BMI Examples
Worked examples of BMI calculations in metric and US units with clear explanations.
Example 1: 80 kg and 180 cm
Convert 180 cm to 1.80 m. Square the height: 1.80 × 1.80 = 3.24. Divide 80 by 3.24 to obtain approximately 24.7 BMI. This is within the standard adult 18.5–24.9 reference interval.
Example 2: 95 kg and 175 cm
Convert 175 cm to 1.75 m. Height squared is 3.0625. BMI = 95 ÷ 3.0625 ≈ 31.0. This falls in the standard adult obesity BMI category, which is a screening classification and not a diagnosis.
Example 3: 150 lb and 5 feet 6 inches
Height is 66 inches or 1.6764 m. Weight is approximately 68.04 kg. BMI = 68.04 ÷ 1.6764² ≈ 24.2. Converting units before calculating avoids mixing pounds and meters.
Example 4: BMI reference interval at 170 cm
Height squared is 1.70² = 2.89. At BMI 18.5, corresponding weight is 18.5 × 2.89 ≈ 53.5 kg. At BMI 24.9, corresponding weight is 24.9 × 2.89 ≈ 72.0 kg. These are mathematical reference values, not personalized recommendations.
Why rounding matters
The calculator uses unrounded internal conversions and displays a one-decimal BMI. A result near a category threshold can appear slightly different if you round weight or height early. The methodology page explains our conversions.