Standard Weight Chart (US lb/in)
This chart computes the BMI-based standard weight range for any adult height in US inches and feet. Enter your height to see three reference points: the lower normal weight (BMI 18.5), the upper normal weight (BMI 24.9), and the midpoint reference (BMI 21.7). An optional weight input shows where your current BMI falls relative to the normal range.
Height Input (US Units)
Results update in real time as you type — no Calculate button needed.
| Height (in) | BMI 18.5 (lb) | BMI 21.7 (lb) | BMI 24.9 (lb) |
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How the Standard Weight Range Is Derived
The standard weight range for adults is based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) formula rearranged for a fixed height. The CDC and WHO define the normal adult BMI range as 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m². Converting to US imperial units (pounds and inches):
weight_lb = BMI × height_in² / 703
The constant 703 = 1 / (0.453592 kg/lb × 0.0254² m²/in²) converts lb/in² into kg/m². The three reference points shown correspond to the lower limit, midpoint, and upper limit of the normal BMI band. The chart is provided for educational reference only and does not account for frame size, lean mass, or body fat distribution.
Full Standard Weight Chart (5'0" to 6'6")
| Height | BMI 18.5 (lb) | BMI 21.7 (lb) | BMI 24.9 (lb) |
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Important Caveats
BMI-based weight ranges are population-level references, not individual targets. Adults with the same height can have substantially different healthy weights due to muscle mass, bone density, body fat distribution, age, and ethnicity. Competitive athletes, for example, often have lean mass that pushes them into the "overweight" BMI category without having excess adipose tissue. The ranges below are not medical recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The chart derives weight from the BMI formula: weight_lb = BMI × height_in² / 703. The 703 factor converts pounds per square inch into kilograms per square meter. Three reference BMI values are used: 18.5 (lower normal limit), 24.9 (upper normal limit), and 21.7 (midpoint).
- Public health authorities use a range because healthy body composition varies significantly at any given height. Age, sex, frame size, muscle mass, and body fat distribution all influence healthy weight. A single "ideal" weight does not capture this variation.
- BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnostic. Values outside 18.5–24.9 may warrant further evaluation but do not by themselves indicate a health problem. Athletic individuals may have higher BMI due to lean mass rather than adipose tissue.
- Adult BMI cut-offs (18.5, 25, 30) are the same for men and women aged 20+. Children and teens use age- and sex-specific BMI-for-age percentile charts from the CDC.