How it works
There is no single "ideal" weight, so this calculator shows two answers: the weight range that puts your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, and the classic clinical formulas, which all start from 5 feet and add a fixed amount per extra inch.
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 + 2.3 × inch | 45.5 + 2.3 × inch |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 + 1.9 × inch | 49 + 1.7 × inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 + 1.41 × inch | 53.1 + 1.36 × inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 + 2.7 × inch | 45.5 + 2.2 × inch |
Devine was written to work out drug doses, not to set a body goal, and none of the four account for frame size or muscle. The BMI range is the more useful number for most people; body fat percentage is better still.
Examples
Worked examples:
- Man, 5 ft 10 in (178 cm): Devine gives 50 + 2.3×10 = 73 kg; the healthy BMI range is about 59–79 kg.
- Woman, 5 ft 4 in (163 cm): Devine gives 45.5 + 2.3×4 = 54.7 kg; the healthy BMI range is about 49–66 kg.
These formulas are population averages published in peer-reviewed research. They cannot see your muscle mass, frame or medical history, so treat the result as a starting point and talk to a doctor or dietitian before making big changes.
Ideal Weight Calculator: frequently asked questions
- How is ideal body weight calculated?
- Common formulas add a fixed amount per inch over 5 ft: Devine (men 50 + 2.3/in, women 45.5 + 2.3/in), Robinson, Miller and Hamwi. The calculator shows all four.
- Which ideal weight formula is best?
- None is definitive. The healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) is a broader, more useful target than any single number.
- Why do formulas give different answers?
- They were fitted to different populations and purposes (mostly drug dosing), and none account for muscle or frame size.