Ideal Weight Calculator
Find your ideal body weight using 4 proven formulas
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Using a Range Instead of a Single Number
Because no single formula is perfectly right, the four results together form a range — and that range is more honest than any one figure. All four formulas used in this calculator were developed in the 1970s and 1980s for different clinical and research purposes:
- Hamwi (1964) — Originally developed for dietary planning. Uses inches for height and provides a simple baseline starting at 48 kg for men and 45.5 kg for women.
- Devine (1974) — Created to estimate ideal body weight for drug dosing. Uses centimeters directly and adjusts from a reference height of 152.4 cm (5'0").
- Robinson (1983) — Based on insurance data from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Uses inches and has slightly different starting points for men (52 kg) and women (49 kg).
- Miller (1983) — Developed for clinical use with a focus on maintaining a healthy weight range. Uses inches with a higher baseline for men (56.2 kg) and women (53.1 kg).
This calculator shows each formula's result so you can see the range and choose what makes sense for you.
Formulas: Hamwi (1964), Devine (1974), Robinson (1983), Miller (1983). Full methodology →
When 'Ideal' Ignores Your Muscle
Every ideal weight formula shares the same blind spot: they only use height and gender, and none of them knows what kind of body is attached to that height. They don't account for factors that significantly affect what a healthy weight actually looks like for you:
- Body composition — Two people at the same weight can have very different ratios of muscle to fat. Muscle is denser than fat, so a muscular person will weigh more at the same size.
- Frame size — People with larger bone structures naturally weigh more. A formula can't tell if you have narrow or broad shoulders.
- Muscle mass — Athletes and regular exercisers carry more muscle, which adds weight without adding health risk.
- Age — Metabolism slows and body composition shifts with age. A weight that was ideal at 25 may not be the same at 55.
Use the formulas as a starting point, not a strict target.
Beyond the Numbers
The best measure of a healthy weight isn't a formula — it's how your body feels and functions. Focus on these health markers instead:
- Energy levels — Do you feel energized throughout the day without excessive fatigue?
- Blood pressure and cholesterol — Regular check-ups can tell you if your weight is affecting cardiovascular health.
- Waist circumference — Abdominal fat is a stronger predictor of health risk than total weight. Men should aim for under 94 cm, women under 80 cm.
- Physical performance — Can you move freely, exercise comfortably, and perform daily tasks without difficulty?
- Sleep quality — Healthy weight supports better sleep, and better sleep supports a healthy weight.
Our Body Fat Calculator and BMI Calculator can give you additional perspectives on your weight status.
Four Formulas, One Height: Why They Differ
Feed the same 170 cm (5'7") person into all four formulas and you get four different targets — the formulas disagree on purpose. Here's exactly what that looks like and when each one deserves the edge:
| Formula | 170 cm Male | 170 cm Female | When It's Preferred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamwi (1964) | 66.7 kg | 60.7 kg | Dietary planning and hospital nutrition |
| Devine (1974) | 65.9 kg | 61.4 kg | Medication dosing (aminoglycosides, etc.) |
| Robinson (1983) | 65.2 kg | 60.8 kg | Insurance-based longevity estimates |
| Miller (1983) | 66.0 kg | 62.5 kg | Clinical weight-range counseling |
Notice how the four agree far more than they argue — the gap between the highest and lowest is only about 1.5 kg for men and 1.8 kg for women at this height. The differences are subtle but systematic: Hamwi and Miller start from slightly different frame baselines, while Devine's tuning comes from a drug-dosing study. When precision matters for medication, Devine is the reference standard; when you're setting a simple nutrition target, Hamwi is the friendlier choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ideal weight formula wins for accuracy?
Do these formulas work for all body types?
Weighing more than the chart — is that a problem?
Are these formulas different for children?
How does age affect ideal weight?
Should I aim for the middle of the range?
Can I convert my result to pounds or stone?
Do these formulas account for frame size?
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