Ideal Weight Calculator

Find your ideal body weight from four widely used medical formulas, plus the healthy BMI weight range for your height.

Results

Robinson (1983)
Devine (1974)
Miller (1983)
Hamwi (1964)
Healthy BMI Range

How Ideal Weight Formulas Work

Each formula assigns a base weight at 5 feet (152.4 cm) of height and adds a fixed amount per additional inch, with different constants for men and women:

  • Robinson: men 52 kg + 1.9 kg/inch; women 49 kg + 1.7 kg/inch
  • Devine: men 50 kg + 2.3 kg/inch; women 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg/inch
  • Miller: men 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg/inch; women 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg/inch
  • Hamwi: men 48 kg + 2.7 kg/inch; women 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg/inch

These were originally developed for calculating medication doses, not as fitness targets — which is why they disagree with each other by several kilograms. Treat them as reference points, not verdicts.

The Healthy BMI Range Is the Better Guide

For most adults, the range of weights that keeps BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is a more useful "ideal" than any single number. It acknowledges that healthy bodies come in a range: someone 5'10" (178 cm) is in the healthy range anywhere from about 129 to 174 lb (59-79 kg). Muscular people can sit above the BMI range and still be perfectly healthy — BMI cannot tell muscle from fat. For a body-composition view, try our body fat calculator, or check where you currently stand with the BMI calculator.

Factors the Formulas Ignore

  • Frame size: wrist and elbow measurements shift ideal weight roughly ±10%.
  • Muscle mass: athletes routinely exceed formula weights with low body fat.
  • Age: slightly higher BMI in older adults is associated with better outcomes.
  • Ethnicity: health-risk thresholds vary between populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is ideal weight calculated?

Common medical formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) start from a base weight at 5 feet tall and add a fixed amount per extra inch of height, with different values for men and women. This calculator shows all four plus the healthy BMI range.

What is a healthy weight for my height?

A healthy weight keeps your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. For someone 5'10" (178 cm) that is roughly 129-174 lb (59-79 kg). Frame size and muscle mass shift the ideal point within that range.

Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?

No single formula is definitive — they were designed for drug dosing, not fitness. The Robinson formula is often cited as the most balanced, but the healthy BMI range is the most useful guide for most people.

Why is my ideal weight different from what I expected?

The formulas assume average build. If you carry significant muscle or have a larger frame, a healthy weight for you can be well above the formula values — body fat percentage and how you feel and perform matter more than one number.