Ideal Weight Calculator
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About “Ideal” Weight
“What should I weigh for my height?” is one of the most-asked health questions, and the standard answers come from formulas with a surprising past: hospital pharmacists needed a lean-body-weight stand-in for dosing drugs like digoxin and aminoglycosides, and Dr. B.J. Devine's 1974 equation — plus the refinements that followed — escaped the pharmacy and became the internet's “ideal weight.”
Enter your sex and height to see all four equations, the range they span, and the healthy-BMI band for comparison. The formulas agree within a few kilograms for average heights and diverge at the extremes — visible proof that “ideal” is an estimate family, not a fact.
Comparing your current weight against the healthy band? That's the BMI Calculator
The Four Formulas
All four use the same shape — a base at 5 feet plus a per-inch increment (kg):
Devine: M 50.0 + 2.3/in over 5 ft F 45.5 + 2.3 Robinson: M 52.0 + 1.9 F 49.0 + 1.7 Miller: M 56.2 + 1.41 F 53.1 + 1.36 Hamwi: M 48.0 + 2.7 F 45.5 + 2.2 Healthy-BMI band: 18.5 × h² to 24.9 × h² (h in meters)
Worked example: a 5′10″ man spans 70.3 kg (Miller) to 75.0 kg (Hamwi) — about 155–165 lb — while his healthy-BMI band runs a much wider 58.5–78.7 kg (129–174 lb). The spread between the two framings is the honest takeaway.
Ideal Weight by Height
Devine values (the most-quoted formula) with the healthy-BMI band — all computed by this calculator:
| Height | Devine (men) | Devine (women) | Healthy-BMI band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′2″ (157 cm) | 54.6 kg / 120 lb | 50.1 kg / 110 lb | 45.9–61.8 kg |
| 5′6″ (168 cm) | 63.8 kg / 141 lb | 59.3 kg / 131 lb | 52.1–70.1 kg |
| 5′10″ (178 cm) | 73.0 kg / 161 lb | 68.5 kg / 151 lb | 58.5–78.7 kg |
| 6′2″ (188 cm) | 82.2 kg / 181 lb | 77.7 kg / 171 lb | 65.4–88.0 kg |
Notice the formulas sit in the upper-middle of the BMI band — they describe a lean-ish reference body, not a minimum.
What These Numbers Can't See
Height-only formulas are blind to everything that actually differentiates bodies: muscle mass (athletes routinely exceed every “ideal” while carrying less fat than average), frame size, age (some evidence favors slightly higher weights past 65), and where fat sits — waist-based measures track health risk better than scale weight at the same BMI.
Useful ways to use this page anyway: the range is a reasonable sanity check for goal-setting conversations; the BMI band is the evidence-backed outer envelope; and the drug-dosing history is a genuinely good reason not to treat any single number as a verdict. Body composition, fitness, and labs beat the scale — a clinician can weigh all three.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my ideal weight for my height?
By the classic formulas, a range — a 5′10″ man spans roughly 70–75 kg (155–165 lb) across Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi; the healthy-BMI band for that height is wider, 58.5–78.7 kg. Enter your height above for your numbers, and read them as a reference band, not a target.
Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?
None is “accurate” — they're height-only estimates built for drug dosing (Devine 1974 is the most cited; Robinson and Miller are 1983 refinements). They agree mid-range and diverge at the extremes. For health purposes, the BMI band plus waist measurement carries more evidence.
Why do the four formulas disagree?
Different datasets and eras: each fit a slightly different base weight and per-inch slope. The spread — a few kg mid-range, more at very short or tall heights — is the honest uncertainty of estimating weight from height alone.
Does age change ideal weight?
The formulas ignore age entirely. Evidence suggests slightly higher weights are not harmful — possibly protective — past 65, and that muscle retention matters more than scale weight with age. Another reason to treat these as reference points.
I'm muscular and 'over' my ideal weight — is that a problem?
Usually the opposite of one. Height-weight formulas can't distinguish a kilogram of muscle from fat; athletes commonly exceed every classic “ideal.” Body-composition measures (body-fat %, waist) answer the question the scale can't.
Where do these formulas actually come from?
Hospital pharmacy: Devine proposed his 1974 equation for dosing drugs by lean-ish body mass, and later authors refined it. Pai & Paloucek's 2000 review (cited below) traces the history — including how little validation the originals had as health targets.
Sources & References
- [1]Pai, M.P. & Paloucek, F.P. (2000). The origin of the "ideal" body weight equations — Annals of Pharmacotherapy / PubMed
Methodology. This calculator uses formulas and health categories recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is reviewed and maintained by the Vast Calculators editorial team.
Last updated · July 11, 2026
Disclaimer. This tool provides estimates for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health.