Ideal weight is the body weight associated with the lowest health risk for your height. Multiple formulas exist — Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi — each developed for different clinical purposes. The calculator runs all four plus the BMI-based healthy range, and shows the average.
What is Ideal Weight Calculator?
There is no single 'right' weight for a given height. Different formulas produce different numbers, and all are approximations. The calculator shows you all four widely-used formulas side by side so you can see the range — usually a 4-5 kg spread for the same person.
Devine (1974), Robinson (1983), Miller (1983), and Hamwi (1964) were originally developed for medical drug dosing rather than nutrition advice. They use only height and gender, ignoring frame size, muscle mass, and body composition. They tend to produce slightly higher numbers for taller people.
The BMI-based range (18.5-24.9 BMI) is a more practical way to set a target. The calculator shows this range too. Pick a target inside it that matches your build — closer to the lower end if small-framed, closer to the upper end if you have more muscle.
Five formulas for ideal weight
Each formula starts with a base weight at 5 ft (60 inches), then adds a fixed amount per inch above that. Different formulas use different base weights and slopes.
- height_in
- Height in inches—convert from cm: divide by 2.54
- height_m
- Height in metres—convert from cm: divide by 100
How to use this calculator
Pick gender, enter height in cm. The calculator returns five different ideal-weight values.
Pick gender
Each formula has different base values for male and female.
Enter height in cm
Use a precise measurement. The calculator converts internally to inches.
Read all five values
Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi each produce a single number; the BMI range gives a window. The average of the four formulas is shown as the headline.
Practical uses
Setting weight loss target
Pick the upper end of the healthy BMI range as a stretch goal. Closer formula values for your build.
Medical drug dosing
Many medications are dosed by ideal body weight (IBW), not actual weight, especially for very obese patients.
Sports nutrition
Athletes set training weights based on ideal weight + lean muscle mass goals.
Health insurance underwriting
Some plans add a loading if actual weight is more than 20% above ideal.
Common mistakes to avoid
Treating ideal weight as a precise target
It is a range, not a single number. The four formulas often disagree by 4-5 kg for the same person. Use the BMI range instead.
Comparing yourself to celebrity ideal weights
Photos are airbrushed; weights reported are often outdated or unreliable. Use the formulas, ignore the magazines.
Glossary
- Ideal Body Weight (IBW)
- Statistical weight associated with lowest health risk for a given height. Multiple formulas exist.
- Devine formula
- 1974 formula. Most commonly used in medical drug dosing.
- BMI range
- 18.5-24.9 BMI defines the 'healthy weight' band for adults. Translates to a weight range based on height.