Updated February 2026 • 14 min read
Ideal Weight Calculator: Find Your Target Weight by Height & Gender
Your ideal body weight is not a single number — it is a range determined by your height, sex, body frame, and age. Multiple scientifically validated formulas exist to calculate this target, and they often produce different results. This guide explains every major ideal weight formula, provides complete charts for men and women, and helps you determine a realistic, healthy weight target based on guidelines from organizations like the World Health Organization.
- Four main formulas: Devine (1974), Robinson (1983), Miller (1983), and Hamwi (1964) each estimate ideal weight slightly differently
- All formulas start at 5 feet: They use a base weight plus additional weight per inch above 60 inches
- Frame size matters: Large-framed individuals may weigh 10% above formula estimates and still be healthy
- BMI range approach: A healthy BMI (18.5–24.9) gives a broader, often more realistic target range than any single formula
- Use our free ideal weight calculator which computes all four formulas instantly
What Is Ideal Body Weight?
Ideal body weight (IBW) is a clinical estimate of what a person should weigh based primarily on their height and sex. It was originally developed for pharmaceutical dosing — many medications are dosed based on ideal body weight rather than actual weight, because drug distribution depends more on lean tissue than on fat mass. The CDC notes that while BMI is the standard screening tool, understanding ideal weight ranges helps contextualize body composition goals.
Over time, IBW formulas have been adopted more broadly as general health guidelines. However, it is important to understand that “ideal” does not mean there is one perfect weight for your height. It is an estimate, and the range between different formulas reflects the inherent uncertainty in defining a single target weight based on just two variables (height and sex). For a deeper understanding of what constitutes a healthy weight range, multiple metrics should be considered together.
The Four Major Ideal Weight Formulas
Each formula follows the same basic structure: a base weight for someone who is 5 feet (60 inches) tall, plus additional weight for each inch above 5 feet. All formulas were developed from actuarial and clinical data.
Devine Formula (1974)
The most widely used ideal weight formula, developed by Dr. B.J. Devine for medication dosing. It is the standard in most clinical settings.
Devine Formula
Men: 50 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Women: 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Robinson Formula (1983)
Developed by Dr. J.D. Robinson as a modification of the Devine formula, using updated data to provide a more accurate estimate.
Robinson Formula
Men: 52 + 1.9 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Women: 49 + 1.7 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Miller Formula (1983)
Published the same year as Robinson’s formula, Dr. D.R. Miller’s version tends to produce slightly higher ideal weights, particularly for taller individuals.
Miller Formula
Men: 56.2 + 1.41 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Women: 53.1 + 1.36 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Hamwi Formula (1964)
The oldest of the four, developed by Dr. G.J. Hamwi. It is often used in nutrition practice and produces results in pounds directly.
Hamwi Formula
Men: 106 + 6 × (height in inches − 60) lbs
Women: 100 + 5 × (height in inches − 60) lbs
Step-by-Step Calculation Example
Let us calculate the ideal weight for a man who is 5′10″ (70 inches) using all four formulas:
Inches above 5 feet: 70 − 60 = 10 inches
Devine: 50 + (2.3 × 10) = 50 + 23 = 73.0 kg = 161 lbs
Robinson: 52 + (1.9 × 10) = 52 + 19 = 71.0 kg = 157 lbs
Miller: 56.2 + (1.41 × 10) = 56.2 + 14.1 = 70.3 kg = 155 lbs
Hamwi: 106 + (6 × 10) = 106 + 60 = 166 lbs (75.3 kg)
For a 5′10″ man, the four formulas produce a range of 155–166 lbs (70–75 kg). This 11-pound spread illustrates why ideal weight should be thought of as a range, not a precise number.
Ideal Weight Comparison: 5′10″ Male
Formula estimates vary by 11 lbs (7%) for the same height. The NIH healthy weight range for this height is 129–174 lbs.
