Ideal Weight Calculator
Find a healthy weight range for your height, and compare the four best-known ideal weight formulas: Robinson, Miller, Devine and Hamwi.
Ideal weight formulas were designed for medicine dosing, not as personal targets. Muscle, frame size and age all matter, so treat these numbers as a rough guide.
What is an ideal weight?
There is no single perfect weight for any height. Doctors usually talk about a healthy weight range, which is the range of weights that gives a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. For most adults, staying in this range is linked with a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and joint problems.
The formulas compared
Several formulas were created to estimate an ideal body weight from height. Each adds a fixed amount of weight for every inch over 5 feet:
- 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.
- Devine (1974): men 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch, women 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch. Still widely used in hospitals to calculate medicine doses.
- Hamwi (1964): men 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch, women 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch.
The formulas often differ by several kilograms, which shows that “ideal weight” is an estimate rather than a precise target.
What the formulas leave out
None of these methods considers muscle mass, bone structure, age or where fat is stored. A muscular person may be healthy above their “ideal” weight, and someone in range may still carry unhealthy fat around the waist. The formulas are also less reliable for people under 5 feet tall.
Use the results as a starting point, and talk to a doctor or dietitian before setting a weight goal.
Ideal Weight FAQs
Answers about formulas and healthy weight ranges.
What is the ideal weight for my height?+
The healthy range is the set of weights that gives a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9. The calculator shows that range for your height, along with four classic formulas.
Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?+
None is accurate for every person. Robinson and Miller tend to give lower results for tall people, Hamwi higher ones. The healthy BMI range is the most widely used guide.
Why do the formulas give different answers?+
They were developed at different times from different groups of people, mainly to calculate medicine doses rather than to set personal goals.
Does muscle affect ideal weight?+
Yes. Muscle is denser than fat, so muscular people can be healthy above the formula results. A body fat test gives a better picture.
Is my data saved?+
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is sent to our servers.
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