Short answer: For women aged 20 and over, a healthy BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. Under 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obesity. These are the same numbers used for men: the CDC uses one adult scale regardless of age, sex or race. (Source: CDC Adult BMI Categories)
BMI chart for women by height (pounds)
A healthy weight for a 5 ft 4 in woman is 108 to 145 pounds. Find your height below to see the range for you. The ranges are the same ones as on our BMI chart by height and weight, and you can also get a printable BMI chart.
| Height | Underweight | Healthy weight | Overweight | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | under 89 lb | 89 to 119 lb | 120 to 143 lb | 144 lb or more |
| 4 ft 11 in | under 92 lb | 92 to 123 lb | 124 to 148 lb | 149 lb or more |
| 5 ft 0 in | under 95 lb | 95 to 127 lb | 128 to 153 lb | 154 lb or more |
| 5 ft 1 in | under 98 lb | 98 to 132 lb | 133 to 158 lb | 159 lb or more |
| 5 ft 2 in | under 101 lb | 101 to 136 lb | 137 to 163 lb | 164 lb or more |
| 5 ft 3 in | under 105 lb | 105 to 140 lb | 141 to 169 lb | 170 lb or more |
| 5 ft 4 in | under 108 lb | 108 to 145 lb | 146 to 174 lb | 175 lb or more |
| 5 ft 5 in | under 111 lb | 111 to 149 lb | 150 to 179 lb | 180 lb or more |
| 5 ft 6 in | under 115 lb | 115 to 154 lb | 155 to 185 lb | 186 lb or more |
| 5 ft 7 in | under 118 lb | 118 to 159 lb | 160 to 191 lb | 192 lb or more |
| 5 ft 8 in | under 122 lb | 122 to 164 lb | 165 to 196 lb | 197 lb or more |
| 5 ft 9 in | under 125 lb | 125 to 168 lb | 169 to 202 lb | 203 lb or more |
| 5 ft 10 in | under 129 lb | 129 to 173 lb | 174 to 208 lb | 209 lb or more |
| 5 ft 11 in | under 133 lb | 133 to 178 lb | 179 to 214 lb | 215 lb or more |
| 6 ft 0 in | under 137 lb | 137 to 183 lb | 184 to 220 lb | 221 lb or more |
BMI chart for women in kg
| Height | Underweight | Healthy weight | Overweight | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | under 42 kg | 42 to 56 kg | 57 to 67 kg | 68 kg or more |
| 155 cm | under 45 kg | 45 to 59 kg | 60 to 71 kg | 72 kg or more |
| 160 cm | under 48 kg | 48 to 63 kg | 64 to 76 kg | 77 kg or more |
| 165 cm | under 51 kg | 51 to 67 kg | 68 to 81 kg | 82 kg or more |
| 170 cm | under 54 kg | 54 to 72 kg | 73 to 86 kg | 87 kg or more |
| 175 cm | under 57 kg | 57 to 76 kg | 77 to 91 kg | 92 kg or more |
| 180 cm | under 60 kg | 60 to 80 kg | 81 to 97 kg | 98 kg or more |
Is BMI different for women?
- No, not for adults. The CDC says that for adults 20 and older, BMI categories are based on BMI "regardless of age, sex, or race". (CDC Adult BMI Categories)
- The NIH (NHLBI) says BMI "applies to adult men and women" and does not take muscle mass, bone density or body composition into account. (NHLBI Calculate Your BMI)
- Sex does matter for children and teens: they are compared on separate growth charts for girls and boys. See BMI chart by age.
- For context, worldwide the WHO reports that in 2024, 45% of adults aged 18 and over were overweight: 45% of women and 44% of men. (WHO fact sheet)
BMI chart for women by age
There is no official separate BMI chart for women by age. From age 20 the same categories apply at every age. What changes with age is body make-up, so talk to a doctor about what your number means for you. The BMI calculator for women above asks for your age only to tell adults (20 and over) from children and teens.
For women over 50 and 60, see the BMI chart for seniors and women over 60. For the full explanation, see BMI chart by age.
Waist size for women
- The NIH (NHLBI) says a waist of more than 35 inches for women (40 inches for men) increases risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes when fat is mostly around the waist. Measure just above the hipbones, after breathing out. (NHLBI Healthy Weight)
- The NHS says to try to keep your waist to less than half your height, and suggests the waist-to-height check if your BMI is under 35. (NHS Overweight and obesity)
Work it out with the waist-to-height ratio chart.
When BMI is not the right tool
- Pregnancy: adult BMI charts are not meant for pregnancy. Ask your midwife or doctor. (The NHS adult BMI calculator says it should not be used by people who are pregnant.)
- Eating disorders: the NHS says not to use its BMI calculator if you have, or think you may have, an eating disorder. If that is a worry for you, you are not alone, and a doctor can help. See the NHS page.
- Lots of muscle: BMI cannot tell muscle from fat. See BMI for athletes.
- Ethnic background: the NHS uses lower cut-offs (overweight from 23, obese from 27.5) for South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds. See the Asian BMI chart. (NHS Overweight and obesity)
Questions
What is a healthy BMI for a woman?
18.5 to 24.9, for women aged 20 and over. It is the same range as for men.
What is a healthy weight for a 5'4" woman?
108 to 145 lb (BMI 18.5 to 24.9).
Is a BMI of 25 bad for a woman?
A BMI of 25 is the start of the overweight range, just above healthy weight. It is a screening number, not a diagnosis; a doctor can tell you what it means for you.
What BMI is obese for a woman?
30 or more, the same as for men. 30 to 34.9 is class 1, 35 to 39.9 class 2 and 40 or more class 3. See BMI categories.
Does BMI change for women over 50 or 60?
The official adult categories do not change with age. See the BMI chart for seniors for what research says about older adults.
Can I use this calculator if I'm pregnant?
No. Adult BMI charts are not meant for pregnancy. Ask your midwife or doctor.
Sources
- CDC: Adult BMI Categories.
- CDC: BMI Frequently Asked Questions.
- NIH (NHLBI): Calculate Your BMI.
- NIH (NHLBI): Healthy Weight (waist circumference).
- WHO: Obesity and overweight fact sheet.
- NHS: Overweight and obesity.
- NHS: Calculate your BMI for adults.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-09. Checked against the sources listed on this page.
BMI is a screening estimate, not a diagnosis and not medical advice. It does not measure body fat directly. For health questions, talk to a doctor or nurse.