How to Calculate Your Ideal Weight for Your Height
How much should you weigh? There is no single perfect number, but several well-known formulas give a healthy target based on your height and sex. This guide explains the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas and walks you through the Ideal Weight Calculator, which shows a sensible target weight in both kilograms and pounds. It is free and instant. Treat the result as a reference point rather than a strict goal, and remember it is not medical advice.
How ideal weight formulas work
Ideal body weight (IBW) formulas estimate a healthy weight from height, with a base weight at five feet and a set amount added for each inch above that. The classic Devine formula is:
Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
The Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas follow the same shape with slightly different constants, which is why a calculator showing all four gives a small range rather than one rigid number. These formulas were originally created for medical dosing and are useful guides, but they do not account for muscle mass, frame size or body composition.
How to use the Ideal Weight Calculator
Find your target in seconds:
- Open the Ideal Weight Calculator.
- Choose your sex.
- Enter your height in cm, or feet and inches.
- Read your ideal weight from the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas in both kg and lb.
Because the four formulas differ slightly, look at the range they produce rather than fixating on one figure. Any healthy weight will normally fall within or near that range.
A worked example
Take a man who is 5 feet 10 inches tall, which is 10 inches over 5 feet.
- Devine: 50 + (2.3 x 10) = 73 kg, about 161 lb
- The other formulas land nearby, giving a range of roughly 68 to 75 kg
For a woman of the same height:
- Devine: 45.5 + (2.3 x 10) = 68.5 kg, about 151 lb
The calculator shows all four results so you can see the spread. Use the range as a healthy reference, not an exact mandate.
Ideal weight vs BMI
IBW formulas and BMI answer slightly different questions. IBW gives a single target weight from height and sex, while BMI gives a healthy weight range from height alone. Here are healthy BMI weight ranges for a few heights:
| Height | Healthy range (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) |
|---|---|
| 5 ft 4 in | 108 to 145 lb |
| 5 ft 8 in | 122 to 164 lb |
| 6 ft 0 in | 137 to 184 lb |
For most people the IBW result sits inside the healthy BMI range. Check yours with the BMI Calculator for a second view.
Use cases and limitations
An ideal weight estimate is helpful for:
- Setting a realistic weight goal
- Giving context to a scale reading
- A starting point before talking to a doctor or dietitian
But remember the limits: these formulas ignore muscle, bone density and frame. A muscular athlete may weigh well above their IBW yet be perfectly healthy. For body composition, use the Body Fat Calculator, and to plan intake, the Calorie Calculator. More tools live in calculators.
Free and not medical advice
The Ideal Weight Calculator is free with no sign-up and runs in your browser, so the height you enter stays private. It is informational only and not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Healthy weight depends on many factors beyond height, so discuss your goals with a qualified professional. Explore all tools for more.
Try the tool from this guide
Ideal Weight Calculator
Healthy weight for your height and sex.
Open Ideal Weight CalculatorFrequently asked questions
Is the ideal weight calculator free?
Yes. It is completely free with no sign-up. Enter your height and sex to see your ideal weight from four formulas in kg and lb.
Is it private?
Yes. The calculator runs in your browser, so the details you enter are never uploaded or stored anywhere.
Which formula is best?
There is no single best one. The Devine formula is the most widely cited, but Robinson, Miller and Hamwi are all valid. Looking at the range they produce is more useful than picking one.
Does ideal weight account for muscle?
No. These formulas use only height and sex, so they do not reflect muscle mass, frame size or body composition. Athletes may healthily weigh more than their estimated ideal weight.
Is this medical advice?
No. The result is a general reference, not a diagnosis. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about a weight that is right for your individual health.
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