BMI Calculator - Feet, Inches and Pounds

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Your BMI position: 24.3 — Normal (WHO)

Your BMI Result
24.3 kg/m² Normal

Your BMI Results

How your BMI was calculated

Formula: BMI = (weight × 703) ÷ height²
Your values: (160 lbs × 703) ÷ (68 in)²
Height squared: (68)² = 4624 in²
Result: 112,480 ÷ 4624 = 24.3 kg/m²

⚖️ Ideal Weight Range

122 lbs — 164 lbs

For 5'8" height (BMI 18.5-24.9)

🎯 Weight Goal

✓ You're on target!

Maintain your current healthy weight

What does a BMI of 24.3 mean?

Your BMI of 24.3 kg/m² is within the healthy normal range.

At 5'8" and 160 lbs, you are maintaining a healthy weight according to WHO standards. Your BMI falls within the optimal range of 18.5-24.9 kg/m².

Tips to maintain your healthy weight:

  • Continue eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables
  • Stay physically active with at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly
  • Monitor your weight periodically to catch any changes early
  • Remember that BMI is just one health indicator—regular check-ups are important

Remember: BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnostic measure. It doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, or where fat is distributed. Always consult healthcare professionals for personalized health advice.

How weight changes affect your BMI

See how gaining or losing a few pounds would change your BMI category:

Weight BMI Category
150 lbs -10 22.8 Normal
155 lbs -5 23.6 Normal
160 lbs ← you 24.3 Normal
165 lbs +5 25.1 Overweight
170 lbs +10 25.8 Overweight

This table shows how your BMI would change with different weights at your current height of 5'8".

This BMI calculator is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. BMI does not account for muscle mass, bone density, or body composition, and may not be accurate for athletes, pregnant women, children, or elderly individuals. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health.

Understanding Body Mass Index: A Comprehensive Guide

What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening tool that estimates body fat based on height and weight. Developed in the 19th century by Belgian statistician Adolphe Quetelet, BMI provides a standardized method to categorize individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It applies to adult men and women aged 18 and over, and is widely used by healthcare professionals worldwide as an initial health assessment tool (Source: CDC).

BMI serves as a population-level screening tool rather than a diagnostic instrument. While it's effective for identifying potential weight-related health risks in large groups, it has important limitations when applied to individuals. Understanding both its utility and limitations is crucial for proper interpretation (Source: Mayo Clinic).

Who Can Use BMI Safely?

BMI works best as a health indicator for:

  • Adults aged 18-65 with average muscle mass and bone density
  • Sedentary to moderately active individuals without high muscle development
  • General population screening for weight-related health risks
  • Tracking long-term weight trends in the same individual over time

Important Limitations of BMI

BMI does not measure body composition directly. It cannot distinguish between muscle mass, bone density, fat mass, and water weight. This fundamental limitation means BMI may be inaccurate for several groups:

Athletes and Bodybuilders: Individuals with significant muscle mass may have "high" BMI (25-30+) despite having low body fat. Muscle is denser and heavier than fat, so athletes like football players, weightlifters, or gymnasts often fall into "overweight" or "obese" categories despite being in excellent physical condition.

Elderly Individuals (65+): Age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) can result in "normal" BMI despite having excess body fat and reduced muscle mass. Bone density loss also affects BMI interpretation in older adults.

Children and Adolescents: Growing bodies require age and sex-specific BMI percentiles, not adult ranges. The CDC and WHO provide specialized BMI-for-age charts for individuals under 18.

Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: Pregnancy-related weight gain is normal and necessary. Standard BMI calculations do not account for fetal development, amniotic fluid, or postpartum recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About BMI

What is a healthy BMI range?

For adults aged 18 and over, a healthy BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m². A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30 or above is obese. However, these ranges should be interpreted with caution as BMI doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, or body composition.

How do I calculate BMI with feet and pounds?

