“Ideal weight” means two different things. Doctors look at a healthy range – the weights that put your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. Older formulas give a single number: a base weight at 5 feet (152.4 cm) plus a fixed amount for every inch above it. The calculator shows both, in pounds or kilograms, for your height and sex.
Example: a woman 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) tall. Healthy range: 114 to 155 lb (52 to 70 kg). The formulas give 131 lb (Devine), 131 lb (Robinson), 135 lb (Miller) and 129 lb (Hamwi) – close to the middle of the range, where a BMI of 22 sits.
The four formulas
Each adds a set weight for every inch over 5 ft (152.4 cm).
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Hamwi (1964) | 48.0 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
| Devine (1974) | 50.0 kg + 2.3 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch |
| Robinson (1983) | 52.0 kg + 1.9 kg per inch | 49.0 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
They were written for adults of 5 ft and over. Below that, the calculator gives the 5 ft value and the BMI range is the better guide.
Ideal weight chart, feet and pounds
| Height | Healthy range (BMI 18.5–24.9) | Men: Devine / Robinson / Miller / Hamwi | Women: Devine / Robinson / Miller / Hamwi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 95–128 lb | 110 / 115 / 124 / 106 | 100 / 108 / 117 / 100 |
| 5 ft 2 in | 101–136 lb | 120 / 123 / 130 / 118 | 110 / 116 / 123 / 110 |
| 5 ft 4 in | 108–145 lb | 131 / 131 / 136 / 130 | 121 / 123 / 129 / 120 |
| 5 ft 6 in | 114–155 lb | 141 / 140 / 143 / 142 | 131 / 131 / 135 / 129 |
| 5 ft 8 in | 121–164 lb | 151 / 148 / 149 / 153 | 141 / 138 / 141 / 139 |
| 5 ft 10 in | 129–174 lb | 161 / 157 / 155 / 165 | 151 / 146 / 147 / 149 |
| 6 ft 0 in | 136–184 lb | 171 / 165 / 161 / 177 | 161 / 153 / 153 / 159 |
| 6 ft 2 in | 144–194 lb | 181 / 173 / 167 / 189 | 171 / 160 / 159 / 168 |
| 6 ft 4 in | 152–205 lb | 191 / 182 / 174 / 201 | 181 / 168 / 165 / 178 |
Ideal weight chart, centimeters and kilograms
| Height | Healthy range | Men: Devine / Robinson / Miller / Hamwi | Women: Devine / Robinson / Miller / Hamwi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 155 cm | 44.4–59.9 kg | 52.4 / 53.9 / 57.6 / 50.8 | 47.9 / 50.7 / 54.5 / 47.8 |
| 160 cm | 47.3–63.8 kg | 56.9 / 57.7 / 60.4 / 56.1 | 52.4 / 54.1 / 57.2 / 52.1 |
| 165 cm | 50.3–67.9 kg | 61.4 / 61.4 / 63.2 / 61.4 | 56.9 / 57.4 / 59.8 / 56.4 |
| 170 cm | 53.4–72.1 kg | 65.9 / 65.2 / 66.0 / 66.7 | 61.4 / 60.8 / 62.5 / 60.7 |
| 175 cm | 56.6–76.4 kg | 70.5 / 68.9 / 68.7 / 72.0 | 66.0 / 64.1 / 65.2 / 65.1 |
| 180 cm | 59.8–80.8 kg | 75.0 / 72.6 / 71.5 / 77.3 | 70.5 / 67.5 / 67.9 / 69.4 |
| 185 cm | 63.2–85.3 kg | 79.5 / 76.4 / 74.3 / 82.7 | 75.0 / 70.8 / 70.6 / 73.7 |
| 190 cm | 66.7–90.0 kg | 84.0 / 80.1 / 77.1 / 88.0 | 79.5 / 74.2 / 73.2 / 78.1 |
Notice how the formulas spread apart at the edges: at 6 ft 4 in, Hamwi gives a man 27 lb more than Miller.
Where the formulas come from
Ben Devine published his in 1974 to calculate doses of drugs that depend on lean body mass, such as some antibiotics – and hospitals still use it for that. Robinson and Miller fitted their versions in 1983 to height and weight tables; Hamwi’s 1964 rule came from diabetes care. None of them measured health outcomes. For the WHO’s BMI categories and what they mean for you, see the BMI calculator; for the calories to reach a weight, the calorie calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal weight for my height?
There is no single number. For adults, the World Health Organization calls a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 a healthy weight, which gives a range: at 5 ft 6 in, about 114 to 155 lb; at 170 cm, about 53 to 72 kg. The classic formulas give one figure inside that range.
Which ideal weight formula is the most accurate?
None was built to tell people what to weigh. Devine (1974) was made to dose medicines, Robinson and Miller (1983) refined it from life-insurance and population data, and Hamwi (1964) was a clinical rule of thumb. They agree within a few kilograms at average heights and drift apart for very short or tall people.
Does muscle change my ideal weight?
Yes. Muscle is denser than fat, so athletes can be above the BMI range and the formulas while being lean and healthy. Waist size, body fat and fitness tell you more than the scale alone.
What is the ideal weight for a 5 ft 10 in man?
The healthy BMI range is about 129 to 174 lb. The formulas give 161 lb (Devine), 157 lb (Robinson), 155 lb (Miller) and 165 lb (Hamwi).
Sources
- World Health Organization: A healthy lifestyle – WHO recommendations (BMI)
- Pai M.P., Paloucek F.P.: The origin of the "ideal" body weight equations, Annals of Pharmacotherapy 34 (2000) 1066–1069
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