What is my ideal weight?

There is no exact number. Formulas such as Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi give a reference from height and sex, usually within about 5 to 10 pounds of each other. The healthy BMI range gives a wider band that fits more body types.

Which ideal weight formula is the most accurate?

None is better for everyone. They were developed for clinical uses such as drug dosing and diet planning from small samples. Averaging them, as this calculator does, reduces the weight of any one formula.

Why is my ideal weight different from my BMI range?

The formulas return one number from height and sex. BMI gives a range from 18.5 to 24.9. The two usually overlap, but the BMI range is wider, especially for taller people.

Does frame size or muscle change my ideal weight?

Yes. People with a larger frame or more muscle can be healthy above these estimates, and people with a smaller frame can be healthy below them. The formulas do not measure body fat, frame size or muscle.

Do the formulas work if I am under 5 feet tall?

They were built for adults 5 feet and taller. Below that they extrapolate and can be too low, so use the healthy BMI range instead and ask a health professional.

Should I try to reach my ideal weight?

Use it as a reference, not a rule. Talk to a doctor before setting a weight goal, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant or have a history of disordered eating. This calculator is educational and is not medical advice.

💪 Health & Fitness

Ideal Weight Calculator · Healthy Weight for Your Height

There is no single correct weight for a given height, but there are well-known formulas that estimate a reasonable reference. This calculator uses four of them: Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi. It shows the result of each, their average as a headline estimate, and the range from the lowest to the highest, in pounds and kilograms.

Next to the formulas it shows the healthy weight range from BMI, the 18.5 to 24.9 band that the CDC and the NIH use for adults, converted into pounds for your exact height. The formulas often land inside that band, and the band is usually the better guide because it is wider and recognizes that healthy bodies differ. If you enter your current weight, the calculator tells you how far you are from the estimate.

The formulas were built for adults 5 feet and taller and they ignore frame size, muscle mass and age. Athletes, older adults and people with a larger or smaller frame can be healthy well outside the estimate. Treat the numbers as a reference and ask a doctor before setting a weight goal. This calculator is educational and is not medical advice.

Detailed Breakdown

8 metrics

PRIMARY RESULT

131.6 lb (59.7 kg)

Ideal Weight Estimate (Average of 4 Formulas)

Range Across the Four Formulas

130.0 to 135.1 lb

Devine Formula (1974)

130.7 lb

Robinson Formula (1983)

130.5 lb

Miller Formula (1983)

135.1 lb

Hamwi Formula (1964)

130.0 lb

Healthy Weight Range by BMI (18.5 to 24.9)

114.6 to 154.3 lb (52.0 to 70.0 kg)

Your Height

5 ft 6 in (167.6 cm)

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When to Use This Calculator

Everyday financial situations where this tool gives you fast, accurate clarity:

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Find a Reference Weight

See what four classic formulas suggest for your height and sex.

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Know Your Healthy Range

Convert the healthy BMI band into pounds for your exact height.

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Check a Goal Weight

Compare a goal against both the formulas and the healthy range.

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Compare Formulas

See how much the four formulas differ so you do not rely on a single number.

Calculation Formula

Standard Method

Let inches over 5 ft = your height in inches − 60. Devine (1974): men 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch; women 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch. Robinson (1983): men 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch; women 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch. Miller (1983): men 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch; women 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch. Hamwi (1964): men 106 lb + 6 lb per inch; women 100 lb + 5 lb per inch. Ideal weight estimate = the average of the four results. 1 kg = 2.2046 lb. Healthy BMI range: weight (lb) = BMI × height (in)² ÷ 703, with BMI 18.5 for the low end and 24.9 for the high end. Below 5 feet the formulas extrapolate and become less reliable. None of them account for frame size, muscle, age or health conditions.

Benchmark Example:

A woman who is 5 ft 6 in tall (6 inches over 5 feet): • Devine: 45.5 + 2.3 × 6 = 59.3 kg = 130.7 lb • Robinson: 49 + 1.7 × 6 = 59.2 kg = 130.5 lb • Miller: 53.1 + 1.36 × 6 = 61.26 kg = 135.1 lb • Hamwi: 100 + 5 × 6 = 130.0 lb • Average: 131.6 lb (59.7 kg), range 130.0 to 135.1 lb • Healthy BMI range at 5 ft 6 in: 114.6 to 154.3 lb If she weighs 150 lb she is about 18.4 lb above the average estimate, but still inside the healthy BMI range, a good reminder that the formulas are a reference and the BMI band is wider.

Frequently Asked Questions

6 answers

Applicable Laws & Regulatory Standards

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & National Institutes of Health

Official Legal Reference

CDC — About Adult BMI (healthy weight is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9)

Defines the healthy weight range for adults by BMI, which this calculator converts into pounds for your height next to the four ideal weight formulas.

Devine BJ (1974), Robinson JD et al. (1983), Miller DR et al. (1983) and Hamwi GJ (1964) — ideal body weight formulas

Four published formulas that estimate a reference body weight from height and sex. They were developed for clinical uses such as drug dosing and diet planning, and are used here as statistical rules of thumb, not as a personal target.

NIH / NHLBI — Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults (1998)

States that body weight alone does not describe health and that a weight goal should consider other risk factors, which is why the result is a range and not a single correct number.

Legal citations and statutes are provided for consumer transparency, analytical validation, and educational reference under U.S. consumer financial regulations. This tool is not a substitute for formal legal, accounting, or tax counsel.

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