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Ideal Weight Calculator

Four classic formulas plus the healthy BMI range.

Reviewed by the Calculation Machine team · How we check our maths

Your values

ⓘ Live results

Results
Healthy BMI range
125 – 169 lb
Devine formula
155.9 lb
Average of all four formulas
154.9 lb
FormulaIdeal weight
Devine (1974)155.9 lb
Robinson (1983)152.3 lb
Miller (1983)151.9 lb
Hamwi (1964)159.4 lb

Quick answer

Ideal body weight formulas estimate a target from height alone; the healthy BMI range gives a more useful window than any single number.

Worked example

Worked example

Using the values the calculator loads with.

Inputs

  • Height69 in
  • SexMale

Result

  • Healthy BMI range125 – 169 lb
  • Devine formula155.9 lb
  • Average of all four formulas154.9 lb

How to use the Ideal Weight Calculator

  1. 1Enter your height in inches.
  2. 2Choose your sex.
  3. 3Compare the formulas with the healthy BMI range.

Frequently asked questions

Which formula is best?

None is authoritative — they were built for drug dosing, not aesthetics. The BMI range is the more clinically useful guide.

Do these account for frame size?

No. Large-framed or muscular people will sit above these numbers at a perfectly healthy body composition.

About this calculator

What 'ideal weight' formulas really are

Formulas such as Devine, Robinson and Miller were created to estimate drug doses, not to define a healthy body. They give a single number based only on height and sex, ignoring muscle, frame size and age.

That is why the calculator shows several formulas side by side, along with a healthy BMI range. The range is more useful than any single number: for a 175 cm adult, a BMI of 18.5–24.9 is roughly 57–76 kg.

Better ways to judge your weight

  • Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio say more about health risk than weight alone.
  • Muscular people often sit above 'ideal' weight while being very healthy.
  • A stable weight you can maintain with good habits beats chasing a formula's number.

Sources

More questions

Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?

None is accurate for individuals. Robinson and Miller give lower results than Devine for taller people.

Does ideal weight change with age?

The formulas do not, but healthy weight ranges for older adults are often slightly higher.