What is my ideal weight?

Your ideal weight is a healthy target range based on your height and sex, estimated using formulas like Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, or Miller. For a 5-foot-10 man, the four formulas give results between 155 and 165 pounds. No single number is definitive; treat the result as a range, not a target you must hit exactly.

How is ideal body weight calculated?

Ideal body weight is calculated using height and sex-based formulas. The four most common are Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, and Miller. Each starts with a base weight for 5 feet and adds a fixed amount per inch over 5 feet. The formulas do not account for muscle mass, frame size, or age unless you apply manual adjustments.

What is the Devine formula?

The Devine formula is the most widely used ideal body weight equation in clinical settings. For men: IBW = 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. For women: IBW = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. It was developed in 1974 for medication dosing and remains the standard in many hospitals.

What is the Hamwi formula?

The Hamwi formula was developed in 1964. For men: IBW = 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet. For women: IBW = 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet. It tends to produce slightly higher estimates than Devine for men and is commonly used in nutrition counseling.

Does ideal weight account for muscle?

No. The Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, and Miller formulas use only height and sex. They do not account for muscle mass, bone density, or body frame. A muscular athlete may weigh more than their ideal weight and still be perfectly healthy. For a muscle-aware measure, use body fat percentage instead.

What should I weigh for my height and age?

For your height, use the ideal weight formulas above or a BMI-based healthy range (BMI 18.5 to 24.9). Age is not a direct input in any standard IBW formula. However, older adults may reasonably carry slightly more weight, as mild extra weight is associated with better outcomes in the elderly. Consult a doctor for age-specific guidance.

How accurate are ideal weight calculators?

Ideal weight calculators provide estimates with an accuracy of about plus or minus 10 to 15 percent. The four formulas can differ by 10 to 15 pounds for the same person. They do not account for muscle mass, frame size, or body composition. Use the result as a rough guide and pair it with BMI and body fat percentage for a fuller picture.

Ideal Weight Calculator — Free BMI and Healthy Weight Tool

Free Ideal Weight Calculator — Find Your Healthy Weight Range

Calculate your ideal body weight based on your height, age, gender, and frame size to set realistic health goals.

Your ideal weight provides a healthy target range that considers your unique body characteristics and composition.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is ideal body weight?

Ideal body weight (IBW) is an estimate of the weight that's considered healthy for your height, age, gender, and body frame. It's calculated using formulas like Devine, Robinson, or Miller, which provide target weight ranges.

How is ideal weight calculated?

Common formulas include: Devine formula (most used in medical settings), Robinson formula (newer, adjusted values), and Miller formula. These consider your height and gender as primary factors, with adjustments for body frame size.

Is ideal weight the same as healthy weight?

Ideal weight provides a target range, but 'healthy' varies by individual. Factors like muscle mass, bone density, and body composition matter more than the number on the scale. Focus on overall health markers, not just weight.

What Is Ideal Body Weight? Concept and History

Ideal body weight (IBW) is an estimate of the weight associated with the lowest health risk for a given height and sex. It was originally developed for clinical use — calculating medication doses and setting nutrition targets — not as a beauty standard.

The concept dates to the 1940s and 1960s, when researchers built height-weight tables from insurance mortality data. The four formulas still in use today (Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, Miller) were published between 1964 and 1983.

What IBW Is

A rough healthy-weight target based on height and sex. Useful as a starting point for setting goals.

What IBW Is Not

A precise number you must hit. It does not account for muscle mass, bone density, frame size, age, or body composition. A muscular athlete can weigh well above IBW and be perfectly healthy.

The 4 Ideal Weight Formulas: Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, Miller

All four formulas use the same structure: a base weight for someone who is exactly 5 feet tall, plus a fixed amount of weight for each inch over 5 feet. Results are in kilograms.

Formula	Men (kg)	Women (kg)	Notes
Devine	50 + 2.3 × (inches over 5 ft)	45.5 + 2.3 × (inches over 5 ft)	Most used in clinical settings (1974)
Hamwi	48 + 2.7 × (inches over 5 ft)	45.5 + 2.2 × (inches over 5 ft)	Common in nutrition counseling (1964)
Robinson	52 + 1.9 × (inches over 5 ft)	49 + 1.7 × (inches over 5 ft)	Modified Devine (1983)
Miller	56.2 + 1.41 × (inches over 5 ft)	53.1 + 1.36 × (inches over 5 ft)	Lower estimates for taller people (1983)

Sources: Devine (1974), Hamwi (1964), Robinson et al. (1983), Miller et al. (1983). All formulas use height in inches over 5 feet.

