How do I use a height and weight chart?

Find your height in the left column of the chart, then read across to the healthy weight range shown in pounds and kilograms. If your weight falls within that range, your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, which the WHO and CDC classify as a healthy weight. If you fall outside the range, that is a prompt to discuss your weight with a healthcare provider, not a diagnosis in itself.

Is the height and weight chart different for men and women?

The healthy weight range shown in the chart is identical for men and women at every height, because the WHO and CDC use the same BMI thresholds (18.5 to 24.9) for both sexes. In practice, men tend to sit in the upper part of the healthy range and women in the lower part, because men carry more lean muscle and denser bone on average. The chart does not split by sex because the range is the same; your position within it will naturally reflect your body composition.

Does the chart change with age?

For adults aged 20 and older, the CDC states that the healthy BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 does not change with age, so the chart applies at every adult age. The chart does not apply to children and teenagers, who use age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles instead. Some researchers suggest that adults over 74 may tolerate a slightly higher BMI (around 22 to 26) without added health risk, so older adults should discuss their individual target with their doctor.

What if my weight is outside the healthy range?

Being outside the chart range means your BMI is either below 18.5 (underweight) or above 24.9 (overweight or higher), which can be associated with health risks. However, several factors can place a healthy person outside the standard range, including high muscle mass, a large body frame, age, and differences in fat distribution. If your weight is outside the range, the most useful step is to speak with a doctor or registered dietitian who can assess your full health picture rather than the number alone.

What is the healthy weight for 5 ft 4 in?

At 5 ft 4 in, the healthy weight range is 108 to 145 lb (49 to 66 kg), based on a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. This range applies to both men and women. A person who is very muscular or has a large frame may be healthy at slightly above 145 lb, while someone with a very slight frame may feel best toward the lower end of the range.

Is a height and weight chart accurate?

A height and weight chart is a practical screening tool based on BMI, which is a reliable population-level measure endorsed by the WHO and CDC. It is not a direct measure of body fat or health, and it can misclassify people with unusually high muscle mass (labelling them overweight) or unusually low muscle mass (labelling them healthy despite high body fat). Use the chart as a starting reference alongside other measures such as waist circumference, energy level, blood pressure, and advice from your healthcare provider.

Height and Weight Chart: Healthy Weight for Your Height

A healthy weight is not a single number but a range, and the chart on this page gives that range for every height from 4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 6 in, derived from the standard healthy BMI band of 18.5 to 24.9. Find your height, read across, and you have your healthy weight range in both pounds and kilograms. The range is the same for men and women because the WHO and CDC apply the same BMI thresholds to both sexes. If you want a deeper look at what a healthy weight means for your specific situation, our how much should I weigh guide walks through the question in more detail.

This article is general health information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have concerns about your weight or overall health, please speak with a qualified doctor or registered dietitian.

The complete height and weight chart

Every weight range below comes from the same calculation: the body weight at a BMI of 18.5 (the lower boundary of healthy) and the body weight at a BMI of 24.9 (the upper boundary), for each height. This is the same method used in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) BMI table and endorsed by the WHO and CDC. The range is identical for men and women.

Height	Healthy weight (lb)	Healthy weight (kg)
4 ft 10 in	89 to 119 lb	40 to 54 kg
4 ft 11 in	92 to 123 lb	42 to 56 kg
5 ft 0 in	95 to 127 lb	43 to 58 kg
5 ft 1 in	98 to 132 lb	44 to 60 kg
5 ft 2 in	101 to 136 lb	46 to 62 kg
5 ft 3 in	104 to 141 lb	47 to 64 kg
5 ft 4 in	108 to 145 lb	49 to 66 kg
5 ft 5 in	111 to 150 lb	50 to 68 kg
5 ft 6 in	115 to 154 lb	52 to 70 kg
5 ft 7 in	118 to 159 lb	54 to 72 kg
5 ft 8 in	122 to 164 lb	55 to 74 kg
5 ft 9 in	125 to 169 lb	57 to 77 kg
5 ft 10 in	129 to 174 lb	58 to 79 kg
5 ft 11 in	133 to 179 lb	60 to 81 kg
6 ft 0 in	136 to 184 lb	62 to 83 kg
6 ft 1 in	140 to 189 lb	64 to 86 kg
6 ft 2 in	144 to 194 lb	65 to 88 kg
6 ft 3 in	148 to 199 lb	67 to 90 kg
6 ft 4 in	152 to 205 lb	69 to 93 kg
6 ft 5 in	156 to 210 lb	71 to 95 kg
6 ft 6 in	160 to 215 lb	73 to 98 kg

The chart covers the full adult height range from 4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 6 in. Notice that the healthy range grows wider as height increases: at 4 ft 10 in the span is 30 lb, while at 6 ft 6 in it is 55 lb. That widening reflects how BMI scales with the square of height, so taller people have a naturally broader acceptable weight window.

Where the chart ranges come from: BMI categories explained

Every row in the chart above is anchored to the same four-category BMI framework that the WHO and CDC use. Understanding the categories shows exactly why the chart uses a range rather than a single target number.

