Calculate your BMI: Free BMI Calculator for Women and Men

Easily calculate your BMI for both women and men. Discover what your Body Mass Index means for your health and learn how to manage your weight in a healthy way.

Our BMI calculator is a handy tool to gain insight into your health. Whether you want to lose weight, maintain your weight, or are just curious about your BMI: this tool will give you quick answers and tailored advice.

What is BMI and why is it important?

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measurement method that assesses the relationship between your weight and height. Based on your BMI, you can see whether your weight is healthy, underweight, overweight or obese. It is a reliable indicator of health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other conditions related to body weight.

A healthy BMI includes:

Underweight: Risk of deficiency of essential nutrients.
Healthy weight: A good balance between body fat and muscle mass.
Overweight: Risk of health problems such as high blood pressure.
Obesity: Increased risk of serious health problems.

1. HOW TO CALCULATE

Your BMI?

The BMI formula is simple:
BMI = weight (kg) / (height in meters)^2.

For example, if you weigh 70 kg and are 1.75 m tall, your BMI is:
70 / (1.75 * 1.75) = 22.86.

Our tool does this calculation for you and provides immediate feedback on your score.

BMI Calculator

Gewicht (kg):

Lengte (cm):

Geslacht:

2. WHAT IS BMI AND

Why is it important?

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measurement method that assesses the relationship between your weight and height. Based on your BMI, you can see whether your weight is healthy, underweight, overweight or obese. It is a reliable indicator of health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other conditions related to body weight.

A healthy BMI includes:

Underweight: Risk of deficiency of essential nutrients.

Healthy weight: A good balance between body fat and muscle mass.

Overweight: Risk of health problems such as high blood pressure.

Obesity: Increased risk of serious health problems.

3. WHAT IS A

Healthy BMI?

For adults aged 19 to 69, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 25. But this does not apply to everyone. For adults aged 70 and over and children, different limits apply for underweight, overweight and healthy weight. Below you can see the BMI limits per age group. The BMI gives an indication of how healthy your weight is in relation to your height, but there are exceptions.

BMI-Score	Categorie	Betekenis
<18,5	Ondergewicht	Je hebt mogelijk een tekort aan voedingsstoffen.
18,5 - 24,9	Gezond Gewicht	Je gewicht is in balans met je lengte.
25 - 29,9	Overgewicht	Je hebt wat extra gewicht; overweeg gezonde veranderingen.
30+	Obesitas	Verhoogd gezondheidsrisico; raadzaam om gewichtsverlies te overwegen met begeleiding van een expert.

For people aged 70 and over

There are no official BMI cut-off points for people aged 70 and over. In our BMI meter, we therefore use higher limits for underweight, healthy weight and (serious) overweight than for the age group of 19 to 69. This is because the risk of diseases is different for the elderly: they only run an increased risk of health problems from a BMI of 28 or higher, while a BMI below 22 can already entail an increased risk of malnutrition. In other words, the ideal BMI at which the risk of diseases is lowest is higher than for younger adults.

BMI grenzen vanaf 70 jaar	Categorie	Betekenis
Lager dan 22	Ondergewicht	Je hebt mogelijk een tekort aan voedingsstoffen.
Vanaf 22 tot 28	Gezond gewicht	Je gewicht is in balans met je lengte.
Vanaf 28 tot 30	Overgewicht	Je hebt wat extra gewicht; overweeg gezonde veranderingen.
30 en hoger	Ernstig overgewicht (obesitas)	Verhoogd gezondheidsrisico; raadzaam om gewichtsverlies te overwegen met begeleiding van een expert.

Exceptions to the BMI

Although BMI is a good indication of how healthy your weight is in relation to your height, there are some exceptions where different limits and advice apply. Below you will find information about these specific groups.

Asian Background

People with an Asian background (South, Southeast and East Asian) generally have a higher fat mass than people with a Western background with a comparable BMI. As a result, they already have a higher risk of health problems such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes at a lower BMI. This also applies to people of Surinamese and Caribbean descent with an Asian background.

