Average Weight for Men and Women
What do American adults actually weigh at your height? We calculated it from CDC’s raw exam data — people weighed on a scale, not asked — and checked our method by reproducing CDC’s own published averages to the decimal.
Compare your weight with people your height
The average American man weighs 199.0 lb (90.3 kg) and the average woman 171.8 lb (77.9 kg), based on adults 20 and older measured by CDC in August 2021–August 2023. At 5′4″, the average woman weighs 171.2 lb; at 5′9″, the average man weighs 204.0 lb. At every height with enough data, the average falls above the healthy-weight range.
Source: our calculation from CDC NHANES 2021–2023 exam data; overall means match CDC’s published anthropometric reference data.
Average weight for women by height
Across heights, average weight rises about 4.0 lb per inch for women and 6.2 lb for men (our calculation), but not perfectly smoothly: each height is its own sample of real women, so neighboring rows can wobble by a few pounds. The 95% range shows how precise each average is. The middle-half column shows what’s typical: half of women that height weigh within that range.
| Height | Average | 95% range | Middle half | Healthy range (BMI 18.5–24.9) | BMI at average | People measured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4′9″ | 138.5 lb62.8 kg | 128.5–148.4 | 124–155 lb | 86–115 lb | 30.0 obesity | 40† |
| 4′10″ | 150.2 lb68.1 kg | 137.9–162.5 | 122–167 lb | 89–119 lb | 31.4 obesity | 63 |
| 4′11″ | 152.0 lb68.9 kg | 145.2–158.8 | 124–170 lb | 92–123 lb | 30.7 obesity | 153 |
| 5′0″ | 162.3 lb73.6 kg | 153.3–171.2 | 129–184 lb | 95–127 lb | 31.7 obesity | 228 |
| 5′1″ | 162.4 lb73.7 kg | 156.7–168.1 | 132–186 lb | 98–132 lb | 30.7 obesity | 354 |
| 5′2″ | 165.1 lb74.9 kg | 154.7–175.5 | 133–195 lb | 101–136 lb | 30.2 obesity | 385 |
| 5′3″ | 171.4 lb77.8 kg | 167.5–175.4 | 135–195 lb | 105–140 lb | 30.4 obesity | 484 |
| 5′4″ | 171.2 lb77.7 kg | 166.3–176.2 | 140–194 lb | 108–145 lb | 29.4 overweight | 448 |
| 5′5″ | 178.8 lb81.1 kg | 172.3–185.2 | 142–206 lb | 111–149 lb | 29.7 overweight | 374 |
| 5′6″ | 181.1 lb82.2 kg | 171.6–190.6 | 144–211 lb | 115–154 lb | 29.2 overweight | 286 |
| 5′7″ | 189.2 lb85.8 kg | 178.4–199.9 | 158–218 lb | 118–159 lb | 29.6 overweight | 199 |
| 5′8″ | 192.4 lb87.3 kg | 178.7–206.0 | 157–228 lb | 122–164 lb | 29.2 overweight | 112 |
| 5′9″ | 186.7 lb84.7 kg | 172.8–200.6 | 151–202 lb | 125–168 lb | 27.6 overweight | 59† |
Heights rounded to the nearest inch. Women 5′10″ and taller, and under 4′9″, aren’t shown: fewer than 30 were measured. † fewer than 60 people measured: treat as a rough guide. Healthy range uses CDC’s adult BMI categories (CDC).
Average weight for men by height
Men follow the same climb, from 149.9 lb at 5′2″ to 245.4 lb at 6′3″. At 6′0″, the average man weighs 215.7 lb, while the healthy range for that height tops out at 183 lb.
| Height | Average | 95% range | Middle half | Healthy range (BMI 18.5–24.9) | BMI at average | People measured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5′2″ | 149.9 lb68.0 kg | 143.6–156.2 | 132–159 lb | 101–136 lb | 27.4 overweight | 32† |
| 5′3″ | 160.4 lb72.7 kg | 152.7–168.1 | 139–177 lb | 105–140 lb | 28.4 overweight | 62 |
| 5′4″ | 162.7 lb73.8 kg | 157.0–168.4 | 142–181 lb | 108–145 lb | 27.9 overweight | 106 |
| 5′5″ | 176.2 lb79.9 kg | 167.2–185.2 | 150–196 lb | 111–149 lb | 29.3 overweight | 136 |
| 5′6″ | 181.1 lb82.2 kg | 175.2–187.1 | 153–200 lb | 115–154 lb | 29.2 overweight | 231 |
| 5′7″ | 188.7 lb85.6 kg | 182.6–194.9 | 159–209 lb | 118–159 lb | 29.6 overweight | 311 |
| 5′8″ | 191.3 lb86.8 kg | 185.6–196.9 | 164–216 lb | 122–164 lb | 29.1 overweight | 334 |
| 5′9″ | 204.0 lb92.5 kg | 197.4–210.5 | 171–235 lb | 125–168 lb | 30.1 obesity | 374 |
| 5′10″ | 205.5 lb93.2 kg | 200.2–210.8 | 177–224 lb | 129–173 lb | 29.5 overweight | 313 |
| 5′11″ | 215.1 lb97.6 kg | 207.8–222.4 | 183–235 lb | 133–178 lb | 30.0 obesity | 270 |
| 6′0″ | 215.7 lb97.8 kg | 204.8–226.6 | 179–246 lb | 137–183 lb | 29.2 overweight | 193 |
| 6′1″ | 220.6 lb100.1 kg | 210.8–230.4 | 191–246 lb | 140–189 lb | 29.1 overweight | 136 |
| 6′2″ | 217.1 lb98.5 kg | 206.2–228.1 | 184–251 lb | 144–194 lb | 27.9 overweight | 76 |
| 6′3″ | 245.4 lb111.3 kg | 222.2–268.6 | 209–255 lb | 148–199 lb | 30.7 obesity | 44† |
Men under 5′2″ and 6′4″ and taller aren’t shown: fewer than 30 measured. † fewer than 60 measured.
