Height to Weight Chart for Adult Women and Men
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 30 Nov 2017 - Updated: 27 Jul 2026
Publication Type: Conversion, Calculation
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This page presents two separate sets of figures that are often confused with one another. The first chart gives the healthy weight range for each height, calculated from the body mass index classification used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for adults aged 20 and older, along with the weight at which the overweight and obesity categories begin. The second chart reports the average height, weight and body mass index actually measured in U.S. adults by sex and age group, taken from CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The distinction matters: the average adult in the United States now measures above the healthy weight range, so being close to average is not the same as being in the healthy range. Maintaining a weight within the healthy range is associated with lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. Every figure on this page is reproduced or calculated directly from published CDC and NHLBI data, with the sources and derivation method set out in full below.
At a Glance
- 1 - For adults aged 20 and older a healthy weight is defined as a body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9, which works out to 125 to 168 pounds (56.7 to 76.2 kg) at 5 feet 9 inches, and 108 to 145 pounds (49.0 to 65.8 kg) at 5 feet 4 inches.
- 2 - The same thresholds apply to women and men. CDC states that for adults 20 and older, BMI categories are based on BMI regardless of age, sex or race, so there is no separate healthy range for each sex.
- 3 - Measured averages sit well above the healthy range. CDC records a mean BMI of 29.4 for men and 30.0 for women aged 20 and older, placing the typical U.S. adult in the overweight or obesity category.
- 4 - Where weight loss is advised, the standard clinical target is 5% to 10% of starting weight over about six months. A loss of just 3% to 5% can already lower triglyceride and blood glucose levels.
Topic Definition
- Height to Weight
Height to weight refers to the relationship between a person's stature and body mass, most commonly expressed through body mass index (BMI), which is weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. For adults aged 20 and older, CDC classifies a BMI below 18.5 as underweight, 18.5 to less than 25 as healthy weight, 25 to less than 30 as overweight, and 30 or greater as obesity. BMI is a screening measure rather than a diagnosis: it estimates body mass relative to height but does not measure body fat directly, distinguish muscle from fat, or show where fat is stored. Height to weight proportionate describes a person who is neither over nor underweight for their stature.
Overview
Jump to:
Healthy Weight Chart - Measured Averages - Data Sources - References
What is Considered the Right Weight for My Height?
Finding the right weight for your height is not about chasing a single perfect number on the scale. The healthy range below, and our Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator, compare your weight to your height and nothing else. They do not account for muscle mass, bone density, body composition, fat distribution or medical history, all of which affect what is healthiest for an individual. A very muscular person can fall in the overweight category while carrying little excess fat, and two people of identical height and weight can differ substantially in health risk depending on where that weight sits. What matters most is maintaining a weight that supports your energy levels, allows you to move comfortably, and reduces your risk of chronic conditions. Use the chart as a starting point for a conversation with your healthcare provider rather than as a verdict.
NOTE: The charts below are for adult women and men aged 20 and older. We provide separate Height to Weight Charts for Teenage Girls and Boys, because BMI for anyone under 20 must be interpreted against age and sex specific growth percentiles rather than the fixed adult thresholds used here. All figures are shown in both imperial and metric units, that is inches and centimeters, pounds and kilograms. If you use the stones and pounds system, our chart to convert stones to pounds and kilograms may help. You may also be interested in our chart showing the average height of men and women by country.
Healthy Weight Range by Height for Adults
The healthy weight range in the table below is the span of weights that produces a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 at each height. The two right hand columns give the weight at which the overweight category begins (BMI 25.0) and the weight at which the obesity category begins (BMI 30.0). Because CDC applies the same BMI thresholds to all adults aged 20 and older regardless of sex, a single range is shown for each height rather than separate columns for women and men.
