Healthy Weight Range for Your Height Calculator
The healthy weight range for your height is every weight that gives a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, the healthy range the Department of Health uses for adults. At 170 cm, for example, that is about 53.4 to 72.1 kg.
The range is a guide, not a target. It cannot tell muscle from fat, and outcomes vary between individuals.
Last updated: November 2026
Work out your healthy weight range
Enter your age and your height in centimetres. The calculator asks for your age because it shows a second range for people over 70. From 18 to 70, the range is the same at every age. The calculator is for adults aged 18 and over. It does not cover pregnancy, so please talk to a GP about that time.
Healthy weight range for your height
Range some researchers suggest for over 70s
This calculator does the arithmetic only. Outcomes vary between individuals. For personal advice, talk to a registered health practitioner such as a GP.
Healthy Weight Range by Height
The table covers 150 to 190 cm, because BMI should not be used as a guide for adults outside those heights (Better Health Channel). The feet and inches are rounded to the nearest inch.
| Height | Feet and inches | Healthy weight range |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4 ft 11 | 41.6 to 56.1 kg |
| 155 cm | 5 ft 1 | 44.4 to 59.9 kg |
| 160 cm | 5 ft 3 | 47.3 to 63.8 kg |
| 165 cm | 5 ft 5 | 50.3 to 67.9 kg |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 7 | 53.4 to 72.1 kg |
| 175 cm | 5 ft 9 | 56.6 to 76.4 kg |
| 180 cm | 5 ft 11 | 59.8 to 80.8 kg |
| 185 cm | 6 ft 1 | 63.2 to 85.3 kg |
| 190 cm | 6 ft 3 | 66.7 to 90.0 kg |
The result is a band of weights, not one ideal weight, and the same table applies to women and men.
How the Range Is Worked Out
BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres, squared. Turning that around gives a weight range for any height: multiply your height in metres squared by each end of the healthy BMI range.
For example, for a person who is 180 cm tall:
- height in metres, squared: 1.8 x 1.8 = 3.24
- lower end: 18.5 x 3.24 = 59.94 kg
- upper end: 24.9 x 3.24 = 80.68 kg
The calculator rounds BMI to one decimal place, as the BMI calculator does, so it shows 59.8 to 80.8 kg at this height, slightly wider than the plain sum. This example is arithmetic only.
What the Range Misses
The sum uses only your height, so it cannot see the things below. The usefulness of BMI can depend on your body shape, age, sex or ethnic origin (healthdirect).
- Muscle. BMI cannot tell what amount of your weight is fat or muscle. A person with a lot of muscle bulk, such as a body builder, can weigh more than the top of the range for their height without being overweight.
- Age. From 18 to 70, the calculator shows the same range at every age. The healthy range is generally higher for older people (Department of Health), and the calculator adds a second range for people over 70. BMI can also under-estimate body fat in older people.
- Frame and body shape. Nothing in the sum measures your frame or where you carry weight. Two people of the same height get the same range, whatever their build.
Ethnic background, height and physical disability can also change how well BMI fits, and the adult ranges do not apply to children. The What BMI Misses section of the BMI calculator covers those groups.
Where your body stores fat also matters. A waist measurement adds what a weight range leaves out, and the BMI calculator lists the Australian waist figures.
If Your Weight Is Outside the Range
A weight under the range can mean your body is not getting enough nutrition. If you are worried about your weight or your eating, please talk to a GP.
A weight above the range can mean a higher chance of some chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. For many people, reaching a healthy BMI is not realistic. Losing as little as 5% of your body weight can bring health benefits, and the focus can be on behaviour change and improved health, not weight loss goals (healthdirect). Outcomes vary between individuals.
More physical activity and a healthier diet can both lower the chance of disease (healthdirect):
- Healthy eating. Build meals from the five food groups, and limit foods and drinks with saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol.
- Physical activity. Australia's guidelines for adults aged 18 to 64 suggest 30 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days, plus muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week. Older adults have their own recommendations.
If your weight is above the range and a GP agrees weight loss suits you, the calorie deficit calculator may help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy BMI range?
For adults, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is classed as a healthy weight. Under 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or more falls into the obese classes. This calculator turns the healthy band into kilograms for your height. The band is a guide only, and it fits some people less well.
What is a healthy weight for a man who is 5 foot 7?
A height of 5 foot 7 is about 170 cm, and the healthy range at 170 cm is about 53.4 to 72.1 kg. This range is the same for a woman of that height, because the adult BMI ranges are not split by sex. This band does not point to one ideal weight.
Is 68 kg overweight at 165 cm?
On BMI alone, it sits at the very start of the overweight range. A weight of 68 kg at 165 cm gives a BMI of 25.0, and the healthy range at that height ends at 67.9 kg. This is arithmetic only. A waist measurement and a talk with a GP give a fuller picture.
Is 75 kg a healthy weight for a woman?
It depends on her height. The adult BMI ranges are not split by sex, and 75 kg falls in the healthy band from about 174 cm to 190 cm, the top of the table above. Below about 174 cm, it gives a BMI of 25 or more. The calculator above shows the range for your own height.
Is the healthy weight range different for men and women?
No. The Australian BMI table has one set of adult ranges, so the same height gives the same range. That does not make BMI equally useful for everyone, as sex is one of the things that can affect it. The waist figures that show increased risk do differ, at 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women.
What is the healthy BMI range for older adults?
Australian sources give different figures. Some researchers suggest 22 to 26 for Australians over 70 (Better Health Channel), and the Nutrient Reference Values say a somewhat higher range of 22 to 27 may be warranted for the elderly. The calculator shows the 22 to 26 band if you enter an age over 70. A GP can advise which range applies to you.
References
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Body mass index (BMI) and waist measurement. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/overweight-and-obesity/bmi-and-waist
- healthdirect. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/procedures/health-screenings/body-mass-index-bmi-and-waist-circumference
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Government). Body mass index (BMI). https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/body-mass-index-bmi
- Eat for Health (NHMRC). Nutrient Reference Values: dietary energy. https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/dietary-energy
- Eat for Health (NHMRC). Australian dietary guidelines 1 to 5. https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-dietary-guidelines-1-5
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Recommendations for adults (18 to 64 years). https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity/24-hour-movement-guidelines-for-all-australians/recommendations-for-adults-18-to-64-years
This page is general information only and does not replace individual medical advice. Please speak with a registered Australian healthcare practitioner about your own circumstances.