BMI limits for Asian background (19-69 years)

BMI	Betekenis
Lager dan 18,5	Ondergewicht
18,5 tot 23	Gezond gewicht
23 tot 25	Overgewicht, risico op gezondheidsproblemen
25 tot 30	Overgewicht, gemiddeld risico op gezondheidsproblemen
30 en hoger	Overgewicht, ernstig risico op gezondheidsproblemen

For older people with an Asian background, a BMI lower than 20 indicates underweight. For Hindustani children, different BMI limits apply, because they are often lighter due to their body shape. On this page you will find an overview of these adjusted guidelines.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, both your body weight and body composition change, making BMI less reliable as a health indicator during this period.

Strength athletes

For fanatic strength athletes, the BMI can give incorrectly high values, because their muscle mass is often larger than average. This can lead to them falling into the overweight category, while their fat mass is actually low. In this case, the circumference of your waist is a good additional measure to assess health risks. You can also consult a dietician to have your fat and muscle mass measured and thus better assess your body composition.

People Who Are Very Tall or Short

The BMI can be less accurate for people who are exceptionally tall or short. However, there is no known exact height at which the BMI is no longer reliable. Are you unsure whether you have a healthy weight? Consider consulting a dietician or discussing it with your GP.

TO ASSESS YOUR HEALTH

5 Better Ways.

While BMI provides an estimate of health risks, it is not a complete measure. There are better ways to get a full picture of your health:

1. Fat percentage.

BMI only measures your weight in relation to your height, but says nothing about the composition of that weight. By measuring your fat percentage, you get a more accurate picture. This can be done using a modern scale or by a health professional with skinfold measurements. A healthy fat percentage for men is between 14 and 17%, and for women between 21 and 24%. Your fat percentage takes into account both fat and muscle mass and is therefore more specific than BMI.

2. Waist circumference.

Your total body fat percentage doesn't tell you where your fat is. Visceral fat, which accumulates around your organs, is especially dangerous to your health.
You can measure your waist circumference with a tape measure. Please note the correct measuring technique: measure halfway between the lowest point of the lowest rib and the top of your pelvis, after a normal exhalation without pressure on the skin. A healthy circumference is less than 94 cm for men and less than 80 cm for women.

3. Blood values.

Weight and fat mass provide only limited insight into your health. Blood values such as triglycerides, blood sugar and insulin are crucial indicators for the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Blood tests also provide insight into your vitamin, mineral and hormone balance, which can tell you a lot about your overall health. Discuss these values with your doctor for a proper interpretation.

4. The Mirror.

Not everything is measurable. Sometimes you don’t feel optimal, even if all indicators are normal. A critical look in the mirror can reveal a lot: look at your posture, skin, hair and nails. These can show signs of internal health and signal possible problems.

5. Own Body Image

Health is more than the absence of disease; it is also about physical, mental and social well-being. If you are not feeling well, regardless of what the numbers say, take the time to listen to yourself and work on your mental health.
Social media can affect self-image, making some feel insecure despite a healthy appearance. This mental burden can sometimes have a greater impact on your health than physical aspects. Self-love is not something you can measure – it is something you have to experience.

WHEN AND WHY

To the dietician or GP?

In some cases, after completing the BMI meter, you will be advised to consult a dietician or your family doctor. You will receive this advice when you:

Severely underweight or underweight

Are seriously underweight. Are underweight and not getting the nutrition your body needs, want to gain weight or have lost weight unintentionally.

Are you overweight?

and
- a waist circumference that is too high or
- a medical condition or illness. This could include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or sleep apnea.

Severely overweight

have a BMI between 30-35 and
- a waist circumference that is too high or
- another medical condition or illness. Above are some conditions and illnesses you can think of.

You are seriously overweight with a BMI of 35 or higher.

Why is it wise to visit a dietician or your family doctor? Your family doctor can see if there is more to your health. Your family doctor can also refer you for the right help, for example to follow a combined lifestyle intervention. The dietician is the specialist in the field of nutrition and diseases. He or she can give you customized advice when you need to adjust your diet due to health problems. You can go to a dietician without a referral. You can find a dietician in your area here.