This BMI calculator for men turns your height and weight into a BMI score and shows the healthy weight range for your height. Men and women share one formula and one set of adult bands; what changes is how to read the result if you lift weights or carry weight at the belly.
Indian men often have a normal BMI with a large waist, and that pattern raises the risk of diabetes and heart disease. So the calculator adds a waist check, and this page shows when to trust the number and when to look past it.
Quick numbers
Formula
kg ÷ (height in m)²Healthy, Indian men
18.5 to 22.9Healthy, WHO
18.5 to 24.9Waist to watch
above 90 cmExample 5'9, 72 kg
BMI 23.4
Using the male BMI calculator
Type height (cm, or feet plus inches) and weight (kg). The tool returns your BMI, the band under the Indian and the WHO list, and the weight that would bring you into the healthy range.
A man of 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm) and 72 kg: 72 ÷ (1.753 × 1.753) = 23.4. WHO calls this normal; the Indian list calls it overweight by a small margin.
Healthy weight for men by height
| Height | Healthy for Indian men (kg) | WHO healthy range (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 5'4 (163 cm) | 48.9 to 60.5 | 48.9 to 65.8 |
| 5'5 (165 cm) | 50.4 to 62.4 | 50.4 to 67.9 |
| 5'6 (168 cm) | 52.0 to 64.4 | 52.0 to 70.0 |
| 5'7 (170 cm) | 53.6 to 66.3 | 53.6 to 72.1 |
| 5'8 (173 cm) | 55.2 to 68.3 | 55.2 to 74.3 |
| 5'9 (175 cm) | 56.8 to 70.3 | 56.8 to 76.5 |
| 5'10 (178 cm) | 58.5 to 72.4 | 58.5 to 78.7 |
| 5'11 (180 cm) | 60.2 to 74.5 | 60.2 to 81.0 |
| 6'0 (183 cm) | 61.9 to 76.6 | 61.9 to 83.3 |
| 6'2 (188 cm) | 65.4 to 80.9 | 65.4 to 88.0 |
Pages for single heights go deeper, with medical ideal weight formulas: see ideal weight for 5'7 male, 5'10 male and 6 feet male.
When muscle makes BMI look high
BMI cannot tell muscle from fat. A man who trains hard can weigh 80 kg at 175 cm, a BMI of 26.1, and still have a flat stomach. For him, body fat percentage is a better guide.
Quick test: if your waist is under half your height and your body fat is under 18 percent, a BMI in the high twenties is unlikely to mean excess fat. The body fat calculator gives an estimate with a tape measure.
Belly fat in Indian men
Men in India tend to store fat inside the abdomen, around the liver and gut, earlier than European men. A waist above 90 cm at the navel is the warning line used by Indian doctors. It is linked with fatty liver, high triglycerides and type 2 diabetes, even at a BMI of 23 or 24.
Losing 5 to 7 percent of body weight often brings the waist down by several centimetres and improves blood tests within three months.
BMI for men across age groups
| Age | What tends to change | What to track |
|---|---|---|
| 20s and 30s | Muscle peaks; weight creeps up with desk jobs | BMI and waist every few months |
| 40s and 50s | Fat shifts to the belly; muscle starts to fall | Waist, blood sugar, blood pressure |
| 60 and above | Muscle loss speeds up | Strength, protein, avoid weight loss without a reason |
One band list covers every adult birthday. More on this on the BMI calculator by age page.
What to do next
- Above the healthy band: set a 0.5 kg a week target with the deficit tool.
- Below it: the weight gain calories page and the protein calculator help you add muscle.
- In the band but with a big waist: cut sugary drinks and fried snacks, walk 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, and lift weights twice a week.
Chest pain, breathlessness on stairs, or a BMI over 35 are reasons to see a doctor before starting hard exercise.
BMI calculator for men in kg and feet
Many men in India know their height in feet and inches. The calculator accepts both. If you work by hand, change feet and inches to cm (1 inch = 2.54 cm), then to metres. The kg and feet page shows the steps.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good BMI for men?
18.5 to 22.9 for Indian men, or 18.5 to 24.9 by WHO bands. Pair it with a waist under 90 cm.
Is BMI accurate for muscular men?
Not very. Muscle is dense, so muscular men can score as overweight with low fat. Use body fat percentage and waist size too.
How much should a 5 feet 9 inch man weigh?
Indian bands put a healthy weight at roughly 56.8 to 70.3 kg. The WHO list stretches the top to 76.5 kg.
Does the male BMI chart change with age?
No, adult bands are the same at every age. What changes is muscle and where fat is stored, so track your waist as you get older.
How is BMI for men calculated?
Kilograms over metres squared. For 75 kg and 1.75 m: 75 ÷ 3.06 = 24.5.
Is a BMI of 25 bad for a man?
In India, 25 is the start of obesity on local bands, so it is worth acting on, especially with a large waist. Speak to a doctor about blood sugar and cholesterol tests.
Sources
- World Health Organization BMI classification
- Indian consensus guidelines on obesity for Asian Indians