About the Ponderal Index Calculator
The ponderal index, also known as the corpulence index or Rohrer's index, compares weight with height cubed. Because a body grows in three dimensions, dividing by the cube of height can be fairer than BMI for very tall or very short people. This calculator takes weight in kilograms and height in centimetres. Type weight in kg and height in cm and the ponderal index appears at once, with a few related figures underneath, and you can copy the result with one tap. The sums run in your browser, so nothing you enter is uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Ponderal Index Calculator
- 1Enter weight in kg and height in cm.
- 2Pick the units or options from the menus if the ponderal index tool offers them.
- 3Read the ponderal index in the large result box.
- 4Look at the extra rows for related figures.
- 5Press Copy result to keep the answer.
When you need the ponderal index
Health students and curious people use it as a second view next to BMI.
Typical adult values lie between about 11 and 15 kg/m³. It was first used for newborns and children.
How the ponderal index is worked out
Ponderal index = weight in kg ÷ (height in metres)³. A person who weighs 70 kg and is 175 cm tall (1.75 m) has an index of 70 ÷ 5.359 = 13.06 kg/m³.
Every answer on this page comes from that one rule, so you can check any result by hand with a calculator. The figures shown underneath, such as other units, are conversions of the same answer.
- Weight and height
- No sign-up
- Simple formula
Mistakes to avoid with ponderal index
There are no widely accepted adult cut-offs, so use it to compare with yourself over time, not as a diagnosis. Pregnant women and athletes may get misleading values.
On phone and computer
On a phone, type into the boxes one after another and read the ponderal index underneath; Copy result puts it on the clipboard for a message or a note. On a computer the inputs sit on the left and the answer on the right, so you can change one figure and watch the ponderal index move. The ponderal index calculator works the same on both.
Checking your ponderal index by hand
A good habit is to test the ponderal index calculator with a case you already know. A person who weighs 70 kg and is 175 cm tall (1.75 m) has an index of 70 ÷ 5.359 = 13.06 kg/m³.
If your own figures give a surprising answer, repeat the working yourself: Ponderal index = weight in kg ÷ (height in metres)³. Small differences usually come from rounding, from mixing units, or from a typing slip in one of the inputs. The index compares weight with height cubed, so see other body measures. Use the BMI Calculator for the usual figure, the Body Roundness Index Calculator for the waist, and the Body Fat Calculator for composition.
Features
- No official adult limits
- Not for pregnancy
- Track changes over time
- Clear messages when the ponderal index inputs make no sense
- Copy the result with one tap
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate ponderal index?
Ponderal index = weight in kg ÷ (height in metres)³. A person who weighs 70 kg and is 175 cm tall (1.75 m) has an index of 70 ÷ 5.359 = 13.06 kg/m³.
What is the formula for ponderal index?
Ponderal index = weight in kg ÷ (height in metres)³. The ponderal index calculator applies it exactly and rounds only the displayed answer to six significant figures.
How is it different from BMI?
It divides by height cubed instead of squared.
What is a normal value?
Roughly 11 to 15 kg/m³ for adults.
Is it used for babies?
Yes, historically for newborns.
Is this ponderal index calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and runs in your browser, so the numbers you type are not uploaded or stored.