BMI category	BMI range
Underweight	Below 18.5
Healthy weight	18.5 to 24.9
Overweight	25 to 29.9
Obesity	30 and above

The height and weight chart simply converts the 18.5 to 24.9 healthy band into pounds and kilograms for each height. The lower number in each chart row is the weight at a BMI of exactly 18.5, and the upper number is the weight at a BMI of exactly 24.9. Any weight inside that range puts your BMI within the healthy band. For a full explanation of what each category means and what a healthy BMI looks like across different ages, see our what is a healthy BMI guide.

How to read the chart: why every height maps to a range

BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Because it is a ratio, not a fixed number, the same height can be healthy at a wide span of weights. A person who is 5 ft 7 in, for example, is healthy anywhere from 118 lb to 159 lb because all of those weights produce a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. There is no single perfect weight for any height, only a range that the body can sustain in good health.

To use the chart, find your height in the first column, then check whether your current weight falls between the two numbers in the pounds column (or the kg column if you prefer metric). If it does, your BMI is in the healthy range. If it is below the lower number, your BMI is under 18.5 (underweight). If it is above the upper number, your BMI is above 24.9 (overweight or higher). Either finding is worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

Men and women: same chart, different typical position

The CDC and WHO apply the same healthy BMI band of 18.5 to 24.9 to all adults regardless of sex, which is why this chart has one set of columns rather than two. The weight range for a given height is not different for men and women.

What does differ, on average, is where within that range men and women tend to land. Men typically carry more lean muscle mass and have denser bones, both of which add weight without adding fat. As a result, men at a given height often sit in the upper half of the healthy range, while women tend to sit in the lower half. Neither position is more or less healthy. The full range is valid for both sexes, and where you land within it depends far more on your individual body composition than on sex alone.

Why a healthy person can fall outside the chart

The chart is a useful population-level reference, but several individual factors can place a genuinely healthy person outside the stated range. It is important to understand these before drawing firm conclusions from a single number.

High muscle mass. Muscle tissue is roughly 18 percent denser than fat. A person who lifts weights regularly or competes in strength sports can weigh more than the chart's upper limit while carrying very little body fat. Their BMI reads as overweight, but their actual health risk is low.
Body frame size. People with a naturally larger skeletal frame (wide hips, large wrists, broader shoulders) carry more bone mass, which adds weight. A large-framed person may be healthy at the top of or slightly above the chart range, while a small-framed person may feel and function best toward the lower end.
Athletic build. Endurance athletes such as distance runners often have a low body fat percentage and a relatively light weight, sometimes sitting near or below the lower boundary of the range. This does not automatically signal underweight or poor health in a well-nourished athlete.
Fat distribution. Two people with the same BMI can have very different health profiles depending on where their body fat is stored. Visceral fat (around the abdomen) is associated with greater cardiometabolic risk than subcutaneous fat (under the skin). A person who falls within the chart range but carries significant abdominal fat may carry more risk than the number implies.
Age and body composition. As adults age, they often lose muscle and gain fat even if their weight stays the same, a process called sarcopenic obesity. An older adult can sit within the healthy weight range on the chart while having a higher body fat percentage than a younger person at the same weight. Some researchers suggest that adults over 74 may tolerate a BMI up to 26 without increased risk, though the evidence is still developing.

These factors do not make the chart useless. For the majority of sedentary to moderately active adults, weight falling within the chart range is a reliable sign of low weight-related health risk. The chart is best understood as a starting point, not a verdict.

What to do with your result

If your weight is within the healthy range for your height, the most productive step is to maintain it through a pattern of regular physical activity and a balanced diet, consistent with CDC and WHO guidance on physical activity for adults. The chart does not tell you anything about fitness, strength, cardiovascular health, blood sugar, or bone density, all of which matter alongside weight.

If your weight is below the healthy range, the priority is understanding why. Low weight can reflect inadequate nutrition, an underlying medical condition, or simply a very slight natural build. A doctor or registered dietitian can help distinguish between these and recommend appropriate next steps.

If your weight is above the healthy range, a modest reduction of 5 to 10 percent of body weight has been shown to produce meaningful improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol in people who are overweight, according to CDC research. The most effective approach combines dietary changes, increased physical activity, and behavioral support, ideally with guidance from a healthcare team.

When to see a doctor about your weight

Weight is one piece of a broader health picture, and a number on a chart is not a reason to panic or to delay a routine check-up. That said, certain situations make a conversation with a doctor more urgent. Consider scheduling an appointment if:

Your weight has changed significantly (more than 10 lb) without a clear reason.
Your weight sits well outside the healthy range and has done so for some time.
You have additional risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, a family history of heart disease or type 2 diabetes, or significant abdominal fat.
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or recovering from a major illness or surgery, all of which affect what a healthy weight means for you specifically.

For a broader look at whether your weight is where it should be for your height and age, the how much should I weigh article covers body composition, age, and frame size in more depth. To understand the BMI number itself in more detail, see our healthy BMI guide.