Ideal Weight Calculator
Ideal Weight
Calculator
Enter your height, gender and age to find your ideal body weight using 4 trusted medical formulas, plus your healthy BMI weight range — all in one result.
Needle shown only if you entered your current weight above.
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 ft | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 ft |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 ft | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 ft |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 ft | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 ft |
What Is Ideal Body Weight?
Unlike a single generic target weight, this approach recognizes that no one formula is perfectly "correct" for every body. Each formula was developed independently by different researchers, using different reference populations, which is exactly why they can each produce a somewhat different number for the same height and gender. Averaging them smooths out the quirks of any one equation and gives a more representative estimate.
The History Behind These Formulas
Devine Formula (1974)
Originally created by Dr. B.J. Devine to help calculate appropriate medication dosages for patients, particularly for drugs where dosing needs to be based on lean body weight rather than total weight. It remains the most widely cited ideal body weight formula in clinical medicine today, valued for its simplicity.
Robinson Formula (1983)
Developed as a refinement of Devine's approach using a larger, more diverse patient dataset, the Robinson formula adjusts the per-inch increment slightly, generally producing a marginally higher ideal weight estimate than Devine's original version.
Miller Formula (1983)
Introduced the same year as Robinson's version, the Miller formula uses a different base weight and increment, generally yielding estimates closer to real-world average body weights than Devine or Robinson for many height ranges.
Hamwi Formula (1964)
One of the oldest formulas still in common use, originally developed by Dr. George Hamwi for estimating appropriate caloric needs in diabetic patients. It tends to produce a slightly lower ideal weight estimate than the other three formulas, particularly at taller heights.
How This Calculator Works
Step 1 — Height Conversion
Your height, whether entered in centimeters or feet and inches, is converted internally to inches, since all four formulas are traditionally expressed using an "inches over 5 feet" structure.
Step 2 — Apply Each Formula
Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi are each calculated separately using your height and gender, producing four independent ideal weight estimates.
Step 3 — Average the Results
The four results are averaged into a single ideal weight figure, smoothing out the differences between individual formulas for a more balanced estimate.
Step 4 — Add BMI Range
Your healthy BMI weight range (18.5-24.9) is calculated separately using your height, giving you a broader healthy window alongside the single ideal weight number.
Ideal Weight vs Healthy BMI Range
Ideal weight formulas give a single estimated number based on height and gender alone, originally intended for clinical dosing calculations rather than general fitness goals.
Healthy BMI range gives a broader window — any weight that keeps your Body Mass Index between 18.5 and 24.9 is generally considered healthy by the World Health Organization. Most people fit comfortably somewhere within this wider range rather than at one single exact number, which is why this calculator presents both figures together rather than treating the averaged ideal weight as a strict target.
Factors These Formulas Don't Capture
- Muscle mass: Athletes and weightlifters often weigh more than their "ideal" weight due to muscle, not fat, since none of these formulas account for body composition
- Bone structure and frame size: A larger frame naturally and healthily carries more weight than a smaller frame at the same height
- Age-related changes: Body composition shifts with age even at a completely stable weight, as muscle mass typically declines and fat distribution changes
- Fat distribution: Where fat is stored, such as around the waist versus the hips, matters as much for health risk as total body weight
- Pregnancy: These formulas were not designed for and do not apply during pregnancy
- Ethnicity: Some research suggests healthy BMI cutoffs may need slight adjustment for certain population groups, though these four formulas do not account for this
How to Reach a Healthy Weight Sustainably
- Aim for gradual change — roughly 0.5 to 1 kg (1-2 lb) per week is a sustainable, evidence-supported pace for most people
- Focus on whole foods, adequate protein, and fiber rather than extreme calorie restriction, which is harder to sustain long-term
- Combine cardio and strength training to preserve muscle mass while losing fat, rather than relying on diet changes alone
- Track weight trends over several weeks rather than day-to-day fluctuations, which are often just water retention or digestive contents
- Prioritize sleep quality — poor sleep is consistently linked in research to increased appetite and weight gain over time
- Reassess your targets periodically, since your ideal weight range can shift somewhat as you age or change your activity level
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