Ideal Weight Calculator

Enter your height to see ideal weight from the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas, along with the weight range that gives a healthy BMI. Add your current weight to see how it compares.

Height

Your current weight (optional)

Average of the four formulas

61.4 kg

A healthy BMI (18.5 to 24.9) at your height means a weight of about 53.5 kg to 72.0 kg.

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1Devine (1974)Widely used for medicine doses: 61.4 kg
2Robinson (1983)A revision of Devine: 60.8 kg
3Miller (1983)Gives higher values at greater heights: 62.5 kg
4Hamwi (1964)An early rule of thumb: 60.7 kg
Healthy BMI range (WHO): 53.5 kg to 72.0 kg

Ideal weight formulas are classic height-based guides. A healthy weight is really a range, and it also depends on your age, muscle and build.

What ideal body weight means

Ideal body weight formulas estimate a weight for a given height. They were first created in the 1960s to 1980s, mostly to help doctors work out medicine doses, and they give a starting weight for 5 feet (152 cm) plus a fixed amount for each extra inch.

The four formulas

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

The healthy BMI range

The calculator also shows the weights that give a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9, the World Health Organization's normal range for adults. This is a range, not a single number, and it is usually a better guide than any one formula.

Limits of ideal weight

The formulas ignore age, muscle, bone structure and body shape.
Athletes and people with a large frame can be healthy above these numbers.
Where fat is carried and fitness matter as much as the number on the scale.
They were designed for people 5 feet (152 cm) or taller.

How to use the Ideal Weight Calculator tool

Choose your sex and units, then type your height.
Optionally type your current weight to see where you are on the scale.
Read the average of the four formulas and the healthy weight range for your height.
Compare each formula in the list and on the picture.

Frequently asked questions

What is ideal body weight?

Ideal body weight is an estimate of a healthy weight for your height. The formulas were first made to work out medicine doses, and they add a set amount of weight for each inch of height over 5 feet.

Which formula is the most accurate?

None is exact. Devine and Robinson are the most used, Miller gives higher values for taller people and Hamwi is a simple rule of thumb. This calculator shows all four and the average, so you can see the spread.

What is a healthy weight range?

A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is the World Health Organization's normal range for adults. At your height that corresponds to a range of weights, which is often more useful than a single number.

Why is my ideal weight different from what I weigh?

Ideal weight formulas ignore muscle, bone structure, age and body shape. Athletes and people with a large frame can be healthy above these numbers, and a healthy weight can also be a range rather than one figure.

Do these formulas work for short people?

They were designed for people 5 feet (152 cm) and taller. Below that the results are less reliable, so the BMI range is the better guide.