Here, the BMI calculator in kg and feet lets you type height the way most people in India say it, as feet and inches, and weight in kilograms. It converts the height to metres behind the scenes and returns your BMI with the Indian and WHO band. It also works fully in inches and pounds.
Mixing units is the most common reason people get a strange BMI by hand. The steps below show the conversion so you can check any result.
Quick numbers
1 foot
12 inches = 30.48 cm1 inch
2.54 cm5'6 in metres
1.676 mPounds to kg
divide by 2.205Imperial BMI
703 × lb ÷ in²
Using the BMI calculator in kg and feet
- Choose the feet and inches option for height.
- Type feet in the first box and inches in the second, for example 5 and 4.
- Enter weight in kg.
- Read your BMI and band.
Typing 5.4 in a single feet box means five and four tenths of a foot, which is 5 feet 4.8 inches, not 5 feet 4 inches. The two box input avoids that mix-up.
Feet to metres, worked through
| Height | Inches | Metres | Metres squared | Healthy kg (Indian) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 feet 10 inches | 58 | 1.473 | 2.170 | 40.2 to 49.7 |
| 5 feet | 60 | 1.524 | 2.323 | 43.0 to 53.2 |
| 5 feet 2 inches | 62 | 1.575 | 2.480 | 45.9 to 56.8 |
| 5 feet 4 inches | 64 | 1.626 | 2.643 | 48.9 to 60.5 |
| 5 feet 6 inches | 66 | 1.676 | 2.810 | 52.0 to 64.4 |
| 5 feet 8 inches | 68 | 1.727 | 2.983 | 55.2 to 68.3 |
| 5 feet 10 inches | 70 | 1.778 | 3.161 | 58.5 to 72.4 |
| 6 feet | 72 | 1.829 | 3.345 | 61.9 to 76.6 |
5 feet 7 inches = 67 inches. 67 × 2.54 = 170.18 cm = 1.702 m. Squared: 2.896. Weight 68 kg ÷ 2.896 = 23.5.
BMI calculator in inches and pounds
BMI = 703 × weight in pounds ÷ (height in inches)²
A person of 5 feet 4 inches (64 in) at 140 lb: 703 × 140 ÷ 4,096 = 24.0. Converting first gives the same: 140 lb is 63.5 kg, 64 in is 1.626 m, and 63.5 ÷ 2.643 = 24.0.
Reading the result
Indian adults are healthy between 18.5 and 22.9, overweight from 23 and obese from 25. WHO places the overweight line at 25 and obesity at 30. Your band and the weight range for your height appear under the answer. The full list is on the BMI chart, and the maths is explained on the formula page.
Common slips with feet and kg
- Writing 5.10 for 5 feet 10 inches; a calculator reads that as 5.1 feet.
- Forgetting the inches entirely and entering 5 feet for someone who is 5 feet 9.
- Using pounds in a kg box: 150 lb is only 68 kg.
- Squaring feet instead of metres.
Height pages in feet
If you know your height in feet, jump straight to a page for it: 5 feet, 5'3, 5'6, 5'9 or 6 feet. Each shows healthy kg, BMI by weight and the clinical formulas.
Any BMI result is a screening step. A doctor can tell you what it means alongside your waist, blood pressure and blood tests.
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps for BMI with feet and kg?
Convert feet and inches to inches, multiply by 2.54 to get cm, divide by 100 for metres, square it, then divide your weight in kg by that number.
5 feet 5 inches equals how many metres?
1.651 m. Squared, that is 2.726.
Can I use pounds instead of kg?
Yes. Use 703 × pounds ÷ inches squared, or switch the calculator to pounds.
Is BMI with feet and kg accurate?
It is exactly as accurate as BMI in metric units, as long as the conversion is right.
Why is my BMI showing a strange number?
Usually a unit mix-up, such as entering 5.10 for 5 feet 10 inches or pounds in the kg box.
What BMI should I aim for?
Indian adults: 18.5 to 22.9. WHO: 18.5 to 24.9.
Sources
- World Health Organization BMI classification