How to use
- Choose female or male. The formulas use different starting weights for women and men.
- Enter your height in feet and inches, or switch to metric and enter centimeters.
- Read the range across the four formulas at the top, then each formula's own result: Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi.
- Compare it with the healthy BMI range shown underneath, which covers a wider band of weights that are considered healthy for your height.
How ideal body weight is calculated
Each formula starts from a weight at 5 feet tall and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that. The Devine formula, the one most used in hospitals for dosing medicines, is 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet for men and 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch for women.
Example: a woman who is 5 ft 4 in is 4 inches over 5 feet, so Devine gives 45.5 + 2.3 × 4 = 54.7 kg, about 121 lbs. Robinson gives 55.8 kg (123 lbs), Miller 58.5 kg (129 lbs) and Hamwi 54.3 kg (120 lbs).
The four formulas
They were published between 1964 and 1983 and give similar results around average height, but drift apart for very short or very tall people. Showing all four makes it clear that ideal weight is a range, not a single number.
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
Ideal weight chart by height
The range across the four formulas for women and men, rounded to the nearest pound.
| Height | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 4'10" (147 cm) | 90–111 lbs | 94–118 lbs |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 100–117 lbs | 106–124 lbs |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 110–123 lbs | 118–130 lbs |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 120–129 lbs | 130–136 lbs |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 129–135 lbs | 140–143 lbs |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 138–141 lbs | 148–153 lbs |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 146–151 lbs | 155–165 lbs |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 153–161 lbs | 161–177 lbs |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 159–171 lbs | 167–189 lbs |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 165–181 lbs | 174–201 lbs |
Ideal weight versus a healthy BMI
A healthy BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 covers a much wider band. For a woman who is 5 ft 4 in, that is about 108 to 145 lbs, while the ideal weight formulas land between 120 and 129 lbs. Both are rough guides: neither knows how much of your weight is muscle, and an athlete can be healthy well above either number.
Your waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar and how active you are say more about health than any single target weight. Use these numbers as a starting point for a conversation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal weight for a 5'2" woman?
About 110 to 123 lbs (50 to 56 kg) by the four formulas, with Devine at 110 lbs. A healthy BMI at that height spans roughly 101 to 136 lbs.
What is the ideal weight for a 5'10" man?
About 155 to 165 lbs (70 to 75 kg) by the four formulas, with Devine at 161 lbs. A healthy BMI at that height spans roughly 129 to 173 lbs.
Does age change my ideal weight?
The formulas do not include age. Many people gain some weight as they get older, and some research suggests slightly higher weights are not harmful in older adults, so ask your doctor what makes sense for you.
Why are there four different answers?
Each formula was built from different data and for different uses, such as dosing medicines or insurance tables. None is the single right answer, which is why the calculator shows the range.
Is my height saved?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