To calculate BMI with imperial units: BMI = (weight in pounds × 703) ÷ (height in inches)². First convert your height to inches (feet × 12 + inches), then square it. Multiply your weight by 703, then divide by the squared height. For example, for 5'8" (68 inches) and 160 lbs: BMI = (160 × 703) ÷ (68 × 68) = 112,480 ÷ 4,624 = 24.3

How accurate is BMI?

BMI is a screening tool that provides a rough estimate of body fat. While useful for population studies, it has limitations for individuals. It doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, doesn't account for bone density or body composition, and may not be accurate for athletes, bodybuilders, pregnant women, elderly people, or certain ethnic groups. For a comprehensive health assessment, consult a healthcare professional.

What should I do if my BMI is too high?

If your BMI is in the overweight or obese range, consider these steps: 1) Consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice and to rule out underlying health conditions. 2) Focus on gradual lifestyle changes rather than crash diets. 3) Increase physical activity - aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. 4) Adopt healthier eating habits with more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. 5) Set realistic goals - losing 1-2 pounds per week is healthy and sustainable.

What is the difference between BMI for men and women?

The BMI calculation formula and standard ranges (18.5-24.9) are the same for both men and women aged 18 and over. However, at the same BMI, women typically have more body fat than men. Men naturally have more muscle mass and less body fat than women. Despite this physiological difference, the WHO and medical organizations use the same BMI categories for both sexes as a simplified screening tool. For more accurate body composition analysis, additional measurements like waist-to-hip ratio or body fat percentage should be considered.

Formulas used to calculate BMI

BMI is calculated as weight divided by height squared. It is a simple measurement of body weight in relation to height. See the formulas below:

Imperial (US) units

BMI = weight (lbs) × 703/(height (inches))2

SI (metric) units

BMI = weight (kg)/(height (m))2

BMI Ranges - Understanding Body Mass Index

The table below applies for any person aged 18 years and over. These thresholds do not change with age and are the same for both men and women. Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Body Mass Index as a measure of obesity - NHS.
Note: BMI is NOT interpreted the same way for children as it is for adults. For children the relationship between fatness and BMI varies with age and sex, so definitions of obesity and overweight need to take these two variables into account. See CDC's BMI guidelines for children.

Body Mass Index Ranges and Weight Categories for Adults
BMI below 16.0 Kg/m2 Severely underweight
BMI = 16.0 to 18.5 Kg/m2 Underweight
BMI = 18.5 to 24.9 Kg/m2 Normal weight
BMI = 25 to 29.9 Kg/m2 Overweight
BMI of 30 or greater Kg/m2 Obese


Excess body fat is correlated to future risk of obesity-related illness. Other measurements you should make are: waist circumference and skin thickness. All these indicate a person's weight status or body fatness.

BMI Chart

Body mass index chart. Thick lines show the major subdivisions, dashed lines other "principal cut-off points", and dotted lines "additional cut-off points".

Popular BMI Calculations

Quick links to common height and weight combinations:

5'5" / 260 lbs BMI 43.3 5'6" / 210 lbs BMI 33.9 5'9" / 230 lbs BMI 34 5'10" / 175 lbs BMI 25.1 6'0" / 175 lbs BMI 23.7 6'2" / 220 lbs BMI 28.2 6'3" / 260 lbs BMI 32.5 6'5" / 135 lbs BMI 16 6'8" / 280 lbs BMI 30.8 4'11" / 95 lbs BMI 19.2 5'2" / 105 lbs BMI 19.2 5'3" / 155 lbs BMI 27.5

Related Health Tools

Useful calculators and converters commonly used with BMI:

Kilograms to Pounds kg/lbs Pounds to Stones lbs/st Feet+Inches to Cm ft/cm Cm to Feet+Inches cm/ft Inches to Cm in/cm BMI Calculator (Metric) m/kg BMI Calculator (UK) st/lbs Ideal Body Weight ft/lbs