| Height | Healthy Weight Range | Overweight Begins At | Obesity Begins At |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4' 6" (137 cm) | 77-103 lb. (34.9-46.7 kg) | 104 lb. (47.2 kg) | 125 lb. (56.7 kg) |
| 4' 7" (140 cm) | 80-107 lb. (36.3-48.5 kg) | 108 lb. (49.0 kg) | 129 lb. (58.5 kg) |
| 4' 8" (142 cm) | 83-111 lb. (37.6-50.3 kg) | 112 lb. (50.8 kg) | 134 lb. (60.8 kg) |
| 4' 9" (145 cm) | 86-115 lb. (39.0-52.2 kg) | 116 lb. (52.6 kg) | 139 lb. (63.0 kg) |
| 4' 10" (147 cm) | 89-119 lb. (40.4-54.0 kg) | 120 lb. (54.4 kg) | 144 lb. (65.3 kg) |
| 4' 11" (150 cm) | 92-123 lb. (41.7-55.8 kg) | 124 lb. (56.2 kg) | 149 lb. (67.6 kg) |
| 5' 0" (152 cm) | 95-127 lb. (43.1-57.6 kg) | 128 lb. (58.1 kg) | 154 lb. (69.9 kg) |
| 5' 1" (155 cm) | 98-132 lb. (44.5-59.9 kg) | 133 lb. (60.3 kg) | 159 lb. (72.1 kg) |
| 5' 2" (157 cm) | 101-136 lb. (45.8-61.7 kg) | 137 lb. (62.1 kg) | 164 lb. (74.4 kg) |
| 5' 3" (160 cm) | 105-140 lb. (47.6-63.5 kg) | 141 lb. (64.0 kg) | 170 lb. (77.1 kg) |
| 5' 4" (163 cm) | 108-145 lb. (49.0-65.8 kg) | 146 lb. (66.2 kg) | 175 lb. (79.4 kg) |
| 5' 5" (165 cm) | 111-149 lb. (50.3-67.6 kg) | 150 lb. (68.0 kg) | 180 lb. (81.6 kg) |
| 5' 6" (168 cm) | 115-154 lb. (52.2-69.9 kg) | 155 lb. (70.3 kg) | 186 lb. (84.4 kg) |
| 5' 7" (170 cm) | 118-159 lb. (53.5-72.1 kg) | 160 lb. (72.6 kg) | 192 lb. (87.1 kg) |
| 5' 8" (173 cm) | 122-164 lb. (55.3-74.4 kg) | 165 lb. (74.8 kg) | 197 lb. (89.4 kg) |
| 5' 9" (175 cm) | 125-168 lb. (56.7-76.2 kg) | 169 lb. (76.7 kg) | 203 lb. (92.1 kg) |
| 5' 10" (178 cm) | 129-173 lb. (58.5-78.5 kg) | 174 lb. (78.9 kg) | 209 lb. (94.8 kg) |
| 5' 11" (180 cm) | 133-178 lb. (60.3-80.7 kg) | 179 lb. (81.2 kg) | 215 lb. (97.5 kg) |
| 6' 0" (183 cm) | 137-183 lb. (62.1-83.0 kg) | 184 lb. (83.5 kg) | 221 lb. (100.2 kg) |
| 6' 1" (185 cm) | 140-189 lb. (63.5-85.7 kg) | 190 lb. (86.2 kg) | 228 lb. (103.4 kg) |
| 6' 2" (188 cm) | 144-194 lb. (65.3-88.0 kg) | 195 lb. (88.5 kg) | 234 lb. (106.1 kg) |
| 6' 3" (191 cm) | 148-199 lb. (67.1-90.3 kg) | 200 lb. (90.7 kg) | 240 lb. (108.9 kg) |
| 6' 4" (193 cm) | 152-204 lb. (68.9-92.5 kg) | 205 lb. (93.0 kg) | 247 lb. (112.0 kg) |
| 6' 5" (196 cm) | 156-210 lb. (70.8-95.3 kg) | 211 lb. (95.7 kg) | 253 lb. (114.8 kg) |
| 6' 6" (198 cm) | 160-215 lb. (72.6-97.5 kg) | 216 lb. (98.0 kg) | 260 lb. (117.9 kg) |
| 6' 7" (201 cm) | 164-221 lb. (74.4-100.2 kg) | 222 lb. (100.7 kg) | 266 lb. (120.7 kg) |
| 6' 8" (203 cm) | 168-227 lb. (76.2-103.0 kg) | 228 lb. (103.4 kg) | 273 lb. (123.8 kg) |
| 6' 9" (206 cm) | 173-232 lb. (78.5-105.2 kg) | 233 lb. (105.7 kg) | 280 lb. (127.0 kg) |
| 6' 10" (208 cm) | 177-238 lb. (80.3-108.0 kg) | 239 lb. (108.4 kg) | 287 lb. (130.2 kg) |
| 6' 11" (211 cm) | 181-244 lb. (82.1-110.7 kg) | 245 lb. (111.1 kg) | 294 lb. (133.4 kg) |
| 7' 0" (213 cm) | 186-250 lb. (84.4-113.4 kg) | 251 lb. (113.9 kg) | 301 lb. (136.5 kg) |
Note: Earlier versions of this page showed separate healthy weight columns for women and men, produced by extrapolating linearly from a mid height anchor. That method drifted away from the BMI thresholds at the extremes, so that the range shown for the shortest heights fell almost entirely within the underweight category and the range shown for the tallest heights extended into the overweight category. The table above is calculated directly from the BMI thresholds at every height, so it now agrees with CDC's classification across the full range. Neither CDC nor the World Health Organization publishes sex specific healthy weight ranges for adults, and the earlier two column format has therefore been retired.
