BMI Calculator Examples With Solutions
Follow three checked BMI examples for an adult in metric units, an adult in U.S. units, and a child BMI-for-age percentile calculation.
How should you use these BMI Calculator examples?
These examples turn the BMI Calculator inputs into complete scenarios with stated values, calculation steps, and interpreted results. Use them to check how the calculator behaves, compare your own situation with realistic cases, and identify which inputs have the greatest effect before relying on an estimate.
Three BMI Calculator Examples
These scenarios use the same production engine as the BMI Calculator. They demonstrate metric and U.S. adult calculations plus the different interpretation required for a child.
Example 1: Adult BMI in Metric Units
A 30-year-old adult is 180 cm tall and weighs 75 kg.
| BMI | 23.1 |
|---|---|
| Adult category | Healthy weight |
| Healthy-weight screening range | 59.9-81.0 kg |
| BMI Prime | 0.93 |
| Ponderal Index | 12.86 kg/m³ |
The unrounded BMI falls between 18.5 and 25, so the adult category is healthy weight.
Example 2: Adult BMI in U.S. Units
A 45-year-old adult is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. The engine converts 70 inches to 177.8 cm and 165 pounds to 74.84 kg.
| BMI | 23.7 |
|---|---|
| Adult category | Healthy weight |
| Healthy-weight screening range | 128.9-174.2 lb |
| BMI Prime | 0.95 |
Changing adult sex would not change the BMI or category because the adult formula and thresholds are the same.
Example 3: Child BMI-for-Age Percentile
A 12-year-old girl is 5 feet tall and weighs 136 pounds. The core formula gives BMI 26.6. The calculator then uses the female CDC reference at 12 years.
| BMI | 26.6 |
|---|---|
| BMI-for-age percentile | 96.0th percentile |
| Category | Obesity |
| Percent of P95 | 105.2% |
| 95th-percentile BMI | 25.26 |
The BMI and 96th-percentile result match the CDC published child example. This is a screening comparison, not a diagnosis.
Compare the Three Scenarios
| Scenario | Primary result | Interpretation method |
|---|---|---|
| Adult metric | BMI 23.1 | Fixed adult categories |
| Adult U.S. | BMI 23.7 | Fixed adult categories after unit conversion |
| Child BMI-for-age | 96.0th percentile | Age- and sex-specific CDC reference |
Reproduce These Examples
- Open the BMI Calculator.
- Enter the age and additional months shown in the example.
- Select the sex used for the pediatric reference.
- Choose U.S. or metric units and enter height and weight.
- Select Calculate and compare the BMI, category, gauge, and supporting metrics.
For the equations behind each output, see the BMI formula page.
Corrections and Review
Report an issue or error in the calculator using the Contact Us page.