Ideal Weight Calculator

Find your ideal body weight range using four clinically developed formulas.

Ideal Weight Calculator

Estimate your ideal body weight

Ideal Weight Calculator

Based on the Devine formula

Formula
Male: 110 + 5.06 x (height - 60in), Female: 100 + 5.06 x (height - 60in)

What Is Ideal Body Weight?

Ideal body weight is a target weight range associated with good health outcomes for a given height and gender. The concept emerged in the mid-20th century when insurance actuaries noticed statistical links between weight and longevity. Clinicians later adopted these estimates to guide medication dosing, nutritional targets, and general health assessments. Rather than pinpointing one number, modern practice treats ideal weight as a range — a span of roughly 10–15 kg within which most people of a given stature tend to thrive.

Four widely cited formulas — Robinson (1983), Miller (1983), Devine (1974), and Hamwi (1964) — each use height and gender as their primary inputs, but they were derived from different study populations and use slightly different coefficients. That is why they produce different answers. None of them accounts for muscle mass, bone density, or body frame, so treating the results as a flexible guide rather than a hard target gives you the most useful perspective on your own healthy weight.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1Select your gender (male or female) from the dropdown or toggle.
  2. 2Enter your height — choose inches/feet for imperial or centimeters for metric.
  3. 3Click Calculate to run all four formulas instantly.
  4. 4Review the ideal weight range: each formula's result is shown alongside the overall range so you can see where you fall.

The Four Formulas

Robinson Formula (1983): Men: 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet Women: 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet Miller Formula (1983): Men: 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet Women: 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet Devine Formula (1974): Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet Hamwi Formula (1964): Men: 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet Women: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet

All four formulas are statistical estimates originally developed for clinical contexts such as drug dosing and nutritional planning. A person's healthy weight also depends on muscle mass, bone density, body frame size, age, and individual health conditions. Use these results as a general reference, not a medical prescription.

Worked Examples

Man, 5′10″ (178 cm)

Robinson: 52 + 1.9 × 10 = 71.0 kg (156 lb). Devine: 50 + 2.3 × 10 = 73.0 kg (161 lb). Hamwi: 48 + 2.7 × 10 = 75.0 kg (165 lb). Miller: 56.2 + 1.41 × 10 = 70.3 kg (155 lb). Combined ideal weight range ≈ 68–77 kg (150–170 lb).

Woman, 5′5″ (165 cm)

Robinson: 49 + 1.7 × 5 = 57.5 kg (127 lb). Devine: 45.5 + 2.3 × 5 = 57.0 kg (126 lb). Hamwi: 45.5 + 2.2 × 5 = 56.5 kg (124 lb). Miller: 53.1 + 1.36 × 5 = 59.9 kg (132 lb). Combined ideal weight range ≈ 54–62 kg (119–137 lb).

Man, 6′2″ (188 cm)

Robinson: 52 + 1.9 × 14 = 78.6 kg (173 lb). Devine: 50 + 2.3 × 14 = 82.2 kg (181 lb). Hamwi: 48 + 2.7 × 14 = 85.8 kg (189 lb). Miller: 56.2 + 1.41 × 14 = 75.9 kg (167 lb). Combined ideal weight range ≈ 76–86 kg (167–190 lb).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ideal weight the same as healthy weight?▾
Not exactly. Ideal weight formulas were originally developed for clinical drug dosing, while 'healthy weight' is usually defined by BMI (18.5–24.9) or waist-to-height ratio. In practice the two concepts overlap significantly, but healthy weight is the broader, more health-focused term. Ideal weight formulas tend to produce slightly lower targets than the full BMI healthy range.
Why do the four formulas give different results?▾
Each formula was derived from a different study population, era, and purpose. Hamwi (1964) was designed for quick clinical estimates; Devine (1974) was originally used in pharmacokinetics; Robinson and Miller (both 1983) tried to refine Devine's coefficients using more recent data. Different source populations and regression methods naturally produce different slopes and intercepts.
Does body frame size matter?▾
Yes — people with larger bone structures naturally carry more weight. The four formulas do not adjust for frame size, but a common clinical rule of thumb is to add roughly 10% for a large frame and subtract 10% for a small frame. You can estimate frame size by wrapping your thumb and middle finger around your wrist: if they overlap you likely have a small frame; if they just touch, medium; if there's a gap, large.
What about BMI — which is better, BMI or ideal weight formulas?▾
Both have the same core limitation: they use height (and sometimes gender) as a proxy for body composition, ignoring muscle mass and fat distribution. BMI is more widely used in public health research because it's a continuous scale, while ideal weight formulas give a single target number that can feel more actionable. For most people, neither alone is sufficient — waist circumference, body fat percentage, and blood work together give a more complete picture.
Can I be healthy above my ideal weight range?▾
Absolutely. Athletes with high muscle mass routinely exceed these formula targets while being in excellent health. Age also plays a role — research suggests slightly higher weights may be protective in older adults. These formulas are tools for general guidance, not personal health verdicts. If your weight concerns you, a healthcare provider can assess your full picture including bloodwork, blood pressure, and fitness level.