Average Measured Height, Weight and BMI of U.S. Adults by Age
The figures below are the measured population means published by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, August 2021 to August 2023. They are reproduced from the source tables without adjustment. Unlike the chart above, these are descriptive statistics: they record what adults in the United States actually measure, not what any authority recommends. Height and weight are shown in both unit systems, followed by the published mean body mass index and, for continuity with earlier versions of this page, the simple weight to height ratio in pounds per inch.
| Age Group | Mean Height | Mean Weight | Mean BMI | Ratio (lb/in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 69.4" (176.3 cm) | 191.3 lb. (86.8 kg) | 27.8 | 2.76 |
| 30-39 | 69.3" (176.1 cm) | 201.5 lb. (91.4 kg) | 29.5 | 2.91 |
| 40-49 | 69.4" (176.4 cm) | 210.1 lb. (95.3 kg) | 30.5 | 3.03 |
| 50-59 | 68.6" (174.3 cm) | 203.0 lb. (92.1 kg) | 30.2 | 2.96 |
| 60-69 | 68.8" (174.7 cm) | 196.7 lb. (89.2 kg) | 29.2 | 2.86 |
| 70-79 | 67.9" (172.4 cm) | 193.4 lb. (87.7 kg) | 29.4 | 2.85 |
| 80 and older | 67.1" (170.5 cm) | 180.1 lb. (81.7 kg) | 27.8 | 2.68 |
| All aged 20 and older | 68.9" (175.1 cm) | 199.0 lb. (90.3 kg) | 29.4 | 2.89 |
| Age Group | Mean Height | Mean Weight | Mean BMI | Ratio (lb/in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 64.4" (163.5 cm) | 164.9 lb. (74.8 kg) | 28.0 | 2.56 |
| 30-39 | 64.0" (162.5 cm) | 178.3 lb. (80.9 kg) | 30.5 | 2.79 |
| 40-49 | 63.7" (161.7 cm) | 177.3 lb. (80.4 kg) | 30.7 | 2.78 |
| 50-59 | 63.5" (161.2 cm) | 180.0 lb. (81.6 kg) | 31.4 | 2.83 |
| 60-69 | 63.2" (160.5 cm) | 171.0 lb. (77.5 kg) | 30.1 | 2.71 |
| 70-79 | 62.3" (158.3 cm) | 162.8 lb. (73.8 kg) | 29.5 | 2.61 |
| 80 and older | 61.7" (156.8 cm) | 149.7 lb. (67.9 kg) | 27.7 | 2.43 |
| All aged 20 and older | 63.5" (161.2 cm) | 171.8 lb. (77.9 kg) | 30.0 | 2.71 |
Important: These are measured population averages, not recommended weights. The mean BMI recorded for U.S. adults aged 20 and older is 29.4 for men and 30.0 for women, which falls in the overweight and obesity categories rather than the healthy weight category. Average weight therefore exceeds the healthy weight range shown earlier on this page at most heights. The two tables answer different questions: the first describes the weight range associated with lowest health risk, this one describes what adults actually weigh. Neither should be read as endorsing the other.
Note on the BMI column: The mean BMI values are CDC's published means of individual BMI measurements, not BMI recalculated from the mean height and mean weight shown in the same row. Those two figures differ slightly, because the mean of a ratio is not the same as the ratio of the means. Dividing the row figures for men aged 40 to 49, for example, gives 30.6 rather than the published 30.5. The published mean is the correct value to quote.
