A walkthrough, end to end.
- 1
Enter your height. The calculator finds the weight range that gives a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 — the WHO 'healthy weight' band.
- 2
See additional ranges: BMI 22 midpoint, overweight threshold, obese threshold.
- 3
Use the range as a directional reference, not a strict target. Athletic body composition can be 'overweight' by BMI without being unhealthy.
BMI ranges (WHO)
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)². Healthy: 18.5–24.9. Solving for weight at a given height: weight = BMI × height². The healthy range spans about 6 BMI points = ~17 kg for an average-height adult.
What you can do with this.
Healthy weight for women / men
BMI doesn't differ by sex; the WHO healthy range applies to both adults. Body composition does differ — women have higher essential body fat — but the BMI band is the same.
BMI's limits
BMI doesn't account for muscle mass. A muscular athlete at 95 kg / 180 cm has BMI 29.3 ('overweight') without excess body fat. Track waist circumference and body fat % alongside.
Healthy weight goal vs. ideal weight
'Ideal weight' formulas (Devine, Robinson) give a single number. The healthy-weight band is a range. The range is more honest — there's no single 'ideal' weight at a given height.
Healthy weight for kids and teens
BMI for children uses age- and sex-specific percentiles, not the adult 18.5–24.9 band. This calculator is built for adults; for children, use a CDC pediatric BMI-for-age chart with your provider.
Healthy weight for older adults (65+)
Recent geriatric guidelines suggest the healthy band may shift up to BMI 23–30 for adults 65+, since slightly higher BMI correlates with lower mortality in this age group.
Asian healthy weight thresholds
WHO recommends a lower overweight cutoff of 23 for some Asian populations because cardiometabolic risk rises at lower BMI. If you're in this group, BMI 18.5–22.9 is the more relevant band.
Waist circumference complement
Waist >40 in (men) / >35 in (women) signals elevated risk regardless of BMI. Track both — central adiposity matters more than total weight for cardiovascular disease.
When BMI overstates health risk
Bodybuilders, sprinters and powerlifters routinely sit in the overweight or obese BMI bands without elevated metabolic risk. DEXA or body-fat % testing is the disambiguation.
Healthy weight calculator 2026 — what's current
Modern body-comp scales (and DEXA at $50–$100 per scan) make body-fat % testing accessible. Use BMI as a quick population-screen baseline; layer body-fat % and waist circumference for the individual picture.
Frequently asked.
It's a population-level screening tool, not a diagnostic. It doesn't distinguish muscle from fat. Use alongside waist circumference, body fat %, and clinical context.
BMI 24 is fully healthy for most people. The category is a band, not a target — you don't need to optimize toward 18.5.
Yes — many athletes have BMIs in the 'overweight' range. Conversely, low BMI in older adults can indicate sarcopenia and elevated mortality risk.
0.5–1% of body weight per week is the sustainable rate for most. Faster loss tends to come with greater muscle loss and rebound — slow and steady wins long-term.
Going below BMI 18.5 carries risks (bone loss, hormone disruption, immune function). Discuss with your provider before targeting a sub-18.5 weight; for most adults the healthy band is the floor.
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