Hey there, WordPress user! Are you looking for an easy way to add more value to your website and engage your visitors? If your site is related to health, fitness, diet or wellness, adding a BMI calculator could be a game-changer.
BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a popular way to assess a person‘s weight category based on their height and weight. While not perfect, it‘s a simple screening tool that many people use to get a general sense of where they fall on the body weight spectrum.
Did you know that over 1.9 billion adults worldwide were overweight in 2016, and 650 million were obese? With rates continuing to rise, there‘s a huge audience searching for health information and tools online.
By offering a quick, easy way for visitors to calculate their BMI on your WordPress site, you can:
- Provide real value and establish your authority on health topics
- Increase visitor engagement and time on site
- Gather leads to market your health-related products or services
- Rank for valuable keywords related to BMI and weight management
Sounds great, right? In this ultimate step-by-step guide, I‘ll show you exactly how to get a BMI calculator on your WordPress site without touching a line of code.
Methods to Add a BMI Calculator in WordPress
Here are the methods we‘ll cover:
| Method | Difficulty | Customization |
|---|---|---|
| Form Plugin | Easy | High |
| Widget Embed | Easy | Low |
| Custom Code | Advanced | High |
As you can see, the right approach will depend on your tech skills and how much control you need over the calculator design and functionality. I‘ll walk you through each one in detail so you can make the best choice for your site.
How to Calculate BMI
First, let‘s make sure we understand BMI and how it works. BMI is calculated by dividing a person‘s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters:
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)^2Or, if using pounds and inches:
BMI = weight (lb) / height (in)^2 x 703For example, a person who weighs 150 pounds and is 5‘6" (66 inches) tall would calculate their BMI like this:
BMI = 150 / (66)^2 x 703
= 150 / 4356 x 703
= 24.22 A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a "normal" or healthy weight. Here are the standard ranges:
- Below 18.5 = Underweight
- 18.5-24.9 = Normal weight
- 25-29.9 = Overweight
- 30+ = Obese
With a BMI of 24.22, our example person falls into the normal range.
Now, let‘s look at how you can set up a calculator like this on your own site in WordPress.
Method 1: BMI Calculator Form using a Plugin
The easiest and most flexible way to add a BMI calculator to WordPress is with a form plugin. My top picks are WPForms and Formidable Forms.
Both of these powerful plugins include pre-made templates for calculator forms that you can easily customize and add to your site. Here‘s how:
- Install and activate the plugin of your choice. If needed, also install the free version from WordPress.org first.
- Purchase the pro version, which includes the calculator features and templates.
- In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the plugin settings and enter your license key to enable automatic updates.
- Open the template selector and locate the pre-built BMI calculator form.
- Click "Create Form" or "Use Template" to launch the drag-and-drop form builder.
- Customize the fields, labels and messaging as desired. Pay attention to the units – you may want to provide both metric and imperial.
- Configure plugin settings for form validation, notifications, etc.
- Copy the form shortcode or locate the "Add Form" button to insert the calculator into a page or post.
- Publish your page or post to make the calculator live.
Here‘s a quick demo of what this process looks like in WPForms:
Super simple, right? And you have complete control over the form appearance and functionality. Some other customizations to consider:
- Style the form with your brand colors and fonts
- Add conditional logic to show a tailored message based on BMI range
- Collect the user‘s email address for follow-up content
- Integrate with an email service provider to send automated messages
- A/B test different headlines, images or call-to-action copy
Using a WordPress form builder, the design possibilities are endless. Create a BMI calculator that perfectly matches your site and fits with your content strategy.
Method 2: Embedding a Ready-Made BMI Calculator Widget
For a more hands-off approach, you can use a pre-built calculator widget that‘s as simple as pasting in an embed code, similar to adding a YouTube video.
There are many free BMI calculators available around the web that provide code you can drop right into your WordPress page or post. Some good options are:
- BMI Calculator at Calculator.net – ad-free and includes healthy weight recommendations
- BMI Calculator by the NIH – authoritative and user-friendly
- BMI Calculator at Omni – clean design with ability to switch units
To embed one of these calculators:
- Go to the calculator page and look for a share or embed button. It may be labeled as "Link" or with a bracket icon (<>).
- Configure any options provided, such as choosing your preferred units.
- Copy the HTML embed code that appears.
- Open up the WordPress page or post where you want the calculator to appear.
- Click the "+" icon to add a new block and search for "Custom HTML".
- Paste the calculator embed code into this block.
- Preview the page to make sure the calculator displays and functions correctly.
- Publish your page or post. That‘s it!
While less customizable than a form plugin, embedding a widget is an easy way to integrate a BMI calculator built by experts. Just make sure it comes from a reputable source and doesn‘t display any spammy links or ads.
