Ideal weight calculator
Enter your height to see the weight range that gives a healthy BMI, plus the results of the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas.
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How the ideal weight is worked out
There is no single perfect weight for a height. This calculator gives two kinds of answer:
- The healthy BMI range: the weights that give a body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9 for your height. This is the range most doctors use.
- Classic formulas: four equations from the 1960s to 1980s, still used to estimate "ideal body weight", for example to work out some medicine doses.
The four formulas
Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet tall and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that:
- Devine (1974): men 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch; women 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch
- Robinson (1983): men 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch; women 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch
- Miller (1983): men 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch; women 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch
- Hamwi (1964): men 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch; women 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch
The formulas don't consider age, frame size or muscle, so treat them as a rough guide. The healthy BMI range is a better everyday target.
This calculator gives general information, not medical advice.
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Questions people ask
What is the ideal weight for a 5 ft 6 in woman?
A healthy BMI range for 5 ft 6 in is roughly 115 to 154 lb. The Devine formula gives about 130 lb.
Why do the formulas give different answers?
Each was built from different data and for different purposes, so they disagree by a few pounds. Their average is a reasonable middle point.
Does frame size matter?
Yes. People with a larger frame naturally weigh more at the same height, which is one reason a range is more useful than a single number.