Ideal Weight Calculator
Ideal body weight by height and sex.
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There's no single 'ideal' weight, but several classic formulas estimate a reasonable target from your height and sex. This calculator shows all four plus the healthy range implied by BMI, so you can see a sensible band rather than one number.
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Ideal Weight — The Quick Answer
Classic formulas like Devine start from a base weight at 5 feet tall and add a fixed amount per inch above that. They give a target that lands within the healthy BMI range for most heights.
Shortcut
Devine (men): 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft; (women): 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch
The four formulas (base weight at 5 ft)
| Formula | Men base | Women base |
|---|---|---|
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg | 49 kg |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg | 53.1 kg |
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg | 45.5 kg |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg | 45.5 kg |
These formulas were originally created to help calculate medication doses, not to set beauty or fitness goals. They don't account for muscle, frame size, or body composition.
How It Works
The Formulas
Base weight plus per-inch addition
Formula
IBW = base weight + (per-inch × inches over 60) Healthy range = 18.5 to 24.9 × height (m)²
Variables
Weight at 5 ft
Each formula's starting weight for a person exactly 5 feet (152 cm) tall.
Increment
How much weight is added for each inch of height above 5 feet — around 1.4 to 2.7 kg depending on the formula and sex.
Healthy band
The weight range corresponding to a BMI of 18.5–24.9, often a more practical guide than a single number.
Note: Because the four formulas disagree by several kilograms, treating ideal weight as a range — not a precise target — is far more realistic and healthier.
Worked Example: Ideal Weight for a 175 cm Man
Comparing the four formulas and the healthy BMI range
Find height above 5 feet
175 cm ≈ 68.9 in → 8.9 in over the 60-inch base
Apply a formula's per-inch rule (men)
Devine: 50 + 2.3 × 8.9 = 70.5 kg
Average the four formulas
(68.9 + 68.7 + 70.5 + 72.0) ÷ 4 ≈ 70 kg
Compare with the healthy BMI range
For 1.75 m: 56.7–76.3 kg (BMI 18.5–24.9)
Reference Guide
| Method | Result for a 175 cm man |
|---|---|
| Robinson (1983) | 68.9 kg |
| Miller (1983) | 68.7 kg |
| Devine (1974) | 70.5 kg |
| Hamwi (1964) | 72.0 kg |
| Healthy BMI range | 56.7 – 76.3 kg |
How to Read Your Ideal Weight Result
Why a range beats a single number
The four formulas deliberately disagree by a few kilograms because each was built from different data for different purposes. Read the spread they produce as a sensible range, not a precise target to hit.
Best for: Setting a realistic weight band rather than one exact figure
The weight range matching a BMI of 18.5–24.9 for your height is usually a more practical, evidence-based guide than any single formula, and it's wider — which better reflects that healthy people vary.
Best for: A broader, population-based healthy range
Ideal-weight formulas use only height and sex. A muscular or large-framed person can sit well above their 'ideal' and be perfectly healthy. Body-fat percentage and waist measurement describe your body far better than a target weight.
Best for: Pairing with body-fat and waist measures, not using alone
What Does 'Ideal Weight' Actually Mean?
Ideal body weight formulas estimate a reasonable weight for your height and sex. Most date from the 1960s–80s and were originally created for clinical purposes — the widely used Devine formula, for instance, was devised to help calculate medication doses, not to set fitness goals. Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet of height and adds a fixed amount per inch above that. Because they were derived from different data, they disagree by several kilograms, which is the clearest sign that 'ideal weight' is better treated as a range than a precise number. This tool shows all four alongside the healthy weight range implied by BMI so you see a sensible band.
Key Features
💡 Pro Tips
- →Treat the output as a range, not a goal weight — anywhere in the healthy BMI band for your height is reasonable for most people.
- →If you lift weights or have a large frame, expect to sit above the formula figures; check body-fat percentage instead of chasing a target weight.
- →Use it as a sanity check rather than a motivator — fixating on a precise 'ideal' number tends to cause more frustration than insight.
- →Discuss any significant weight goal with a healthcare professional, who can account for your health history and body composition.
Common Mistakes
Treating one formula's number as 'the' ideal weight
The formulas disagree by several kilograms by design. Picking one and treating it as exact ignores that none is objectively correct — the range they form is the honest answer.
Assuming ideal weight accounts for muscle
These formulas use only height and sex. A muscular, lean person can weigh well above their 'ideal' and be very healthy, because muscle is dense. Body composition matters more than the number on the scale.
Confusing ideal weight with a weight-loss target
Ideal-weight formulas were not built as diet goals. A healthy, sustainable weight for you may differ from the formula figure, and health depends on far more than weight alone.
Research & Citations
Sources and standards referenced for the factual claims on this page
- [1]
Devine, B. J. (1974). Gentamicin therapy (original ideal body weight formula for drug dosing). Drug Intelligence & Clinical Pharmacy, 8.
Origin of the Devine ideal body weight equation.
View source - [2]
Pai, M. P. & Paloucek, F. P. (2000). The Origin of the 'Ideal' Body Weight Equations. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 34(9).
Review of the history and limitations of ideal body weight formulas.
View source - [3]
World Health Organization (2000). Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic (BMI healthy range). WHO Technical Report Series 894.
Source of the healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) shown alongside the formulas.
View source
This calculator is a reference tool, not a substitute for professional advice. Verify important health, financial, legal, or safety decisions with a suitably qualified professional.
Last updated: October 8, 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is my ideal weight?
There's no single correct answer. The classic formulas give an estimate based on your height and sex, and the healthy BMI range gives a sensible band. For a 175 cm man, that's roughly 68–73 kg by the formulas, within a healthy BMI range of about 57–76 kg.
Which ideal weight formula is best?
None is definitively 'best' — they were developed for different purposes and give slightly different numbers. Averaging them, as this calculator does, smooths out the differences. The healthy BMI range is often more useful for everyday goals.
Do these formulas account for muscle?
No. They use only height and sex, so a muscular athlete may weigh well above their 'ideal' while being very healthy. Body-fat percentage and waist measurement give a better picture of body composition.
Should I aim for my ideal weight?
Treat it as a rough guide, not a strict target. Health depends on far more than weight — fitness, diet quality, body composition, and medical markers all matter. Discuss any weight goals with a healthcare professional.