How to use the ideal weight calculator
Choose US or Metric units, select your sex and enter your height, then press Calculate. The table lists the ideal weight given by four widely used formulas, followed by the weight range that matches a healthy BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 at your height.
The formulas
All four formulas start from a base weight for a height of 5 feet (152.4 cm) and add a fixed amount for every inch above that. They give results in kilograms.
- 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
- Devine (1974): men 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch; women 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch
- Hamwi (1964): men 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch; women 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch
The healthy BMI range uses weight = BMI × height (m)², with BMI values of 18.5 and 24.9.
Worked example
A man who is 5 ft 10 in (177.8 cm) tall is 10 inches over 5 feet:
- Robinson: 52 + 1.9 × 10 = 71 kg (about 156.5 lb)
- Miller: 56.2 + 1.41 × 10 = 70.3 kg (about 155 lb)
- Devine: 50 + 2.3 × 10 = 73 kg (about 160.9 lb)
- Hamwi: 48 + 2.7 × 10 = 75 kg (about 165.3 lb)
His healthy BMI range is about 58.5 kg to 78.7 kg (129 lb to 173.5 lb).
Heights under 5 feet
The formulas were only designed for heights of 5 feet and above. Extending them downward would mean subtracting weight for every missing inch, which quickly gives unrealistic numbers. For shorter heights the calculator therefore shows only the healthy BMI range.
Good to know
- The formulas were created for practical purposes such as estimating medication doses, not as personal weight goals. Devine is still widely used in clinical settings for that reason.
- None of them consider age, frame size, muscle mass or body fat, so two healthy people of the same height can have very different ideal weights.
- The differences between the formulas show that there is no single correct number; a range is more realistic.
The results are estimates and are not medical advice. Your doctor or a registered dietitian can help you set a weight goal that suits your health and body type.