Ideal Weight Chart for Men
The following table shows ideal body weight for men at each height according to all four formulas, along with the healthy BMI weight range (18.5–24.9) for comparison:
| Height | Devine | Robinson | Miller | Hamwi | BMI 18.5–24.9 Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5′1″ | 114 lbs | 117 lbs | 127 lbs | 112 lbs | 98 – 132 lbs |
| 5′2″ | 119 lbs | 122 lbs | 130 lbs | 118 lbs | 101 – 136 lbs |
| 5′3″ | 124 lbs | 126 lbs | 133 lbs | 124 lbs | 105 – 141 lbs |
| 5′4″ | 129 lbs | 130 lbs | 136 lbs | 130 lbs | 108 – 145 lbs |
| 5′5″ | 134 lbs | 135 lbs | 139 lbs | 136 lbs | 111 – 150 lbs |
| 5′6″ | 139 lbs | 139 lbs | 142 lbs | 142 lbs | 115 – 155 lbs |
| 5′7″ | 144 lbs | 143 lbs | 145 lbs | 148 lbs | 118 – 159 lbs |
| 5′8″ | 149 lbs | 148 lbs | 148 lbs | 154 lbs | 122 – 164 lbs |
| 5′9″ | 154 lbs | 152 lbs | 151 lbs | 160 lbs | 125 – 169 lbs |
| 5′10″ | 161 lbs | 157 lbs | 155 lbs | 166 lbs | 129 – 174 lbs |
| 5′11″ | 166 lbs | 161 lbs | 158 lbs | 172 lbs | 133 – 179 lbs |
| 6′0″ | 171 lbs | 165 lbs | 161 lbs | 178 lbs | 137 – 184 lbs |
| 6′1″ | 176 lbs | 169 lbs | 164 lbs | 184 lbs | 140 – 189 lbs |
| 6′2″ | 181 lbs | 174 lbs | 167 lbs | 190 lbs | 144 – 194 lbs |
| 6′3″ | 187 lbs | 178 lbs | 170 lbs | 196 lbs | 148 – 200 lbs |
| 6′4″ | 192 lbs | 182 lbs | 173 lbs | 202 lbs | 152 – 205 lbs |
For a deeper look at BMI-based weight ranges for men, see our BMI for Men guide and comprehensive BMI Chart for Men.
Ideal Weight Chart for Women
| Height | Devine | Robinson | Miller | Hamwi | BMI 18.5–24.9 Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4′10″ | 90 lbs | 101 lbs | 114 lbs | 90 lbs | 89 – 119 lbs |
| 4′11″ | 95 lbs | 105 lbs | 117 lbs | 95 lbs | 91 – 123 lbs |
| 5′0″ | 100 lbs | 108 lbs | 117 lbs | 100 lbs | 94 – 128 lbs |
| 5′1″ | 105 lbs | 112 lbs | 120 lbs | 105 lbs | 98 – 132 lbs |
| 5′2″ | 110 lbs | 116 lbs | 123 lbs | 110 lbs | 101 – 136 lbs |
| 5′3″ | 115 lbs | 119 lbs | 126 lbs | 115 lbs | 105 – 141 lbs |
| 5′4″ | 120 lbs | 123 lbs | 129 lbs | 120 lbs | 108 – 145 lbs |
| 5′5″ | 125 lbs | 127 lbs | 132 lbs | 125 lbs | 111 – 150 lbs |
| 5′6″ | 130 lbs | 130 lbs | 135 lbs | 130 lbs | 115 – 155 lbs |
| 5′7″ | 135 lbs | 134 lbs | 138 lbs | 135 lbs | 118 – 159 lbs |
| 5′8″ | 140 lbs | 138 lbs | 141 lbs | 140 lbs | 122 – 164 lbs |
| 5′9″ | 145 lbs | 141 lbs | 144 lbs | 145 lbs | 125 – 169 lbs |
| 5′10″ | 150 lbs | 145 lbs | 147 lbs | 150 lbs | 129 – 174 lbs |
| 5′11″ | 155 lbs | 149 lbs | 150 lbs | 155 lbs | 133 – 179 lbs |
| 6′0″ | 160 lbs | 152 lbs | 153 lbs | 160 lbs | 137 – 184 lbs |
For BMI-based weight ranges specific to women, see our BMI for Women guide and the BMI Chart for Women.
Comparing the Four Formulas
Each formula has its own strengths and weaknesses:
| Formula | Year | Originally For | Tends to Produce | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devine | 1974 | Drug dosing | Middle-range estimates | Clinical medication dosing |
| Robinson | 1983 | Revised Devine | Slightly lower estimates for men | General clinical use |
| Miller | 1983 | Revised Devine | Higher estimates (less extreme) | People with larger frames |
| Hamwi | 1964 | Nutrition practice | Higher estimates for tall people | Nutritional assessment |
No single formula is definitively “best.” For most practical purposes, calculating the average of all four formulas provides a reasonable middle-ground estimate. Our ideal weight calculator does this automatically, and you can also use our main BMI calculator for comprehensive body metrics.
Formula Variation by Height: Women
Formula disagreement increases with height. This is why the Mayo Clinic recommends using weight ranges rather than single targets.