Average weight vs healthy weight
At every height we can show, for both women and men, the average weight corresponds to a BMI of 25 or more. In other words, the typical American at almost any height is above the healthy-weight range. That’s why “average” and “healthy” shouldn’t be read as the same thing; for a target, our ideal weight calculator and BMI chart are the better tools.
Average weight by age
Weight peaks in middle age: men average the most at 40–49 (210.2 lb) and women at 50–59 (180.0 lb), then averages fall in older groups. These are different people at different ages in one survey, not the same people followed over time.
| Age | Men, weight | Women, weight | Men, waist | Women, waist | Men, BMI | Women, BMI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 191.3 lb | 164.9 lb | 37.5 in | 35.6 in | 27.8 | 28.0 |
| 30–39 | 201.5 lb | 178.3 lb | 39.9 in | 38.5 in | 29.5 | 30.5 |
| 40–49 | 210.2 lb | 177.3 lb | 41.2 in | 38.7 in | 30.5 | 30.7 |
| 50–59 | 203.0 lb | 180.0 lb | 41.9 in | 40.0 in | 30.2 | 31.4 |
| 60–69 | 196.7 lb | 171.0 lb | 41.5 in | 39.5 in | 29.2 | 30.1 |
| 70–79 | 193.4 lb | 162.8 lb | 42.3 in | 39.2 in | 29.4 | 29.5 |
| 80+ | 180.1 lb | 149.7 lb | 41.0 in | 38.0 in | 27.8 | 27.7 |
Average BMI, height and waist size
The average man is 68.9 inches tall (about 5′9″) with a BMI of 29.4 and a waist of 40.6 inches; the average woman is 63.5 inches (about 5′3.5″) with a BMI of 30.0 and a waist of 38.5 inches. Men’s average BMI is in CDC’s overweight range (25 to under 30); women’s sits right at the line between overweight and obesity. Half of men weigh more than 191 lb and half of women more than 162 lb: the medians are lower than the averages because the heaviest people pull averages up.
For how many adults have obesity, see our US obesity statistics; for the full BMI scale, our guide to BMI categories.
FAQ
What is the average weight for a woman?
171.8 lb (77.9 kg) for US women 20 and older, measured in 2021–2023. The median is 162 lb.
What is the average weight for a man?
199.0 lb (90.3 kg) for US men 20 and older; the median is 191 lb.
What is the average weight for a 5′4″ woman?
171.2 lb, with half of women that height between 140 and 194 lb. The healthy range at 5′4″ is 108–145 lb.
What is the average weight for a 5′9″ man?
204.0 lb, with half of men that height between 171 and 235 lb. The healthy range at 5′9″ is 125–168 lb.
What is the average waist size?
40.6 inches for men and 38.5 inches for women, measured at the top of the hip bone in CDC’s exam.
Is average weight the same as healthy weight?
No. At most heights the average corresponds to a BMI of 25 or more, which CDC classes as overweight. Use the healthy-range column or our BMI chart for that.
How we calculated this
We used CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for August 2021–August 2023: the demographics file and the body measures file, where trained staff weigh and measure every participant. We kept adults 20 and older, excluded pregnant women, and applied CDC’s exam sample weights so the results represent the US population. Standard errors use the survey’s strata and primary sampling units (Taylor linearization). We show a height only when at least 30 people were measured at it.
Check against CDC: our overall results reproduce CDC’s published figures in Vital and Health Statistics Series 3, No. 50 — average weight 199.0 lb for men and 171.8 lb for women, height 68.9 and 63.5 inches, BMI 29.4 and 30.0. The breakdowns by height are our own calculation from the same files.
- National Center for Health Statistics. NHANES August 2021–August 2023 Demographic Variables and Sample Weights (DEMO_L).
- National Center for Health Statistics. NHANES August 2021–August 2023 Body Measures (BMX_L).
- Fryar CD, et al. Anthropometric reference data for children and adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 3, No. 50.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult BMI Categories.
Download: average weight by sex, height and age (CSV). Free to reuse with a link to this page (CC BY 4.0).
This page describes populations, not individuals. It is not medical advice.