Ideal Weight Calculator
Find your ideal weight range using four scientific formulas and the healthy BMI range for your height.
How to use this calculator
Set your height using the sliders and select your gender. The calculator instantly shows your ideal weight according to four different medical formulas, plus the healthy BMI weight range. Optionally enter your current weight to see how you compare.
Understanding ideal weight
"Ideal weight" is a range, not a single number. Different formulas give different results because they were developed using different populations in different decades. The Healthy BMI range (18.5-24.9) is the most widely used clinical standard. Body composition matters more than the scale — someone with high muscle mass may be above their "ideal weight" but have excellent health markers.
Frequently asked questions
Ideal weight formulas compared
Four formulas are widely used to estimate ideal body weight. Each was developed in a different decade using different study populations — which is why they often disagree by 5–15 lbs. None accounts for muscle mass or body composition. The healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) applied to your height gives the most clinically relevant range.
| Formula | Year | Original purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devine formula | 1974 | Drug dosing calculations | Most widely cited; tends to underestimate for shorter individuals |
| Robinson formula | 1983 | General health reference | Based on medium-frame body habitus |
| Miller formula | 1983 | General health reference | Similar to Robinson; slightly different intercepts |
| Hamwi formula | 1964 | Clinical nutrition estimation | Oldest formula; uses 100 lbs/106 lbs as baseline for 5 ft |
| Healthy BMI range | — | Clinical health screening | BMI 18.5–24.9 applied to height; widest and most evidence-based range |
Ideal weight by height — reference table
The table below shows the healthy weight range (BMI 18.5–24.9) for common heights. These are the ranges associated with the lowest risk of weight-related health conditions for most adults.
| Height | Healthy weight range (BMI 18.5–24.9) |
|---|---|
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 97 – 127 lbs (44 – 58 kg) |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 104 – 136 lbs (47 – 62 kg) |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 110 – 144 lbs (50 – 65 kg) |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 118 – 154 lbs (54 – 70 kg) |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 125 – 164 lbs (57 – 74 kg) |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 132 – 174 lbs (60 – 79 kg) |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 140 – 183 lbs (64 – 83 kg) |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 148 – 194 lbs (67 – 88 kg) |
Why "ideal weight" is a range, not a number
Body composition varies enormously between people of the same height. Two people both 5'10" and 165 lbs could have body fat percentages ranging from 10% (very lean athlete) to 28% (sedentary, low muscle). Scale weight alone says nothing about health — muscle mass, bone density, and fat distribution matter far more.
- ·Athletes and bodybuilders often weigh 10–20 lbs above "ideal weight" ranges due to higher muscle mass — this is healthy
- ·Older adults lose muscle gradually (sarcopenia), meaning they may be within the ideal range by weight while having poor body composition
- ·Women at the same height naturally weigh slightly less than men due to lower muscle mass and bone density
- ·Frame size (small, medium, large) affects ideal weight by roughly 10%; the formulas assume medium frame
- ·Body fat percentage (measured by Navy method or DEXA) is a more precise health indicator than scale weight