How Body Frame Size Affects Ideal Weight
All four formulas produce a single estimate for each height, but people come in different frame sizes. A person with a large frame — broader shoulders, wider hips, thicker wrists and ankles — will naturally and healthily weigh more than someone of the same height with a small frame.
How to Determine Your Frame Size
The most common method uses wrist circumference relative to height:
| Frame Size | Women (wrist for 5′2″–5′5″) | Men (wrist for any height) |
|---|---|---|
| Small frame | Less than 6 inches | Less than 6.5 inches |
| Medium frame | 6 – 6.25 inches | 6.5 – 7.5 inches |
| Large frame | More than 6.25 inches | More than 7.5 inches |
To measure your wrist, wrap a flexible measuring tape around the narrowest part of your wrist, just below the wrist bone (ulnar styloid).
Frame Size Adjustments
Once you know your frame size, adjust the formula results accordingly:
- Small frame: Subtract approximately 10% from the formula result
- Medium frame: Use the formula result as-is
- Large frame: Add approximately 10% to the formula result
Example: A 5′8″ woman with Devine ideal weight of 140 lbs
Small frame: 140 − 14 = 126 lbs
Medium frame: 140 lbs
Large frame: 140 + 14 = 154 lbs
This 28-pound range (126–154 lbs) for the same height illustrates why a single “ideal weight” number can be misleading. Frame-adjusted ranges better reflect reality.
Ideal Weight vs. BMI: Which Should You Use?
Ideal weight formulas and BMI provide overlapping but different information:
| Feature | Ideal Weight Formulas | BMI Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Input variables | Height and sex | Height and weight |
| Output | A target weight in lbs/kg | A number (BMI) and category |
| Range vs. point | Single estimate (unless frame-adjusted) | Gives a healthy range (e.g., 128–169 lbs) |
| Clinical use | Medication dosing, nutrition | Weight status screening |
| Accounts for age | No | No (for adults) |
| Accounts for frame | Only with manual adjustment | No |
| Global standard | No (varies by formula) | Yes (WHO standard) |
For general health guidance, the BMI range approach (targeting a BMI of 18.5–24.9) provides a more flexible and evidence-based target. The ideal weight formulas are most useful when you want a single number to aim for, such as when setting a weight loss or weight gain goal. Learn more about target BMI in our Healthy BMI Range guide.
History of Ideal Weight Formulas
The concept of an “ideal weight” predates the formulas themselves:
Metropolitan Life Insurance Tables (1943, 1959, 1983)
The original “ideal weight” tables were published by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company based on mortality data from policyholders. They grouped people by height and frame size (small, medium, large) and listed the weight range associated with the lowest death rate. These tables were the primary reference for decades but had significant limitations: they were based on insured populations (not representative of the general public), relied on self-reported heights and weights, and did not account for age, ethnicity, or body composition.
The Hamwi Rule of Thumb (1964)
Dr. G.J. Hamwi published a simple rule-of-thumb formula designed for quick clinical use. It was never formally validated in a peer-reviewed study but became widely adopted in nutrition practice because of its simplicity. The Hamwi formula tends to overestimate ideal weight for short individuals and may underestimate for very tall ones.
The Devine Formula (1974)
Dr. B.J. Devine published his formula specifically for calculating gentamicin dosing in patients with renal impairment. Remarkably, the formula was based on a very small sample and may have actually been derived from observations of Metropolitan Life Insurance table data rather than independent clinical data. Despite these origins, it became the most widely used ideal body weight formula in medicine.
Robinson and Miller Revisions (1983)
Both Robinson and Miller independently published modifications of the Devine formula in 1983, each attempting to better match population data. Robinson’s formula produces slightly lower ideal weights for men and higher for women compared to Devine, while Miller’s formula tends toward higher estimates overall. Neither revision has fully replaced the Devine formula in clinical practice.
Limitations of Ideal Weight Formulas
All ideal weight formulas share several significant limitations:
- Only use height and sex: They ignore age, ethnicity, muscle mass, bone density, and overall body composition. A 25-year-old athlete and a 70-year-old sedentary person of the same height get the same “ideal” weight.
- Based on outdated data: The foundational data comes from mid-20th century populations that were less diverse and had different lifestyle patterns than today’s population.
- Do not work below 5 feet: All formulas use 5 feet as a baseline. For individuals shorter than 5 feet, the formulas produce unreliable results. This is a particular problem for children and some elderly individuals who have lost height.
