Healthy Weight Range by Height — NHS Guide UK 2026
Understanding your healthy weight range by height is one of the most important starting points for any health or weight management journey. Unlike a single target weight number, a healthy weight range acknowledges the natural variation in body composition between individuals — any weight within the range is medically appropriate for your height.
The NHS defines the healthy weight range as any weight that produces a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. Since BMI is calculated from weight and height together (BMI = weight kg ÷ height m²), a different height produces a different healthy weight range — which is why ideal weight by height tables exist.
Our free calculator above finds your personalised healthy weight range instantly. The complete weight chart UK below covers every common adult height from 150 cm to 200 cm. Use our Ideal Weight Calculator UK for a detailed target, and our Healthy Weight Calculator NHS to plan your journey.
📏 NHS healthy weight formula: For any height, your healthy weight range (kg) = height (m)² × 18.5 (minimum) to height (m)² × 24.9 (maximum). Example at 170 cm: 1.70 × 1.70 × 18.5 = 53.5 kg minimum; 1.70 × 1.70 × 24.9 = 71.9 kg maximum. Ideal midpoint: 1.70 × 1.70 × 21.7 = 62.7 kg.
How to Find Your Healthy Weight Range by Height
There are three ways to find your healthy weight range by height on this page:
- Use the calculator above — enter your height and optionally your current weight to get your personalised range, BMI, and advice instantly.
- Use the full UK weight chart — find your height row in the table to read off your healthy range in both kg and stones.
- Calculate manually — square your height in metres, then multiply by 18.5 (minimum) and 24.9 (maximum). Full explanation: BMI formula explained and how to calculate BMI step by step.
Ideal Weight by Height — UK Reference Guide 2026
The NHS does not prescribe a single "ideal weight" — rather a healthy range. However, the midpoint of the healthy BMI range (BMI 21.7) is commonly used as a reference ideal weight by height. The table below provides some key reference points:
| Height | Min Healthy Weight | Ideal Weight (BMI 21.7) | Max Healthy Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'0" / 152 cm | 42.7 kg (6 st 10) | 50.1 kg (7 st 13) | 57.4 kg (9 st 1) |
| 5'2" / 157 cm | 45.6 kg (7 st 3) | 53.5 kg (8 st 6) | 61.4 kg (9 st 9) |
| 5'4" / 163 cm | 49.1 kg (7 st 10) | 57.6 kg (9 st 1) | 66.1 kg (10 st 6) |
| 5'5" / 165 cm | 50.3 kg (7 st 13) | 59.0 kg (9 st 4) | 67.7 kg (10 st 9) |
| 5'6" / 168 cm | 52.2 kg (8 st 3) | 61.2 kg (9 st 9) | 70.3 kg (11 st 1) |
| 5'7" / 170 cm | 53.5 kg (8 st 6) | 62.7 kg (9 st 12) | 71.9 kg (11 st 4) |
| 5'8" / 173 cm | 55.3 kg (8 st 10) | 64.9 kg (10 st 3) | 74.5 kg (11 st 10) |
| 5'9" / 175 cm | 56.7 kg (8 st 13) | 66.4 kg (10 st 7) | 76.3 kg (12 st 0) |
| 5'10" / 178 cm | 58.6 kg (9 st 3) | 68.7 kg (10 st 11) | 78.9 kg (12 st 6) |
| 6'0" / 183 cm | 62.0 kg (9 st 11) | 72.8 kg (11 st 6) | 83.5 kg (13 st 2) |
| 6'1" / 185 cm | 63.3 kg (9 st 13) | 74.3 kg (11 st 10) | 85.3 kg (13 st 7) |
| 6'2" / 188 cm | 65.5 kg (10 st 4) | 76.9 kg (12 st 1) | 88.3 kg (13 st 13) |
Understanding Your Results — What the NHS BMI Categories Mean
Once you know your healthy weight range by height, you can classify your current weight into one of four NHS categories. For a comprehensive overview: NHS BMI Chart, BMI categories explained, and our healthy BMI weight guide.
Underweight (BMI Below 18.5)
Being below the minimum healthy weight range for your height may indicate malnutrition, an underlying health condition, or disordered eating. The NHS recommends speaking to your GP if your BMI is consistently below 18.5. For visual understanding: what does my BMI look like.
Healthy Weight (BMI 18.5–24.9)
Being within the NHS healthy weight range by height is associated with the lowest risk of weight-related diseases. Any weight within this range is appropriate — you do not need to aim for a specific number. The NHS healthy BMI weight range is the same for men and women. See our NHS healthy BMI range guide for more detail.
Overweight (BMI 25–29.9)
Being above the healthy weight range for your height — but below BMI 30 — places you in the overweight category. The NHS recommends lifestyle changes: following the Eatwell Guide, exercising 150+ minutes per week, and targeting the NHS safe rate of weight loss. Use our Calorie Deficit Calculator NHS to plan your approach.
Obese (BMI 30+)
A weight significantly above the healthy weight range for your height is classified as obese. The NHS recommends GP referral for structured weight management. Understanding your cardiovascular risk is also important: Blood Pressure Calculator NHS, QRISK Calculator NHS, and our guide on what is QRISK score NHS.