Note on age groups: Earlier versions of this page combined everyone aged 70 and over into a single row. The source data separates 70 to 79 from 80 and older, and the two decades differ by about 13 pounds in men and 13 pounds in women, so they are now shown separately.
Are You Underweight?
A BMI below 18.5 is classified as underweight. If you are underweight you may need to gain some weight, and this should always be done as part of a balanced and nutritious diet. People who are very thin tend to have weaker immune systems, which can make them more prone to infections, surgical complications and slower recovery from illness. Low body weight is often accompanied by reduced muscle mass and can affect the condition of hair, teeth and skin. It may also disrupt hormone regulation and bone health. Being underweight can also be a symptom of an underlying condition rather than simply a matter of diet, so persistent or unexplained weight loss is worth discussing with a healthcare provider.
Are You Overweight?
A BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 is classified as overweight and 30.0 or above as obesity. Carrying excess weight can increase your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. Where weight loss is advised, health professionals generally recommend losing 5% to 10% of your starting weight over about six months. Even a loss of 3% to 5% can lower triglyceride and blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while losing more than that can improve blood pressure readings, lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. For someone weighing 200 pounds (90.7 kg), 5% is about 10 pounds (4.5 kg). Our weight loss planning calculator can help you set realistic timelines, and our fact sheet on targeted body weight loss solutions by Daniel Murray covers exercises that can assist in losing fat in various parts of the body. You may also wish to review our charts on blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this height to weight chart account for waist size or body fat distribution?
No. The ranges compare total weight to height only and say nothing about where fat is stored, yet abdominal fat carries higher risk than fat elsewhere on the body. NHLBI treats a waist circumference above 35 inches (89 cm) in women or above 40 inches (102 cm) in men as an indicator of increased risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. To measure, stand and place a tape around your middle just above the hipbones, then read it just after breathing out. For context, CDC records mean waist circumference at 40.6 inches for men and 38.5 inches for women aged 20 and older.
Do women and men of the same height have different healthy weight ranges?
Not under the classification used on this page. CDC states that for adults aged 20 and older, BMI categories are based on BMI regardless of age, sex or race, so the healthy weight range for a given height is the same for both. Women and men do differ in average muscle mass, bone density and body fat percentage, which is why the measured average weights in the second table differ by sex, but that reflects what people actually weigh rather than a different healthy target.
Why is the average weight for my age group higher than the healthy weight range?
Because the two tables on this page answer different questions. The first is a risk based reference range derived from BMI thresholds. The second reports what adults in the United States actually measure. CDC records a mean BMI of 29.4 for men and 30.0 for women aged 20 and older, which falls in the overweight and obesity categories, so average weight now exceeds the healthy range at most heights. Being close to average is not the same as being in the healthy range.
Does the healthy weight range change as I get older?
The BMI thresholds themselves do not change for adults aged 20 and older. What changes is height: measured stature declines with age, so an individual's healthy weight range shifts downward over time as they lose height. Body composition also changes, with muscle tending to decline and fat to increase at the same weight, which is one reason clinicians consider more than BMI alone in older adults.
How often should I check my weight against this chart?
Once a week is usually enough to spot a meaningful trend without reacting to normal fluctuation. Weighing more often tends to capture day to day variation in food, fluid and digestion rather than real change in body mass.
Why does my weight change throughout the day compared to the chart?
Your weight can move by several pounds within a single day because of the food and drink you consume, water retention and normal digestion. For the most consistent comparison to the chart, weigh yourself at the same time each day, ideally in the morning before eating.
Is this height to weight chart accurate for athletes or very muscular people?
Not reliably. Muscle is denser than fat, so a highly muscular person can fall in the overweight BMI category while carrying very little excess fat. CDC describes BMI as a screening measure rather than a diagnosis, and athletes or people with high muscle mass should rely more on body composition measurement and clinical assessment.
What should I do if my weight falls outside the range shown on the chart?
Falling slightly outside the range is not a diagnosis, since the chart is a screening reference rather than an assessment of your health. If your weight sits well above or below the listed range, speak with a healthcare provider who can weigh your muscle mass, waist measurement, medical history, medications and family history before recommending any change.
How do I calculate my own BMI from these figures?
BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Working in imperial units, multiply your weight in pounds by 703 and divide by your height in inches squared. For example, 160 pounds at 5 feet 8 inches, which is 68 inches, gives 703 multiplied by 160 and divided by 4,624, or a BMI of 24.3.