Method 3: Code a Custom BMI Calculator
If you‘re comfortable with HTML, CSS and JavaScript, you may prefer to code your own BMI calculator from scratch for complete control and flexibility. Here‘s a bare-bones example to get you started:
<form>
<label>
Weight:
<input type="number" id="weightInput" placeholder="Enter weight in pounds">
</label>
<label>
Height:
<input type="number" id="heightInput" placeholder="Enter height in inches">
</label>
<button type="button" id="calculateBtn">Calculate BMI</button>
</form>
<div id="results"></div>
<script>
const weightInput = document.getElementById(‘weightInput‘);
const heightInput = document.getElementById(‘heightInput‘);
const calculateBtn = document.getElementById(‘calculateBtn‘);
const results = document.getElementById(‘results‘);
calculateBtn.addEventListener(‘click‘, function() {
let weight = Number(weightInput.value);
let height = Number(heightInput.value);
if (weight && height) {
let bmi = (weight / (height * height)) * 703;
results.innerHTML = `<h3>Your BMI is ${bmi.toFixed(1)}</h3>`;
}
});
</script>To use this code in WordPress:
- Open up the page or post editor.
- Click the "+" icon and choose "Custom HTML".
- Paste in the example code and make any changes.
- Preview to test the functionality.
- Publish the page or post.
This is just a starting point – feel free to expand on the code to fit your needs. Some ideas:
- Add form validation and error handling
- Show BMI range category (e.g. underweight, normal, overweight, obese)
- Provide more info or links based on BMI result
- Allow user to toggle between metric and imperial units
- Style it up with your own CSS or an external framework
Hand-coding gives you the most control but requires more technical knowledge. If you go this route, be sure to thoroughly test your calculator, provide clear instructions, and aim for mobile-friendly responsive design.
Maximizing the Impact of Your BMI Calculator
However you choose to implement it, a BMI calculator is an interactive feature that‘s likely to attract engagement from a motivated audience. Make the most of this opportunity for your WordPress site.
Some tips to drive conversions with your BMI calculator:
- Place prominent links to the calculator throughout your site
- Use clear CTAs like "Calculate your BMI" or "Check your ideal weight"
- Create pins and social posts featuring the calculator
- Include a call-to-action or related offer on the calculator results page
- Follow up with segmented, personalized content via email based on BMI category
You could also explore using the concept of "content upgrades", where visitors get bonus health content emailed to them in exchange for calculating their BMI and subscribing.
Beyond BMI, think about what other health and wellness tools your audience might enjoy interacting with, like:
- Calorie calculator
- Ideal weight calculator
- Body fat calculator
- Meal planner
- Workout builder
- Healthy recipe index
Putting yourself in your users‘ shoes, what features would keep you coming back to a health-focused website again and again?
The Big Picture
A BMI calculator is a specific example of using interactive tools and personalization to engage your WordPress site visitors and guide them to relevant next steps.
The health niche is a great fit because people searching for this kind of information are typically motivated to learn and make changes. You have an opportunity to be a trusted guide on that journey.
But this same principle of helpful interaction applies across industries. What tools or resources would simplify things for your particular audience or solve a problem they‘re struggling with? Brainstorm how you could provide that value in an intuitive, user-friendly way.
Well-executed interactive features can be the hook that helps grow your website traffic, leads, engagement and conversions over time. It‘s a smart strategy to set yourself apart and gain a loyal following.
Wrapping Up
Let‘s recap the 3 methods you can use to add a BMI calculator to your WordPress site without coding from scratch:
Install a form plugin like WPForms or Formidable Forms and use their pre-built calculator template. Customize the design and functionality as needed.
Embed a pre-made BMI calculator widget with a simple code snippet. Look for one from a reputable source that allows unit customization.
Code a custom BMI calculator from scratch using HTML, CSS and JavaScript for the greatest flexibility. Start with a basic version and add more advanced functionality over time.
Whichever method you choose, pay attention to user experience and use your BMI calculator feature strategically to drive email opt-ins, product sales, or other key marketing goals.
Need to brush up on your WordPress skills while tackling this project? Check out some of our other guides:
- How to Install a WordPress Plugin
- Guide to Creating Landing Pages in WordPress
- Best WordPress Lead Generation Plugins
- How to Create an Email Newsletter in WordPress
You‘ve got this! Let me know how your BMI calculator works out. I‘d love to feature your success story on the blog.
Now go engage and delight your audience with your awesome new interactive feature! And don‘t be shy about spreading the word to your health-minded friends and colleagues. The more tools we can provide to support people on their wellness journey, the better.
Stay creative, stay curious, and keep using your WordPress site to make a positive difference. Talk soon!
