There’s an important difference between the average weight for a height and the healthy weight for a height, and confusing the two is why these charts often mislead. Average weight is simply what people typically weigh, which in many countries now sits above the healthy range. Healthy weight is the band linked to the lowest health risk, derived from BMI. This article gives you a healthy-weight-by-height chart in kilograms and pounds for men and women, explains why it’s a range rather than a single number, and covers where it stops applying. To find your own figure, the CalcRange Ideal Weight Calculator works it out from your height.
Average Weight vs Healthy Weight
People searching for “average weight for my height” usually want to know whether they’re in a healthy range, but those are two different questions with two different answers.
Average weight is a description of a population: add up what everyone of a given height weighs and take the mean. In many countries that average has risen over decades and now sits within the overweight range, so matching the average is not the same as being at a healthy weight. Healthy weight is prescriptive rather than descriptive: it’s the band associated with the lowest risk, and it comes from the BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9. The chart below shows healthy weight, because that’s the more useful target. Comparing yourself to the average tells you how you stack up against others; comparing yourself to the healthy range tells you something about your health.
Healthy Weight by Height Chart
These ranges come from applying the healthy BMI band to each height. They apply to adults, and identically to men and women, for reasons explained below.
| Height | Healthy range (kg) | Healthy range (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.50 m (4’11”) | 42–56 kg | 92–124 lb |
| 1.55 m (5’1″) | 44–60 kg | 98–132 lb |
| 1.60 m (5’3″) | 47–64 kg | 104–140 lb |
| 1.65 m (5’5″) | 50–68 kg | 111–150 lb |
| 1.70 m (5’7″) | 53–72 kg | 118–159 lb |
| 1.75 m (5’9″) | 57–76 kg | 125–168 lb |
| 1.80 m (5’11”) | 60–81 kg | 132–178 lb |
| 1.85 m (6’1″) | 63–85 kg | 140–188 lb |
| 1.90 m (6’3″) | 67–90 kg | 147–198 lb |
Read across to your height and the healthy range is the span shown. Anywhere inside it is generally considered a healthy weight; the midpoint is not a target you need to hit.
Why It’s a Range, Not One Number
The single most useful thing to notice about the chart is how wide each band is. At 1.70 m, the healthy range spans nearly 19 kg, which is a completely different-looking body at each end.
That width is deliberate and honest. Two people of the same height can both be healthy at genuinely different weights depending on frame size, muscle mass, and where they carry fat. A muscular person sits higher in the range without any excess fat; a naturally slight person sits lower. Chasing a specific number inside the band is missing the point, since the whole range is fine. This is also why formulas that spit out a single “ideal” weight, covered in our ideal body weight guide, should be read as rough anchors rather than precise goals.
Do Men and Women Differ?
The healthy weight range by height is the same for men and women, which surprises people who know that healthy body-fat percentages differ by sex.
The reason is that this chart is built from BMI, and BMI never measured body fat. It’s weight relative to height, and the relationship between that ratio and health risk is broadly similar across sexes at the population level. Men do tend to sit higher within the range because they carry more muscle on average, and women lower, but the band itself doesn’t change. If you want a measure that reflects the male-female difference in body composition, body-fat percentage is the tool, not weight. Our guide on the healthy BMI range covers how to read the band and where it needs qualifying.
Find Your Own Figure
Enter your height into the CalcRange Ideal Weight Calculator for a healthy weight range tailored to you, and cross-check it against the BMI calculator. To see whether weight at the top of your range is muscle or fat, the body fat calculator answers that directly.
Where the Chart Stops Working
Like any tool built on BMI, this chart has honest limits worth knowing.
It doesn’t fit very muscular people, who can weigh above the range while carrying little fat. It shifts for older adults, where the evidence suggests a slightly higher weight is often healthiest and being underweight carries real risk. It doesn’t apply to children and teenagers, who are assessed with age-and-sex percentile charts rather than adult ranges. It isn’t valid during pregnancy. And several Asian populations carry elevated health risk at lower weights, so the standard range may run a little high for them. In all these cases, a weight chart is a starting point rather than a verdict, and a waist measurement often tells you more than the scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average weight for my height?
Average weight varies by country and has risen over time, so in many places it now sits within the overweight range. A more useful question is the healthy weight for your height, which comes from the BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9. The chart above shows that healthy band by height.
Is average weight the same as healthy weight?
No, and this trips a lot of people up. Average is simply what people typically weigh, while healthy weight is the range linked to lowest risk. Because average weights have climbed in many countries, matching the average can still mean being above a healthy weight.
Why is healthy weight given as a range?
Because two people of the same height can both be healthy at different weights depending on muscle mass, frame size, and fat distribution. The band from applying healthy BMI to a height is intentionally wide, and anywhere inside it is generally fine. There’s no need to hit a specific number.
Is the healthy weight range different for men and women?
The range by height is the same, because it’s based on BMI, which measures weight relative to height rather than body fat. Men tend to sit higher in the range and women lower, reflecting differences in muscle, but the band itself doesn’t change with sex.
What should I weigh if I’m 5 foot 7?
At 1.70 m, the healthy range is roughly 53 to 72 kg, or about 118 to 159 lb. That’s a wide band on purpose, so anywhere within it is generally healthy. Where you sit depends on your build and muscle, and a body-fat or waist check adds useful context.
Does the chart work for older adults?
Only loosely. Evidence suggests the healthiest weight drifts slightly higher with age, and being underweight in later life carries real risk from muscle loss and frailty. Older adults should treat the standard range as approximate and focus as much on maintaining muscle as on the number.
Should Asian adults use a different range?
Possibly a slightly lower one. Research shows several Asian populations face higher risk at lower weights, so the standard band may run a little high. If this applies to you, checking waist measurement alongside weight gives a fuller picture than the chart alone.
The Bottom Line
Average weight and healthy weight aren’t the same thing, and it’s the healthy range, derived from BMI, that actually tells you something. Find your height in the chart, treat the whole band as fine rather than chasing a midpoint, and remember the range is identical for men and women because it’s built on weight and height, not body fat. It stops applying to the very muscular, older adults, children, pregnancy, and to some extent Asian populations, where a waist measurement fills the gap. Get your tailored figure from the ideal weight calculator and confirm it with the BMI calculator.
Sources and Further Reading
- World Health Organization — BMI classification and healthy weight ranges.
- WHO Expert Consultation. “Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations.” The Lancet, 2004.
- US CDC — healthy weight and BMI resources for adults.
Health disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Weight charts are screening tools, not diagnoses. Discuss any concerns about your weight with a qualified healthcare professional.
Last reviewed: August 2026. Recommended editorial review: every 12 months.