The BMI is a rough indicator of the ratio between body mass (weight) and body height. It is a rather simple formula – identical for both Male and female users – that allows categorizing values into ranges from underweight to obese.
Use this tool to calculate the BMI for women and men.
What Is the Body Mass Index?
The BMI is a simple fraction with a ratio of body mass and height as a result. It provides a rough order of magnitude whether the weight of a person is appropriate for her/his height. The BMI is popular for its simplicity – it provides a rough assessment based on only 2 input parameters: weight and height. No distinction is made between women and men – the formula is exactly the same (source).
While the calculation is simple and delivers a quick result, one needs to be conscious of the roughness and weaknesses of the outcome. It is obvious that a simple calculation cannot replace a medical examination. The formula also does not take individual characteristics of a body into account and it does not consider the percentage of body fat and weight when using the body mass. Thus, the BMI is too rough to provide detailed medical insights.
However, the Body Mass Index is a good first indicator. It makes transparent whether the weight of a person requires further attention and examination. If this single number serves as a motivation for you to take up a healthier diet or sign up for a gym membership, it is already doing a good job.
The BMI Calculator for Women and Men
This calculator can be used with metric and imperial measures. For the latter, enter your height in inches and weight in lbs. If you select the metric system, enter your height in meters (= centimeters divided by 100) and your weight in kg.
The Body Mass Index Calculator will then determine your BMI and show you a suggestion on how the result can be interpreted.
Interpretation of BMI values
The BMI ratio can be used for a broad classification ranging from underweight (less than 18.5) to obesity (greater than 30). A normal weight is indicated by a BMI value between 18.5 and 25. A BMI of 25 to 30 suggests overweight (source).
| BMI value | Interpretation |
| < 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5–24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0–29.9 | Overweight |
| >= 30.0 | Obesity |
Considering the health risks of overweight and obesity, it is generally recommended that people with a BMI of 25 and more take action – be it in the form of seeking further medical advice or changing to a healthier lifestyle.
How Is the BMI calculated?
The BMI is a simple fraction based on the mass and the height. The formula is the same for both women and men. In a metric system, the BMI is calculated as follows:
BMI = Mass[kg] / Height[m]².
With imperial measures, the calculation is:
BMI = 703 x Mass[lbs] / Height[in]².
The calculator integrated into this article offers a convenient way to determine your BMI using these formulas.
We hope you have found this calculator useful.