BMI at 5 Feet 6 Inches: Healthy Weight Range and Examples

For someone 5 feet 6 inches tall (167.6 cm), a healthy BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 works out to a weight range of roughly 115 to 154 pounds (52 to 70 kg). Below about 115 lbs the BMI dips under 18.5 (the underweight threshold), and above about 154 lbs it crosses 25 into the overweight range.

BMI (body mass index) is a single number that relates your weight to your height. It does not measure body fat directly, but it gives a quick category that public health bodies use as a screening tool. This guide shows the healthy range for a height of 5'6" and works through BMI at several common weights, so you can see exactly where the cutoffs fall. To check your own figure, the BMI calculator on Quialo computes it from height and weight in metric or imperial units.

The Healthy Weight Range for 5'6"

The standard BMI categories are: underweight below 18.5, healthy from 18.5 to 24.9, overweight from 25 to 29.9, and obese at 30 and above. For a fixed height of 5'6" (1.6764 m), those category edges translate into the following weights.

BMI cutoff	Category edge	Approx. weight
18.5	underweight / healthy	about 115 lbs (52 kg)
24.9	healthy / overweight	about 154 lbs (70 kg)
29.9	overweight / obese	about 185 lbs (84 kg)

So the healthy band for this height spans roughly 115 to 154 lbs. Where you sit inside that band is influenced by build, muscle, and other factors, which is why BMI is a starting point rather than a verdict.

How BMI Is Calculated

The metric formula is:

BMI = weight in kg / (height in m)^2

For 5'6", the height in metres is 1.6764. Squaring that gives about 2.8103. So for any weight, divide the kilograms by 2.8103 to get the BMI. If you only know your weight in pounds, multiply by 0.4536 first to convert to kilograms.

Worked BMI Examples at 5'6"

Here is the BMI at four common weights, all at a height of 1.6764 m.

130 pounds

130 lbs is about 58.97 kg. Divide by 2.8103 and the BMI is about 21.0, which sits comfortably inside the healthy range.

150 pounds

150 lbs is about 68.04 kg. Divide by 2.8103 and the BMI is about 24.2, still healthy but near the upper edge of the band.

180 pounds

180 lbs is about 81.65 kg. Divide by 2.8103 and the BMI is about 29.1, which falls in the overweight category.

210 pounds

210 lbs is about 95.25 kg. Divide by 2.8103 and the BMI is about 33.9, which falls in the obese category.

You can confirm any of these with the BMI calculator, which also labels the category for you.

What BMI Does Not Tell You

BMI uses only height and weight, so it cannot distinguish muscle from fat. A muscular athlete at 5'6" might register an overweight BMI while carrying very little fat. Frame size, age, and sex also shift what a healthy weight looks like in practice. For a more tailored target, the ideal weight calculator estimates a goal weight from your height and build rather than from BMI alone.

If your aim is to move within the healthy range, knowing your daily energy needs helps. The calorie calculator estimates how many calories you burn each day, which is a useful anchor for planning a gradual change in weight.

Common Questions About BMI at 5'6"

What is a healthy weight for someone 5 feet 6 inches tall?

Roughly 115 to 154 pounds (52 to 70 kg), which corresponds to a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. Your ideal point within that range depends on build and body composition.

What is the BMI for a 5'6" person who weighs 150 pounds?

About 24.2, which is at the upper end of the healthy range. It is calculated as 68.04 kg divided by 1.6764 squared (2.8103).

At what weight does a 5'6" person become overweight?

At about 154 pounds (70 kg), the BMI reaches 25 and crosses into the overweight category. Above roughly 185 pounds (84 kg), the BMI passes 30 into the obese category.

Is BMI accurate for everyone?

No. BMI is a screening number, not a diagnosis. It does not account for muscle mass, frame size, or fat distribution, so very muscular people may read as overweight despite low body fat. Treat it as one input among several.