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BMI chart for adults: height, weight and BMI categories
Body mass index (BMI) uses your height and weight to estimate whether you carry more weight than is healthy. Find your height in the chart below, move across to your weight, and read the BMI at the top of that column. Then see what the number means and where it falls short.
BMI categories for adults
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), both part of the National Institutes of Health, use these categories (NHLBI BMI calculator) (NIDDK):
| BMI | Category |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy weight |
| 25.0 to 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 or above | Obesity |
| 40 or above | Severe obesity (part of obesity) |
Sources: underweight to obesity from the NHLBI BMI calculator page (NHLBI BMI calculator); severe obesity from NIDDK, which gives these ranges for adults aged 20 and older (NIDDK). The NHLBI BMI table labels BMI 40 and up "Extreme Obesity" (NHLBI BMI table).
For children and teens, BMI is read differently: it should be compared with growth charts for age and sex, so talk to your child's provider (NHLBI).
BMI chart: height and weight table
This is the NHLBI BMI table. Find your height in the first column, move across the row to your weight in pounds, and the BMI at the top of that column is your BMI (NHLBI BMI table). The table is split by category so it fits on a phone; every number is as printed by NHLBI. The full NHLBI table continues past BMI 40 up to BMI 54 (NHLBI BMI table).
Healthy weight: BMI 19 to 24 (weight in pounds)
| Height | BMI 19 | BMI 20 | BMI 21 | BMI 22 | BMI 23 | BMI 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4' 10" | 91 | 96 | 100 | 105 | 110 | 115 |
| 4' 11" | 94 | 99 | 104 | 109 | 114 | 119 |
| 5' 0" | 97 | 102 | 107 | 112 | 118 | 123 |
| 5' 1" | 100 | 106 | 111 | 116 | 122 | 127 |
| 5' 2" | 104 | 109 | 115 | 120 | 126 | 131 |
| 5' 3" | 107 | 113 | 118 | 124 | 130 | 135 |
| 5' 4" | 110 | 116 | 122 | 128 | 134 | 140 |
| 5' 5" | 114 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 144 |
| 5' 6" | 118 | 124 | 130 | 136 | 142 | 148 |
| 5' 7" | 121 | 127 | 134 | 140 | 146 | 153 |
| 5' 8" | 125 | 131 | 138 | 144 | 151 | 158 |
| 5' 9" | 128 | 135 | 142 | 149 | 155 | 162 |
| 5' 10" | 132 | 139 | 146 | 153 | 160 | 167 |
| 5' 11" | 136 | 143 | 150 | 157 | 165 | 172 |
| 6' 0" | 140 | 147 | 154 | 162 | 169 | 177 |
| 6' 1" | 144 | 151 | 159 | 166 | 174 | 182 |
| 6' 2" | 148 | 155 | 163 | 171 | 179 | 186 |
| 6' 3" | 152 | 160 | 168 | 176 | 184 | 192 |
| 6' 4" | 156 | 164 | 172 | 180 | 189 | 197 |
Overweight: BMI 25 to 29 (weight in pounds)
| Height | BMI 25 | BMI 26 | BMI 27 | BMI 28 | BMI 29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4' 10" | 119 | 124 | 129 | 134 | 138 |
| 4' 11" | 124 | 128 | 133 | 138 | 143 |
| 5' 0" | 128 | 133 | 138 | 143 | 148 |
| 5' 1" | 132 | 137 | 143 | 148 | 153 |
| 5' 2" | 136 | 142 | 147 | 153 | 158 |
| 5' 3" | 141 | 146 | 152 | 158 | 163 |
| 5' 4" | 145 | 151 | 157 | 163 | 169 |
| 5' 5" | 150 | 156 | 162 | 168 | 174 |
| 5' 6" | 155 | 161 | 167 | 173 | 179 |
| 5' 7" | 159 | 166 | 172 | 178 | 185 |
| 5' 8" | 164 | 171 | 177 | 184 | 190 |
| 5' 9" | 169 | 176 | 182 | 189 | 196 |
| 5' 10" | 174 | 181 | 188 | 195 | 202 |
| 5' 11" | 179 | 186 | 193 | 200 | 208 |
| 6' 0" | 184 | 191 | 199 | 206 | 213 |
| 6' 1" | 189 | 197 | 204 | 212 | 219 |
| 6' 2" | 194 | 202 | 210 | 218 | 225 |
| 6' 3" | 200 | 208 | 216 | 224 | 232 |
| 6' 4" | 205 | 213 | 221 | 230 | 238 |
Obese: BMI 30 to 34 (weight in pounds)
| Height | BMI 30 | BMI 31 | BMI 32 | BMI 33 | BMI 34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4' 10" | 143 | 148 | 153 | 158 | 162 |
| 4' 11" | 148 | 153 | 158 | 163 | 168 |
| 5' 0" | 153 | 158 | 163 | 168 | 174 |
| 5' 1" | 158 | 164 | 169 | 174 | 180 |
| 5' 2" | 164 | 169 | 175 | 180 | 186 |
| 5' 3" | 169 | 175 | 180 | 186 | 191 |
| 5' 4" | 174 | 180 | 186 | 192 | 197 |
| 5' 5" | 180 | 186 | 192 | 198 | 204 |
| 5' 6" | 186 | 192 | 198 | 204 | 210 |
| 5' 7" | 191 | 198 | 204 | 211 | 217 |
| 5' 8" | 197 | 203 | 210 | 216 | 223 |
| 5' 9" | 203 | 209 | 216 | 223 | 230 |
