What is a normal BMI for your age?
Find your BMI percentile among 22,463 US adults your age and sex. The standard 18.5–25 range ignores age — your percentile does not.
Where You Rank
Understanding your BMI percentile
A higher percentile means a higher BMI than most of your peers. Note: BMI percentiles do not directly indicate health — many people with "high" BMI percentiles are muscular, not over-fat.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to common questions
What percentile is my BMI?
The calculator shows your exact percentile among US adults your age and gender, using NHANES 2011-2023 data.
How does my BMI compare to others my age?
BMI percentiles change with age — younger adults typically have lower BMI than older adults. Our tool shows the age-specific comparison.
Is my BMI healthy for my age?
Standard categories apply: <18.5 underweight, 18.5-24.9 normal, 25-29.9 overweight, 30+ obese. These categories do not change with age.
What is the average BMI for a 40 year old woman?
The average BMI for a 40-year-old US woman is approximately 29, which is in the overweight range. The average has risen over time.
References
Peer-reviewed sources behind this calculator
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. NHANES 2011-2023 Body Measures Data (BMXBMI).
- World Health Organization (2000). WHO Technical Report Series 894. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic.
- Deurenberg P, et al. (1991). European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Body mass index as a measure of body fatness: age- and sex-specific prediction formulas. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600539
Show all 5 references
- Flegal KM, et al. (2013). JAMA. Association of all-cause mortality with overweight and obesity using standard body mass index categories. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.113905
- Nuttall FQ (2015). Nutrients. Body mass index: obesity, BMI, and health: a critical review. doi:10.3390/nu7061682
Methodology
Data: NHANES 2011-2023 BMXBMI. BMI = weight(kg) / height(m)². Percentile is computed by linear interpolation between the distribution percentiles (P10, P25, P50, P75, P90) for the user's age and sex group.
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Not medical advice.