BMI Weight by Height: What Should You Weigh at 5'2, 5'6 and 5'7?

For adults, a BMI from 18.5 to less than 25 is classified as the standard healthy-weight category. The same adult BMI categories are used for men and women.

Because BMI is calculated from both height and weight, the corresponding weight changes as height changes. A person who is 5'2 can have a very different weight from someone who is 5'7 while having the same BMI.

How BMI Changes With Height

BMI is calculated using:

BMI = weight in kilograms ÷ height in meters²

When the BMI is held constant, weight changes with the square of height.

To calculate the weight associated with a particular BMI, rearrange the formula:

Weight = BMI × height²

For the standard adult healthy-weight category, the calculation can use BMI values from 18.5 to 24.9.

This means a taller person can weigh more than a shorter person and still have exactly the same BMI.

For example, a BMI of 22 does not correspond to one fixed weight. The answer depends on height.

Healthy BMI Range by Height

The following table shows the approximate weight range corresponding to a BMI of 18.5–24.9 for several adult heights.

BMI Weight Range for Someone 5'2"

A person who is 5 feet 2 inches tall is approximately 1.575 m.

Using the lower BMI boundary:

18.5 × 1.575² ≈ 45.9 kg

Using the upper boundary:

24.9 × 1.575² ≈ 61.8 kg

So the approximate weight range associated with a BMI of 18.5–24.9 is:

45.9–61.8 kg

BMI Weight Range for Someone 5'6"

At 5 feet 6 inches, height is approximately 1.676 m.

Lower boundary:

18.5 × 1.676² ≈ 52.0 kg

Upper boundary:

24.9 × 1.676² ≈ 70.0 kg

So the approximate healthy-BMI weight range is:

52.0–70.0 kg

BMI Weight Range for Someone 5'7"

At 5 feet 7 inches, height is approximately 1.702 m.

Lower boundary:

18.5 × 1.702² ≈ 53.6 kg

Upper boundary:

24.9 × 1.702² ≈ 72.1 kg

Therefore, the approximate healthy-BMI weight range is:

53.6–72.1 kg

What About Other Heights?

You do not need a separate article for every height.

The same formula can be used for 5'3, 5'4, 5'5, 5'8, 5'9, and other heights:

Lower weight = 18.5 × height²

Upper weight = 24.9 × height²

Make sure height is converted to meters before using the metric formula.

For example, someone who is 5'8" is approximately 1.727 m:

18.5 × 1.727² ≈ 55.2 kg

24.9 × 1.727² ≈ 74.3 kg

So the approximate healthy-BMI weight range is 55.2–74.3 kg.

BMI and Weight in Kilograms

If your weight is already in kilograms and height is in centimeters, convert height to meters.

For example:

• Weight = 65 kg
• Height = 165 cm
• Height in meters = 1.65 m

Then:

BMI = 65 ÷ (1.65 × 1.65)

BMI ≈ 23.9

How to Calculate BMI From Height and Weight

To calculate BMI manually:

1. Measure your current weight.
2. Measure your height.
3. Convert height to meters if using kilograms and centimeters.
4. Square your height.
5. Divide weight by height squared.
6. Compare the result with the adult BMI categories.

The metric formula is:

BMI = kg ÷ m²

For pounds and inches, use:

BMI = 703 × weight in pounds ÷ height in inches²

The CDC uses BMI as a screening measure based on weight and height.

You can use the Howtigo BMI Calculator to do the calculation automatically.

Why the Same BMI Corresponds to Different Weights

A BMI number is not a fixed weight.

For example, consider a BMI of 22:

• A shorter person reaches BMI 22 at a lower body weight.
• A taller person reaches BMI 22 at a higher body weight.

Normal Weight vs. Ideal Weight

Normal or healthy BMI weight and ideal body weight are not the same concept.

A BMI-based range gives several weights associated with the standard adult healthy-weight category.

An ideal body weight formula usually produces one reference number based mainly on height and, depending on the formula, sex.

If you want a separate formula-based estimate, use the Howtigo Ideal Body Weight Calculator.

How to Find Your Healthy Weight Range

If you want to check normal weight for height, start with your height and calculate the BMI-based range.

For adults:

Healthy-BMI weight range = 18.5 × height² to 24.9 × height²

For example, at 1.70 m:

18.5 × 1.70² = 53.5 kg

24.9 × 1.70² = 71.9 kg

So the approximate BMI-based range is 53.5–71.9 kg.

Why BMI Is Not a Complete Measure of Health

BMI is useful for screening, but it does not directly measure body fat.

Two people with the same height and weight have the same BMI, but they can still differ in muscle mass, body-fat percentage, and fat distribution.

A muscular person may have a higher BMI because muscle contributes to body weight. Conversely, someone with a BMI in the standard healthy-weight range can still have relatively high body fat.

CDC guidance describes BMI as a screening or surrogate measure rather than a direct measurement of body fat.

Using a BMI Calculator for Other Heights

Enter your current height and weight into the Howtigo BMI Calculator. The calculator can determine your BMI and show the corresponding adult category.

If you are specifically comparing female height and weight, you can also read the Howtigo BMI and Ideal Weight for Women.

If you want a formula-based ideal-weight estimate rather than a BMI range, use the Howtigo Ideal Body Weight Calculator.

Summary

BMI weight by height is useful because the same BMI can correspond to different body weights at different heights.

Key points:

• Adult BMI is calculated from weight and height.
• A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is the standard adult healthy-weight category.
• At 5'2", the approximate healthy-BMI weight range is 45.9–61.8 kg.
• At 5'6", the approximate range is 52.0–70.0 kg.
• At 5'7", the approximate range is 53.6–72.1 kg.
• The same formula works for other heights.
• BMI weight ranges are not the same as ideal body weight formulas.
• BMI does not directly measure body fat or body composition.
• A calculator makes it easier to calculate BMI without manual arithmetic.

For a quick result, use the Howtigo BMI Calculator and interpret the result as a screening reference rather than a definition of your overall health.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Body mass index: Considerations for practitioners. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/25368/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: Anthropometry procedures manual. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/51795/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Adult BMI categories. https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/adult-calculator/bmi-categories.html

Flegal, K. M., Kit, B. K., & Graubard, B. I. (2014). Body mass index categories in observational studies of weight and risk of death. American Journal of Epidemiology, 180(3), 288–296. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwu120