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BMI Calculator

Utility Tools

Calculate body mass index in metric or imperial units.

Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded

GuideHow to calculate BMI — and what it does not tell youThe formula in metric and imperial, the standard bands, why the thresholds differ in India, and the measurement that tracks health risk better.

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Features

  • Metric or imperial input.
  • Shows which band the result falls in, on a visual scale.
  • Gives the healthy weight range for your height, which is the more useful number.
  • Explains the limits of BMI rather than presenting it as a verdict.
  • Calculated in your browser — nothing about your body is uploaded.

How to use the BMI Calculator

  1. 1Choose metric or imperial.
  2. 2Enter your height and weight.
  3. 3Read the BMI, the band, and the healthy weight range for your height.

Frequently asked questions

How is BMI calculated?

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. For imperial units the same figure comes from weight in pounds divided by height in inches squared, multiplied by 703. The conventional bands are: under 18.5 underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 healthy, 25 to 29.9 overweight, and 30 or above obese.

Is BMI accurate for everyone?

No, and it was never designed to be. It was devised in the 1830s to describe populations, not to assess individuals, and it takes no account of body composition. Muscle is denser than fat, so athletes routinely score as overweight while carrying very little of it; older adults who have lost muscle can score as healthy while carrying a great deal. It also ignores where fat is distributed, which matters more for health risk than the total.

Do the thresholds differ by ethnicity?

Yes. Health risks associated with a given BMI appear at lower values in South Asian, Chinese and other Asian populations, and several health authorities — including in India — use a lower threshold of around 23 for overweight rather than 25. If that applies to you, read the standard bands as conservative.

What is a better measure?

Waist circumference, or waist-to-height ratio, tracks health risk more closely than BMI because it reflects where fat is carried rather than only how much. A useful rule of thumb is keeping your waist under half your height. Neither replaces a conversation with a doctor.

Does BMI work for children?

Not in this form. Children are assessed against age- and sex-specific percentile charts rather than fixed bands, because a healthy BMI changes considerably through growth. Use a paediatric chart, or ask your doctor.