By the Tooliday Team. Last updated 14 November 2026.
People often ask, “What should I weigh for my height?” There is no single right answer, but BMI offers a useful starting range. This article shows how to turn the BMI bands into a weight range for any height, with a ready table. To calculate your own BMI, use our BMI Calculator, and see How to Calculate BMI for the basics.
From BMI to weight
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². Turn it around and weight = BMI × height². The World Health Organization’s general adult range for “normal weight” is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, so:
Lower weight = 18.5 × height² | Upper weight = 24.9 × height²
For a height of 1.70 m, height² is 2.89, so the range is 18.5 × 2.89 = 53.5 kg to 24.9 × 2.89 = 72.0 kg.
Ready reckoner (adults)
| Height | BMI 18.5 to 24.9 (kg) |
|---|---|
| 150 cm | 41.6 to 56.0 |
| 155 cm | 44.4 to 59.8 |
| 160 cm | 47.4 to 63.7 |
| 165 cm | 50.4 to 67.8 |
| 170 cm | 53.5 to 72.0 |
| 175 cm | 56.7 to 76.3 |
| 180 cm | 59.9 to 80.7 |
| 185 cm | 63.3 to 85.2 |
Why the range is wide
At 170 cm the range spans almost 19 kg. Two people of the same height can both be healthy at quite different weights because of frame size, muscle mass and body composition. A weight at either end of the range is not automatically better or worse.
Different cut-offs for some populations
Research shows that people of South Asian origin can carry more health risk at lower BMI values. Some Asian-specific guidelines therefore treat a BMI of 23 or above as overweight and 25 or above as obese, instead of the standard 25 and 30. If this applies to you, your doctor may use those cut-offs, and the upper end of your range would be lower than in the table. At 170 cm, a BMI of 23 corresponds to about 66.5 kg.
What BMI cannot tell you
- It does not separate muscle from fat, so a muscular person can show a high BMI.
- It does not show where fat is stored. Fat around the waist carries more risk, and waist measurement is a useful addition.
- It is not designed for children and teenagers, who are assessed on growth charts, or for pregnancy.
- It does not account for older adults, who may need a somewhat different range.
Use the table as a rough guide, and talk to a doctor or registered dietitian about a weight goal that suits you.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose or treat any condition. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional about your health.