.
Can I mix kg with inches?
Not in one run. Both fields in kg and cm, or both in lb and inches. The switch changes labels; it does not convert numbers you already typed.
Knowledge sources
The 18.5–24.9 bands in this calculator are the WHO convention for adults, not a diagnosis.
- Wikipedia — body mass index
- WHO — obesity and overweight fact sheet
- MedlinePlus — body mass index
- CDC — body mass index
Page updated in 2026.