Ideal Weight Calculator
Enter your sex and height to see the healthy weight range for your height and the ideal body weight given by the most widely used clinical formulas. Add your current weight to see how it compares.
Choose your sex, enter your height and tap Calculate ideal weight.
| Method | Ideal weight |
|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | - |
| Robinson (1983) | - |
| Miller (1983) | - |
| Hamwi (1964) | - |
| Mid-range BMI (-) | - |
The clinical formulas were designed for heights of 5 ft (152 cm) and over, so treat them with caution below that.
How ideal weight is calculated
Healthy weight range (main result)
The range comes from the WHO normal BMI band: 18.5 × height (m)² to 24.9 × height (m)². It is the range most doctors in the US and UK use when they talk about a “healthy weight”, and it is the same for men and women. You can check your current BMI and category with the BMI Calculator.
Clinical ideal body weight formulas
These formulas start from a base weight at 5 ft (60 in) and add a fixed amount for every inch above that:
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
The Devine formula was written to dose medicines, not to set weight goals, but it is still widely used in hospitals today. The “mid-range BMI” row shows the weight at a BMI of 22 for men and 21 for women, the middle of the normal band.
Example
A man who is 5 ft 9 in (9 inches over 5 ft): Devine = 50 + 2.3 × 9 = 70.7 kg (about 156 lb); Robinson ≈ 152 lb; Miller ≈ 152 lb; Hamwi ≈ 159 lb. His healthy range at BMI 18.5–24.9 is about 125–169 lb.
Choosing a realistic goal
No single number is “ideal”. The formulas ignore muscle, frame size and age, and they disagree with each other by several pounds. A good goal is any weight inside the healthy range that you can keep up with sustainable eating and activity. For people who are overweight, the CDC notes that even a modest loss of 5–10% of body weight is likely to improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
To work out how much to eat to reach your goal, use the BMR & Calorie Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the formulas give different numbers?
They were fitted to different data, including old life-insurance height–weight tables, and for different purposes such as drug dosing. Robinson and Miller tend to give lower values for tall people than Devine and Hamwi.
Does this work for children or teens?
No. These formulas are for adults. Children and teens are assessed with BMI-for-age growth charts.
I’m muscular. Should I aim for these numbers?
Not necessarily. Athletes often weigh more than every formula suggests while carrying little body fat. Waist size and body-fat measurements are better guides in that case. For personal advice, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Sources
- Pai MP, Paloucek FP, The origin of the “ideal” body weight equations, Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:1066–9 (Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas).
- World Health Organization, Obesity and overweight fact sheet (BMI categories).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Losing Weight – health benefits of modest weight loss.