What Is a Good BMI for Men and Women by Age?

Published 1 November 2026 by Kloora Tools

Quick answer: for most adults a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is classed as a healthy weight range. 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obese. The same ranges apply to men and women, but BMI is only a screening number. Use the free BMI Calculator to get yours in seconds.

What is a good BMI for a man?

The adult BMI ranges set by the World Health Organization do not change between men and women. A man with a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is in the healthy range. Men often carry more muscle than women of the same height, so a very muscular man can show a BMI of 27 or 28 without carrying excess fat. In that case waist size and body fat tell you more than BMI.

What is a good BMI for a woman?

The same 18.5 to 24.9 range is used. Women usually carry a higher share of body fat than men at the same BMI, which means a woman and a man with identical BMI may have different body composition. Pregnancy changes the picture completely, so BMI is not used during pregnancy. Use your pre-pregnancy value and talk to your doctor instead.

What is a good BMI by age?

For adults 18 and over the cut-offs are the same at every age. Some research suggests that a slightly higher BMI in older adults can be linked to better outcomes, which is why doctors look at the whole picture instead of one number. For children and teenagers BMI is not read with adult cut-offs. It is compared with growth charts for the same age and sex, called BMI-for-age percentiles. If you are checking a child, ask a paediatrician or a school health service.

The BMI categories in one table

How do you calculate BMI?

BMI = weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared.

• Example 1: 70 kg and 1.75 m. 1.75 x 1.75 = 3.0625. 70 / 3.0625 = 22.9. That is in the healthy range.
• Example 2: 85 kg and 1.70 m. 1.70 x 1.70 = 2.89. 85 / 2.89 = 29.4. That is at the top of the overweight range.
• Example 3: 55 kg and 1.60 m. 1.60 x 1.60 = 2.56. 55 / 2.56 = 21.5. Healthy.

With pounds and inches the formula is 703 x pounds / inches squared. The calculator handles both so you do not have to convert.

Is a different BMI cut-off used for South Asians?

Yes, in many guidelines. The WHO has noted that Asian populations can carry more body fat and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease at a lower BMI. Several health bodies in Asia suggest lower action points, often around 23 for overweight and 27.5 for obesity. If you are of South Asian origin, treat 23 as a prompt to look at your waist and lifestyle, and ask your doctor which cut-off they use.

What are the limits of BMI?

• It does not separate muscle from fat, so athletes can look overweight.
• It does not show where fat is stored. Fat around the waist is riskier than fat on the hips.
• It can understate fat in older adults who have lost muscle.
• It is not valid for children with adult tables or for pregnant women.

A simple extra check is waist size. Many health bodies flag extra risk when a man's waist is above about 94 cm (37 in) or a woman's is above about 80 cm (31.5 in). Check the exact numbers used in your country.

What should you do with your result?

If you are in the healthy range, keep your habits steady. If you are above it, small changes such as walking daily, sleeping well and watching sugary drinks make a measurable difference. If you are below it, speak to a doctor to rule out health causes. The Calorie Calculator can estimate how much you need to eat to maintain, lose or gain weight.

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Enter your height and weight in the BMI Calculator. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

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