Glossary

Build chart

An insurer's table of height and weight ranges that maps an applicant's body size to the rate classes they can qualify for.

Also called: height and weight chart, build table

A build chart is a table life insurers use during underwriting to judge whether an applicant's weight is in an acceptable range for their height. Each row lists a height, and the columns show the maximum (and sometimes minimum) weight allowed for each rate class, from preferred plus down through standard and into table ratings.

Underwriters compare the applicant's height and weight, self-reported or measured at a paramedical exam, against the chart. Hypothetical example: on one insurer's chart, a 5-foot-10 applicant might qualify for preferred plus up to 195 pounds, preferred up to 210 and standard up to 240, with a table rating above that. Another insurer's limits for the same height could be noticeably more generous.

Build is only one factor. Blood pressure, cholesterol, family history and other conditions also count, and some insurers give credit for good lab results. Because charts vary widely between companies, comparing several insurers matters most for people near a cutoff. Recent weight loss, including from GLP-1 medications, is often judged by how long the lower weight has been stable. See life insurance, weight and build charts and GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and life insurance underwriting.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

Rate class The underwriting category, such as preferred plus, standard or substandard, that sets the price an insurer charges for a given age and coverage. Preferred plus Typically the lowest-priced underwriting class, reserved for applicants in excellent health with a clean family history and no high-risk habits. Standard rate class The underwriting class for applicants of average health and risk, priced at an insurer's baseline rather than a discounted preferred rate. Table rating An extra charge for higher-risk applicants expressed in numbered or lettered tables, each typically adding 25 percent to the standard premium. Underwriting The process an insurer uses to evaluate an applicant's risk, from health and lifestyle to finances, and decide whether and at what price to offer coverage.

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