Ideal Weight Calculator

Ideal Weight by Height Chart

The table below shows ideal weight ranges for both men and women at various heights. The ranges account for body frame size (small, medium, and large) and represent the averaged output of the Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi formulas. These numbers serve as general guidelines -- your personal healthy weight may differ based on muscle mass, bone density, and overall body composition.

Women's Ideal Weight by Height

Men's Ideal Weight by Height

Note: These ranges are approximations derived from averaged formula outputs adjusted for frame size. For personalized results, use the calculator above. You can also check your result against our BMI calculator or BMI chart for women / BMI chart for men.

The Four Ideal Weight Formulas Explained

Our calculator uses four well-established clinical formulas. Each was developed in a different decade, by different researchers, for slightly different purposes. Understanding where they come from helps you interpret the results. For a broader look at how weight-related formulas work, see our BMI formula guide.

Formula Comparison: Visual Overview

The chart below compares the four formulas for a 5'10" (178 cm) man with a medium frame. Notice how each formula produces a slightly different "ideal" -- this is why averaging gives a more robust estimate. For personalized gender-specific insights, see our BMI guide for men or BMI guide for women.

Worked Examples

Body Frame Size: How It Affects Your Ideal Weight

Body frame refers to the size of your skeletal structure. People with larger frames naturally carry more bone and tissue mass, so their healthy weight is higher than someone of the same height with a smaller frame. Our calculator adjusts the formula results by approximately -10% for small frames and +10% for large frames. Understanding your frame is also important when interpreting BMI results, as noted in our article on BMI accuracy.

Method 1: Wrist Circumference

This is the simplest method. Measure the circumference of your wrist at the narrowest point (just below the wrist bone) with a flexible tape measure. Compare your measurement to the tables below.

Method 2: Elbow Breadth

A more precise method used in clinical settings. Extend your arm forward, bend the forearm upward at a 90-degree angle, and use a caliper or ruler to measure the widest point across your elbow joint. Compare to age- and sex-specific reference tables. Generally:

• Women: Elbow breadth less than 2.25" suggests a small frame; 2.25" to 2.5" is medium; above 2.5" is large.
• Men: Elbow breadth less than 2.625" suggests a small frame; 2.625" to 2.875" is medium; above 2.875" is large.

How Frame Size Adjusts Ideal Weight

Once you know your frame size, the standard adjustment is:

For example, if your medium-frame ideal weight is 150 lbs, a small frame person of the same height would target about 135 lbs, while a large frame person would target about 165 lbs. Learn more about how body composition interacts with weight metrics in our body fat vs BMI guide.

Frame Size Impact: Side-by-Side Comparison

This chart shows how frame size adjustments affect ideal weight for a 5'6" person. Understanding your lean body mass helps put these frame differences in context.

The difference between small and large frame ideal weights can exceed 25 lbs for the same height. This demonstrates why a single "ideal weight" number is overly simplistic. For a complete assessment, combine ideal weight with your BMI result and consider lean body mass measurements.

Ideal Weight vs. Healthy Weight: Understanding the Difference

Many people use "ideal weight" and "healthy weight" interchangeably, but they represent different concepts. Understanding the distinction is crucial for setting realistic health goals. Our healthy BMI range guide explores this in more detail, and our BMI guide for women and BMI guide for men provide gender-specific context.

Why the Range Matters More Than a Single Number

A 5'8" woman could have an ideal weight of about 137 lbs according to the averaged formulas. But the healthy BMI range for this height spans from approximately 122 to 164 lbs. That is a 42-pound window in which a person can be considered medically healthy. The single "ideal" number falls roughly in the middle of that range, but aiming for an exact number can lead to unnecessary frustration and unhealthy behaviors.

Neither approach accounts for lean body mass. An athlete with significant muscle could weigh well above their "ideal weight" while having excellent metabolic health. Conversely, a sedentary person at their exact "ideal weight" may still have concerning body fat levels. For a deeper exploration, read our article on muscle mass and BMI.

History of Ideal Weight Formulas

The concept of an "ideal" body weight has evolved significantly over the past century. Understanding this history helps put the calculator results in context and reveals why no single formula should be treated as definitive truth. The broader history of weight assessment is covered in our BMI history guide.

Early Insurance Tables (1940s-1950s)

The modern concept of ideal weight began with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in the 1940s. MetLife analyzed mortality data from millions of policyholders and published "desirable weight" tables based on height and frame size. These tables defined the weight range associated with the lowest mortality risk. While groundbreaking for their time, they were based almost entirely on white, middle-class Americans who could afford life insurance, introducing significant demographic bias.

The Hamwi Formula (1964)

Dr. G.J. Hamwi published the first simplified formula as a quick clinical tool. Rather than requiring clinicians to look up tables, the Hamwi formula allowed a rapid mental calculation. It was never intended to be a precise assessment -- just a convenient rule-of-thumb for busy doctors. Despite its simplicity, it remained in widespread use for decades.

The Devine Formula (1974)

The Devine formula emerged from pharmacology, not weight management. Dr. B.J. Devine needed a way to calculate appropriate drug doses for patients, since many medications should be dosed based on lean body mass rather than total weight. The formula quickly spread beyond pharmacology and became the most cited ideal body weight equation in medical literature. Ironically, Devine himself never published validation data for the formula.

Robinson and Miller (1983)

By the 1980s, researchers recognized that the Devine formula might not be the best estimate for all populations. Robinson et al. and Miller et al. independently published revised formulas in the same year, each attempting to better represent the relationship between height and ideal weight. The Robinson formula aimed to correct perceived biases in the Devine formula, while the Miller formula used a different mathematical approach that produced higher baseline weights.

Modern Context

Today, these formulas persist in clinical practice primarily due to inertia and convenience. Modern medicine increasingly favors BMI ranges, body composition analysis, and metabolic health markers over single-number ideal weight targets. Organizations like the NHS and Mayo Clinic recommend using multiple metrics rather than relying on any single measure.

Limitations and Criticisms of Ideal Weight Formulas

While these formulas remain in widespread use, they have significant limitations that users should understand. Many of these issues parallel the limitations of BMI itself. For a deeper understanding of body composition, see our lean body mass calculator guide and learn about body fat percentage vs BMI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trusted External Resources

For authoritative information on healthy weight, body mass index, and weight management, consult these reputable sources:

• CDC -- Body Mass Index (BMI) -- official U.S. guidelines on BMI interpretation and healthy weight ranges
• WHO -- Obesity and Overweight Fact Sheet -- global perspective on weight classification and health risks
• NIH -- Aim for a Healthy Weight -- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guide to healthy weight management
• Mayo Clinic -- Health Information -- comprehensive medical information from one of America's leading hospitals
• Harvard Health Publishing -- evidence-based health information from Harvard Medical School
• NHS -- BMI Healthy Weight Calculator -- the UK National Health Service's approach to weight assessment
• NIH PubMed Central -- Ideal Body Weight Equations -- peer-reviewed research comparing ideal weight formulas
• American College of Sports Medicine -- guidelines on fitness, body composition, and healthy weight from exercise scientists

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