Ideal Weight Calculator

The four formulas

Each is defined as a base weight at five feet, plus a fixed amount per additional inch.

All four count inches above five feet (152.4 cm). Below that height they return their base weight unchanged, which is one of several reasons they fit shorter adults poorly.

A better question than “ideal weight”

These formulas answer a clinical dosing question, not a health question. For most people the more useful framing is a healthy range — the weights corresponding to a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 at your height — combined with a measure that reflects body composition rather than weight alone.

Calculate your BMI to see that range, and read why BMI misses muscle mass for where even that falls short.

Common questions

What is an ideal body weight formula?

Ideal body weight formulas estimate a target weight from height and sex. The four in common use — Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi — were developed between 1964 and 1983, mostly for calculating medication doses rather than for setting health or fitness goals.

Why do the four formulas give different answers?

They were derived from different populations and use different per-inch increments. At the same height they commonly differ by several kilograms, which is why this calculator shows all four rather than picking one and presenting it as the answer.

Is there one ideal weight for my height?

No. A healthy weight is a range, not a point. The BMI-derived healthy range is usually wider than any single formula and is better supported by evidence, which is why it is shown alongside the four classic results.

Do these formulas account for muscle or frame size?

No. They use only height and sex. They take no account of muscle mass, bone structure, body fat distribution or age, so a muscular person will often exceed every one of these figures while being perfectly healthy.