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Ideal Weight Calculator

Enter your sex and height. You get the ideal weight from four classic formulas, their average, and the weight range that matches a healthy BMI for your height.

Your numbers

Result

Estimate for information only, not professional advice. Last reviewed .

How we calculate it

Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet (60 inches) and adds a set amount for every inch above that. Devine (1974): 50 kg for men or 45.5 kg for women, plus 2.3 kg per inch. Robinson (1983): 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch for men, 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch for women. Miller (1983): 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch for men, 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch for women. Hamwi (1964): 106 lb + 6 lb per inch for men, 100 lb + 5 lb per inch for women.

The healthy weight range is the weight at a BMI of 18.5 and at 24.9 for your height: BMI × height in meters squared. For a man 5 ft 10 in (177.8 cm) the Devine formula gives 73 kg (161 lb), and the healthy range is 58.5 to 78.7 kg.

Assumptions and limits

  • This is an estimate for general information. It is not medical advice and cannot replace a conversation with a doctor or dietitian.
  • The four formulas were written decades ago, and they disagree, more so for tall people. They do not know about your muscle, bone structure or age, so treat the answer as a range and not a target.
  • The formulas start at 5 feet (152.4 cm). Below that height only the healthy weight range is shown.

Frequently asked questions

What is ideal body weight?

It is a rough estimate of a healthy weight for your height. Several formulas exist, and they give different answers, so there is no single ideal weight.

Why do the formulas give different results?

They were each fitted to different groups of people in different decades. Taller people see the biggest differences between them.

Is the healthy BMI range better than the formulas?

It is simpler and covers a range, but BMI also ignores muscle and frame. Waist measurements and body fat give a fuller picture.

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Worked example (a fixed example using the starting numbers, it does not change as you type)

Inputs: Units = US (pounds, feet and inches); Sex = Male; Height: feet = 5; Height: inches = 11.

  • Devine (1974) 166.0 lb
  • Robinson (1983) 160.7 lb
  • Miller (1983) 158.1 lb
  • Hamwi (1964) 172.0 lb
  • Average of the four 164.2 lb
  • Healthy weight range (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) 132.6 to 178.5 lb

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Last reviewed: . Formulas and assumptions are described on our methodology page. For information only; not professional advice.