- No ethnic or racial adjustment: Body frame, bone density, and body composition vary significantly across ethnic groups. Formulas developed on primarily Caucasian populations may not produce appropriate targets for all ethnicities.
- Disagree with each other: The four formulas can differ by more than 10% for the same individual, which undermines confidence in any single result.
- Do not define health: A person at their “ideal” weight can still be unhealthy (due to poor diet, inactivity, or high body fat), and a person above their “ideal” weight can be perfectly healthy (if they are muscular, active, and metabolically normal).
For a broader discussion of weight assessment limitations, see our BMI Calculator Guide.
Setting a Realistic Weight Target
Rather than fixating on a single number from any formula, consider using this practical approach:
Step 1: Calculate Your BMI Weight Range
Find the weight range that corresponds to a BMI of 20–25 for your height. This gives you a medically supported range. Use our BMI calculator for instant results.
Step 2: Find the Average of the Four Formulas
Calculate all four ideal weight formulas and average them. This average typically falls near the middle of the healthy BMI range.
Step 3: Adjust for Your Frame
Measure your wrist to determine frame size and adjust the average up or down by 10%.
Step 4: Consider Your Personal Factors
Think about your age (older adults may benefit from slightly higher weight — see our BMI by Age guide), muscle mass (athletes and those who strength train will weigh more at the same body fat), and health history (your doctor may recommend a specific range based on your conditions).
Tips for Reaching Your Ideal Weight
Think in Ranges, Not Exact Numbers
Your ideal weight is a 15–20 pound range, not a single number. Aiming for an exact weight creates unnecessary stress and sets you up for perceived failure.
Focus on Body Composition
Two people at the same weight can look and feel completely different. Prioritize building muscle and reducing excess body fat rather than hitting a number on the scale. See our Lean Body Mass guide.
Set Incremental Goals
If you are far from your ideal weight range, set intermediate targets of 5–10% of your current body weight. Even modest weight loss of 5% produces meaningful health improvements.
Track Multiple Metrics
Complement scale weight with waist circumference, how your clothes fit, energy levels, and how you feel. These provide a fuller picture than weight alone.
Account for Natural Fluctuation
Body weight fluctuates 2–5 lbs daily due to water retention, food intake, and hormones. Weigh yourself at the same time (morning, after bathroom) and track weekly averages, not daily numbers.
Consult a Professional
If your actual weight differs significantly from formula estimates, or if you have a health condition affected by weight, work with a physician or registered dietitian to set personalized goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
No single formula is definitively the most accurate because “ideal weight” is not a precisely defined concept. The Devine formula is the most widely used in clinical settings, primarily due to its long history in medication dosing. For general health purposes, averaging all four formulas or using the BMI range approach (aiming for a BMI of 20–25) typically produces the most reasonable target.
Each formula was developed from different data sets, for different purposes, and at different times. Hamwi (1964) was a quick clinical rule of thumb for nutritionists. Devine (1974) was designed for drug dosing. Robinson and Miller (1983) were both attempts to improve Devine’s formula using more recent data. Their different base weights and per-inch increments reflect these different source data sets and purposes.
The standard ideal weight formulas should not be used for individuals under 5 feet tall because they produce unreliable results (the formulas use 5 feet as a baseline). For adults shorter than 5 feet, the BMI approach is more appropriate — use our BMI calculator and target a BMI of 18.5–24.9 to determine your healthy weight range.
If you have above-average muscle mass from strength training or athletics, ideal weight formulas will underestimate your healthy weight, just as BMI will overestimate your body fat. In this case, body fat percentage is a more meaningful metric than either ideal weight or BMI. For men, 10–20% body fat is generally healthy; for women, 18–28%. See our Lean Body Mass Calculator guide.
No. None of the four standard ideal weight formulas include age as a variable. This is a significant limitation because body composition changes with age — older adults typically have less muscle and more fat at the same weight. Research suggests that older adults (over 65) may be healthiest at weights above what these formulas suggest. See our BMI Calculator by Age guide for age-adjusted weight information.
Not exactly. “Ideal weight” is a formula-derived estimate based on height and sex. “Healthy weight” is a broader concept that considers your overall health, body composition, fitness level, metabolic markers, and other factors. A person can be healthy at a weight above or below their calculated “ideal” weight. The BMI-based healthy range (18.5–24.9) is generally more useful than any single ideal weight formula for determining a target.
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Related Guides
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Ideal weight formulas are estimates and should not replace professional guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized health assessment and weight management recommendations.