Important Limitations of Weight-for-Height Charts
While the NHS healthy weight range by height chart is the most widely used adult weight screening tool in the UK, it has important limitations:
- Does not distinguish fat from muscle: A muscular athlete may fall above the healthy weight range for their height while having low body fat. BMI is a population screening tool, not a body composition measure. For more: BMI vs body fat percentage.
- Does not capture fat distribution: Waist circumference provides important additional information — women above 80 cm and men above 94 cm face elevated cardiometabolic risk even within the healthy weight range. See our general health weight ratios guide.
- Ethnic thresholds differ: For South Asian, Chinese, and other ethnic minority adults, the NHS applies lower thresholds — overweight from BMI 23, obese from BMI 27.5. The standard weight chart above uses general population thresholds.
- Does not apply to children: The adult weight-for-height chart does not apply to anyone under 18. Use our Child BMI Calculator NHS and Child Growth Chart UK.
- Age matters at 65+: For adults aged 65 and over, a slightly higher BMI (up to 27) may be protective against frailty and bone loss.
⚠️ Not for under-18s: The adult healthy weight range by height table does not apply to children and young people. For child weight assessment, use our Child BMI Calculator NHS, Child Growth Chart UK, Percentile Calculator UK, and Baby Weight Percentile UK.
How to Reach Your Healthy Weight Range — NHS 2026 Guide
If your current weight is outside the healthy weight range for your height, the NHS recommends a gradual, sustainable approach. For overweight adults, the target is to lose 0.5 to 1 kg per week — the safe rate that preserves muscle, maintains nutritional adequacy, and produces far better long-term results than crash dieting. For the full science: why slow weight loss is better and 0.5–1 kg rule explained.
Practical tools to get started:
- Calorie Deficit Calculator NHS — your daily calorie target
- NHS Weight Loss Calculator — timeline to your healthy weight
- NHS weight loss tips — 20 evidence-based strategies
- Daily calorie deficit guide — complete explanation
- What is a calorie deficit — the science explained
- How much weight can you lose per week safely
- NHS vs CDC weight loss guidelines explained
- Water Intake Calculator NHS and water intake by age
For visual weight tracking: Visual BMI Calculator · Body Weight Visualizer · Height Weight Visualizer. For cardiovascular health: blood pressure chart UK. For fertility and pregnancy tools: Ovulation Calculator NHS · Pregnancy Due Date Calculator NHS · ovulation cycle explained. Additional height reference: height percentile calculator UK.
💡 Complete NHS toolkit: BMI formula explained · BMI equation vs calculator · BMI vs body fat percentage — all free, NHS-aligned, updated 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your healthy weight range by height is calculated by multiplying your height in metres squared by 18.5 (minimum) and 24.9 (maximum). For example, at 170 cm: minimum = 1.70² × 18.5 = 53.5 kg; maximum = 1.70² × 24.9 = 71.9 kg. Use the calculator above for your instant result, or see the full UK weight chart table. For your ideal target: Ideal Weight Calculator UK.
The NHS defines a healthy weight range rather than a single ideal weight. The midpoint (BMI 21.7) is used as a reference. At 170 cm: ~62.7 kg (9 st 12 lb). At 175 cm: ~66.4 kg (10 st 7 lb). At 180 cm: ~70.3 kg (11 st 1 lb). Any weight within the BMI 18.5–24.9 range is appropriate. Use our Ideal Weight Calculator UK for your exact range.
The NHS healthy weight chart maps height against weight to identify BMI categories: underweight (below 18.5), healthy (18.5–24.9), overweight (25–29.9), and obese (30+). Our complete chart above covers heights from 150 cm to 200 cm with all ranges. See also: NHS BMI Chart and NHS healthy BMI range.
Calculate your BMI: weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². If the result is between 18.5 and 24.9, you are within the healthy weight range for your height. Use our calculator above for an instant check. For visual confirmation: Visual BMI Calculator and what does my BMI look like.
At 5'5" (approximately 165 cm), the NHS healthy weight range is approximately 50.3 to 67.7 kg (7 st 13 lb to 10 st 9 lb). The ideal midpoint weight is approximately 59.0 kg (9 st 4 lb). Any weight within the 50.3–67.7 kg range is medically appropriate for this height.
At 6'0" (183 cm), the NHS healthy weight range is approximately 62.0 to 83.5 kg (9 st 11 lb to 13 st 2 lb). The ideal midpoint weight is approximately 72.8 kg (11 st 6 lb). Use the full weight chart UK table above or our calculator for any other height.
The NHS BMI thresholds (18.5–24.9) are the same for both men and women. However, women typically carry a higher percentage of body fat than men at the same BMI. The calculator accounts for sex in its BMI calculation, and the healthy weight range at any given height is the same for both sexes in standard NHS guidance. For more: BMI vs body fat percentage.
Standard NHS BMI thresholds (18.5–24.9) apply for adults 18–64. For adults 65+, some clinical guidance suggests a slightly higher BMI (up to 27) may be protective against frailty and bone loss. For under-18s, age-specific centile charts are used — see our Child BMI Calculator NHS. For South Asian adults: overweight from BMI 23, obese from BMI 27.5.