| 5' 10" | 209 | 216 | 222 | 229 | 236 |
| 5' 11" | 215 | 222 | 229 | 236 | 243 |
| 6' 0" | 221 | 228 | 235 | 242 | 250 |
| 6' 1" | 227 | 235 | 242 | 250 | 257 |
| 6' 2" | 233 | 241 | 249 | 256 | 264 |
| 6' 3" | 240 | 248 | 256 | 264 | 272 |
| 6' 4" | 246 | 254 | 263 | 271 | 279 |
Obese: BMI 35 to 39 (weight in pounds)
| Height | BMI 35 | BMI 36 | BMI 37 | BMI 38 | BMI 39 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4' 10" | 167 | 172 | 177 | 181 | 186 |
| 4' 11" | 173 | 178 | 183 | 188 | 193 |
| 5' 0" | 179 | 184 | 189 | 194 | 199 |
| 5' 1" | 185 | 190 | 195 | 201 | 206 |
| 5' 2" | 191 | 196 | 202 | 207 | 213 |
| 5' 3" | 197 | 203 | 208 | 214 | 220 |
| 5' 4" | 204 | 209 | 215 | 221 | 227 |
| 5' 5" | 210 | 216 | 222 | 228 | 234 |
| 5' 6" | 216 | 223 | 229 | 235 | 241 |
| 5' 7" | 223 | 230 | 236 | 242 | 249 |
| 5' 8" | 230 | 236 | 243 | 249 | 256 |
| 5' 9" | 236 | 243 | 250 | 257 | 263 |
| 5' 10" | 243 | 250 | 257 | 264 | 271 |
| 5' 11" | 250 | 257 | 265 | 272 | 279 |
| 6' 0" | 258 | 265 | 272 | 279 | 287 |
| 6' 1" | 265 | 272 | 280 | 288 | 295 |
| 6' 2" | 272 | 280 | 287 | 295 | 303 |
| 6' 3" | 279 | 287 | 295 | 303 | 311 |
| 6' 4" | 287 | 295 | 304 | 312 | 320 |
Extreme obesity starts at BMI 40 (weight in pounds)
| Height | BMI 40 |
|---|---|
| 4' 10" | 191 |
| 4' 11" | 198 |
| 5' 0" | 204 |
| 5' 1" | 211 |
| 5' 2" | 218 |
| 5' 3" | 225 |
| 5' 4" | 232 |
| 5' 5" | 240 |
| 5' 6" | 247 |
| 5' 7" | 255 |
| 5' 8" | 262 |
| 5' 9" | 270 |
| 5' 10" | 278 |
| 5' 11" | 286 |
| 6' 0" | 294 |
| 6' 1" | 302 |
| 6' 2" | 311 |
| 6' 3" | 319 |
| 6' 4" | 328 |
If your weight falls between two columns, your BMI is between those two numbers. For an exact figure, use the BMI calculator.
What BMI tells you about health risk
The NHLBI says the more body fat you have and the more you weigh, the more likely you are to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems and certain cancers (NHLBI).
If you have been diagnosed with overweight or obesity, health professionals recommend losing 5% to 10% of your initial weight over about 6 months (NHLBI). Always talk to your healthcare provider about what your BMI means for you (NHLBI).
What BMI does not tell you
BMI is based on height and weight only. It does not take into account your muscle mass, bone density or body composition, and your healthcare provider will consider whether your BMI is too high or too low for you (NHLBI BMI calculator).
Where you carry fat also matters. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than your hips, you are at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A waist of more than 35 inches for women or more than 40 inches for men increases your risk (NHLBI). Check yours with the waist circumference check or the waist-to-height ratio, or estimate body fat with the relative fat mass calculator.
Common questions
What is a healthy BMI for adults?
A healthy weight for adults is generally a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 (NHLBI).
At what BMI does obesity start?
At 30.0 (NHLBI BMI calculator). NIDDK calls a BMI of 40 or more severe obesity (NIDDK).
How do I measure my waist?
Stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones, and measure just after you breathe out (NHLBI).
Can I use this chart for my child?
No. A child's BMI is compared with growth charts specific to age and sex (NHLBI).
Sources
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). BMI Table ("Are You at a Healthy Weight?"). NIH Publication No. 22-HL-8190, September 2022. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmi_tbl.pdf
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI categories and ranges). www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart-Healthy Living: Aim for a Healthy Weight. Last updated December 11, 2025. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-healthy-living/healthy-weight
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). Adult Overweight and Obesity: Definition and Facts. Last reviewed May 2023. www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/adult-overweight-obesity/definition-facts
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-11-04. Spotted an error? See About.