OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Ideal Weight Calculator
Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi Formulas, Plus the Healthy BMI Weight Range
OneTask is free, with no sign-up, and built by one person.
If this tool saved you time, a coffee helps keep new ones coming.
How the Ideal Weight Calculator works
This ideal weight calculator works out a healthy target weight for your height and sex. It compares the four standard ideal body weight formulas, Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi, gives their average, and shows the full weight range that keeps your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. Add your current weight to see how far you are from it.
Ideal body weight formulas were first written for doctors, to dose drugs and set ventilator volumes, not to define how anyone should look. They still make a useful reference point, and together with the healthy BMI range they give a sensible target band rather than a single number that suits nobody exactly.
How the ideal weight calculator works
Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet (152.4 cm) and adds a fixed amount for every inch above it. The Devine formula is 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet for men, and 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg for women. Robinson uses 52 + 1.9 and 49 + 1.7, Miller 56.2 + 1.41 and 53.1 + 1.36, and Hamwi 48 + 2.7 and 45.5 + 2.2. The healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9 × height in metres squared.
First example. A man 5'10" tall is 10 inches over 5 feet, so Devine gives 50 + 2.3 × 10 = 73 kg (161 lb). The four formulas average 72.3 kg (159 lb), and a healthy BMI allows 58.5 to 78.7 kg.
Second example. A woman 165 cm tall (5'5") has a Devine ideal weight of 45.5 + 2.3 × 5 = 57 kg and a four-formula average of 57.7 kg (127 lb).
How many pounds should I weigh for my height? Read across the table: the healthy BMI column is the broadest guide, and the formula average sits near its middle.
Ideal weight by height for men and women (average of four formulas) with the healthy BMI range
| Height | Men | Women | Healthy BMI range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4'10" (147 cm) | 47.4 kg (104 lb) | 44.5 kg (98 lb) | 40.2–54.0 kg |
| 4'11" (150 cm) | 49.5 kg (109 lb) | 46.4 kg (102 lb) | 41.5–55.9 kg |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 51.5 kg (114 lb) | 48.3 kg (106 lb) | 43.0–57.8 kg |
| 5'1" (155 cm) | 53.6 kg (118 lb) | 50.2 kg (111 lb) | 44.4–59.8 kg |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 55.7 kg (123 lb) | 52.1 kg (115 lb) | 45.9–61.8 kg |
| 5'3" (160 cm) | 57.8 kg (127 lb) | 53.9 kg (119 lb) | 47.4–63.8 kg |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 59.9 kg (132 lb) | 55.8 kg (123 lb) | 48.9–65.8 kg |
| 5'5" (165 cm) | 61.9 kg (137 lb) | 57.7 kg (127 lb) | 50.4–67.9 kg |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 64.0 kg (141 lb) | 59.6 kg (131 lb) | 52.0–70.0 kg |
| 5'7" (170 cm) | 66.1 kg (146 lb) | 61.5 kg (136 lb) | 53.6–72.1 kg |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 68.2 kg (150 lb) | 63.4 kg (140 lb) | 55.2–74.3 kg |
| 5'9" (175 cm) | 70.2 kg (155 lb) | 65.3 kg (144 lb) | 56.8–76.5 kg |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 72.3 kg (159 lb) | 67.2 kg (148 lb) | 58.5–78.7 kg |
| 5'11" (180 cm) | 74.4 kg (164 lb) | 69.1 kg (152 lb) | 60.2–81.0 kg |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 76.5 kg (169 lb) | 71.0 kg (156 lb) | 61.9–83.3 kg |
| 6'1" (185 cm) | 78.6 kg (173 lb) | 72.8 kg (161 lb) | 63.6–85.6 kg |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 80.6 kg (178 lb) | 74.7 kg (165 lb) | 65.4–88.0 kg |
| 6'3" (191 cm) | 82.7 kg (182 lb) | 76.6 kg (169 lb) | 67.1–90.4 kg |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 84.8 kg (187 lb) | 78.5 kg (173 lb) | 68.9–92.8 kg |
| 6'5" (196 cm) | 86.9 kg (192 lb) | 80.4 kg (177 lb) | 70.8–95.2 kg |
| 6'6" (198 cm) | 88.9 kg (196 lb) | 82.3 kg (181 lb) | 72.6–97.7 kg |
| 6'7" (201 cm) | 91.0 kg (201 lb) | 84.2 kg (186 lb) | 74.5–100.3 kg |
Tips and pitfalls
- Treat it as a band. Anywhere in the healthy BMI range is fine for most people; the formula average is a midpoint, not a goal you must hit.
- Frame and muscle matter. Muscular or broad-framed people can be healthy well above the formula figures. A body fat measurement tells you more.
- Not for children. These formulas are for adults. Children need BMI-for-age growth charts.
- Short heights. Below 5 feet the formulas were not designed for use, so lean on the BMI range.
FAQ
Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?
None is clearly best, because they all come from limited data on mostly white adults decades ago. Devine is the one used most in medicine, Robinson and Miller tend to give lower figures for tall people, and Hamwi higher. Averaging them, as this calculator does, softens each formula's quirks.
How much should I weigh for my height?
For most adults, any weight that gives a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. For a 170 cm person that is about 53.5 to 72 kg, or for 5'10" about 129 to 174 lb. The ideal body weight formulas land near the middle of that range.
Is ideal body weight the same as healthy weight?
Not quite. Ideal body weight is a single figure from a formula, originally used for drug dosing. Healthy weight is a range linked to lower health risks. You can be healthy above or below the ideal figure, as long as you are within the healthy range and your body fat is reasonable.
Do the formulas work for athletes?
Usually not well. Athletes carry more muscle, which is denser than fat, so they often weigh more than any formula suggests while being very lean. For athletes, body fat percentage or fat-free mass index is a much better guide than ideal body weight.
Why do women have a lower ideal weight?
At the same height women typically carry less muscle and have lighter bones than men, so the formulas use a lower base weight for women. The healthy BMI range is the same for both sexes, which is why it is shown separately as a broader guide.
See also: all Health tools, Everyday Maths, Loans & Savings, Dates & Time, Home & DIY, Unit Converters, Education, Science, Creative, Garden & Farm, Gaming & PC, Work & Business, Fun, Maps & GPS, DIY & Building, Cost Estimators, Sport & Clubs.
Related tools
Body Fat Percentage Calculator
Body fat from a tape measure, with category and fat mass.
Lean Body Mass Calculator
Lean mass by three formulas, with fat mass and FFMI.
BMR Calculator
Your resting calorie burn by three formulas, plus daily needs.
TDEE & Calorie Calculator
Daily calorie needs from the Mifflin-St Jeor equation.
BMI Calculator
Body mass index from metric or imperial height and weight.