Worked Example: 5'10" (70 inches) Man Across All 4 Formulas

Here is the same height run through all four formulas so you can see how they compare. A 5-foot-10 man is 10 inches over 5 feet.

Formula	Calculation	Result (kg)	Result (lb)
Devine	50 + 2.3 × (70 − 60) = 50 + 23	73.0 kg	161 lb
Hamwi	48 + 2.7 × (70 − 60) = 48 + 27	75.0 kg	165 lb
Robinson	52 + 1.9 × (70 − 60) = 52 + 19	71.0 kg	157 lb
Miller	56.2 + 1.41 × (70 − 60) = 56.2 + 14.1	70.3 kg	155 lb

The four formulas give a range of 155 to 165 pounds for the same person — a 10-pound spread. This is why presenting a range is more honest than a single number.

Ideal Weight Ranges by Height and Sex

These ranges are based on a healthy BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, the WHO and CDC standard. They give a broader, more realistic target than any single formula.

Height	Men (healthy range)	Women (healthy range)
5'0" (152 cm)	95–128 lb	95–128 lb
5'2" (157 cm)	104–141 lb	104–141 lb
5'4" (163 cm)	112–152 lb	108–145 lb
5'6" (168 cm)	121–165 lb	115–154 lb
5'8" (173 cm)	129–176 lb	122–164 lb
5'10" (178 cm)	137–187 lb	129–174 lb
6'0" (183 cm)	146–199 lb	136–184 lb
6'2" (188 cm)	155–210 lb	144–195 lb

Source: WHO BMI classification (18.5–24.9 = normal weight). CDC and NIH use the same ranges.

Why a Range Beats a Single Number

No single ideal weight number is right for everyone. Three people at the same height can be equally healthy at very different weights:

Muscle mass: Muscle is denser than fat. A muscular person may weigh 15 to 30 pounds more than their IBW and be leaner than someone at IBW.
Frame size: People with large frames (broader shoulders, thicker bones) carry more weight healthily than those with small frames. A common adjustment is plus or minus 10 percent for large or small frames.
Age: The formulas do not include age. Older adults may reasonably sit at the higher end of the range, as mild extra weight is associated with better outcomes in the elderly.
Body composition: Two people at the same weight can have very different body fat percentages and health profiles.

This is why the BMI-based range table above is more useful than any single formula result. Aim for the range, not the number.

Limitations: Athletes, Elderly, and Pregnancy

Ideal weight formulas were built for average adults and have known limitations in specific populations:

Athletes and Bodybuilders

High muscle mass makes IBW formulas inaccurate. A 5-foot-10 athlete at 190 pounds may be at 12 percent body fat — well above IBW but extremely healthy. Use body fat percentage instead.

Older Adults

The formulas underestimate healthy weight for older adults. Research suggests a BMI of 25 to 27 may be protective in adults over 65. IBW targets may be too low for this group.

Pregnancy

IBW formulas do not apply during pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy depends on pre-pregnancy BMI and is guided by your obstetrician, not by ideal weight calculators.

Children and Teens

IBW formulas are designed for adults. For anyone under 18, use BMI-for-age percentiles, not adult ideal weight formulas.

From Ideal Weight to Plan: Your Next Steps

Once you know your ideal weight range, here is how to turn it into an actionable plan:

Check your BMI: See where your current weight falls on the BMI scale. Use the BMI Calculator to find out.
Measure body fat: BMI and IBW both miss body composition. Use the Body Fat Calculator to see what your weight is made of.
Set a calorie target: If you need to lose or gain weight, calculate your daily calorie goal with the Weight Loss Calorie Calculator.
Find your TDEE: Your total daily burn sets the baseline for any calorie target. Use the TDEE Calculator.

Pair these tools together for a complete picture: ideal weight tells you the target, BMI shows where you are, body fat reveals your composition, and calorie calculators build the plan to get there.

Ideal Weight Calculator FAQs

Disclaimer: This ideal weight calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The formulas have an accuracy of about plus or minus 10 to 15 percent and do not account for muscle mass, frame size, or body composition. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any weight-loss or weight-gain plan, especially if you are pregnant, elderly, or have a medical condition.