Why does this page show two separate tables instead of one?
Because a reference range and a population average are different measures, and combining them is the most common error in height to weight charts. Presenting them separately makes clear which figures describe risk thresholds set by health authorities and which describe measured survey data on what adults weigh.
Data Sources
The figures on this page are drawn from established public health authorities rather than internal estimates. The body mass index thresholds that define the underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity categories come from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and are consistent with the classification used by the World Health Organization. The measured average height, weight and BMI figures come from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, reported by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics for August 2021 to August 2023. We review this page periodically to keep it aligned with current source data, with the most recent review made on 26 July 2026. Because BMI is a screening measure rather than a diagnostic threshold, and because the average figures are population statistics rather than clinical targets, everything here is presented strictly as a reference guide meant to support, never replace, the judgment of a qualified medical professional.
How These Figures Were Derived and Last Verified
The healthy weight ranges are calculated, not copied. For each height, the range is the span of whole pounds whose body mass index falls between 18.5 and 24.9 when BMI is rounded to one decimal place, which is the convention CDC uses in its own published worked example. This method reproduces CDC's stated healthy range of 125 to 168 pounds at 5 feet 9 inches exactly, and the same method produces the overweight threshold at BMI 25.0 and the obesity threshold at BMI 30.0. Because CDC states that adult BMI categories apply regardless of age, sex or race, a single range is given for each height rather than separate columns for women and men. Kilogram values are converted from the pound figure at 1 pound equals 0.45359237 kilograms, and centimeter values from inches at 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters, each rounded once from the exact conversion so that the two unit systems agree with one another.
The average height, weight and BMI figures are the published means from the source tables, reproduced without adjustment: weight in kilograms from table 3, weight in pounds from table 4, height in centimeters from table 7, height in inches from table 8, and body mass index from table 10 of the report cited below. The pounds per inch ratio in the final column is calculated from the published mean weight in pounds divided by the published mean height in inches. Every figure on this page was checked cell by cell against the source tables on 26 July 2026.
This revision corrected substantive errors in the previous version of the page. The average height and weight figures by age group had understated CDC's measured values by between 11 and 43 pounds and were attributed to sources that did not publish them; they have been replaced with the published survey means. The main chart had been produced by linear extrapolation, which placed its stated range below the healthy BMI threshold at the shortest heights and above it at the tallest; it has been recalculated directly from the BMI thresholds. Around forty unit conversions were rounded inconsistently or incorrectly, including three centimeter equivalents and one kilogram value that was wrong by 0.3 kg; all conversions have been recomputed. A weight loss figure previously given as a fixed number of pounds has been replaced with the proportional target used in current NHLBI guidance.
Source References
- National Center for Health Statistics: Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, August 2021-August 2023. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 3, No. 50 - source of all measured average height, weight and BMI figures (tables 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10).
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: FastStats - Body Measurements - summary averages and waist circumference for adults aged 20 and older.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Adult BMI Categories - the underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity thresholds used to derive the healthy weight chart, and the worked example against which it was verified.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Adult BMI Calculator - official calculator for adults aged 20 and older.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH): Aim for a Healthy Weight - healthy BMI definition, waist circumference risk thresholds, and the 5% to 10% weight loss target.
- World Health Organization: Obesity and overweight fact sheet - international BMI classification for adults.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: This page deliberately separates two things that most height and weight charts run together: the weight range associated with lowest health risk, and the weight people actually carry. Conflating them does real harm in both directions, reassuring someone whose weight merely matches the average and alarming someone who is healthy but muscular. The gap between the two tables here is itself the most useful finding on the page, since the measured average now sits above the healthy range at almost every height. Readers should also keep in mind what BMI cannot see. It does not distinguish muscle from fat, does not show where fat is stored, and was never designed to assess individuals. For people with disabilities or chronic conditions the limitations run deeper still: amputation, muscle atrophy, spinal cord injury, scoliosis, contractures and the use of a wheelchair can all make standing height impossible to measure accurately or make BMI misleading even when measured correctly, and some medications cause weight change independent of diet or activity. Alternative measures such as arm span, knee height, waist circumference or segmental estimation may be more appropriate, and a clinician familiar with your circumstances is far better placed to interpret them than any chart. Always consult a healthcare provider before making significant dietary or exercise changes.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.