Ideal Weight Calculator
Find your ideal body weight using four classic medical formulas based on your height and sex.
Example
A 178 cm (70.08 in) man is 10.08 inches above 5 feet. Each formula gives:
Devine: 50 + 2.3 x 10.08 = 73.2 kg / 161.4 lb
Robinson: 52 + 1.9 x 10.08 = 71.2 kg / 156.9 lb
Miller: 56.2 + 1.41 x 10.08 = 70.4 kg / 155.2 lb
Hamwi: 48 + 2.7 x 10.08 = 75.2 kg / 165.8 lb
Average: = 72.5 kg / 159.8 lb
How it works
Enter your height and select your sex; each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet (60 in) and adds a set amount per inch above that. Results are shown in both kilograms and pounds.
Good to know
This calculator estimates an adult's "ideal" body weight from just two inputs — height and sex — by running four classic clinical formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi) at once and reporting the average alongside the full spread. Because each formula was built on different datasets, the side-by-side view is the point: it turns a single number into a defensible range. It is aimed at anyone curious about a rough weight reference, plus students, fitness trackers and people who want to understand the numbers clinicians sometimes cite.
Reach for it when you want a quick benchmark rather than a precise health verdict — for example, sanity-checking a goal weight, understanding a "use ideal body weight" instruction on a medication label, or comparing yourself against the textbook formulas out of interest. It is height-and-sex only, so it deliberately does not ask for your current weight, age, or activity level.
Read the big number as the average of the four methods, and treat the range badge as the more honest answer. Hamwi will usually sit at the top of that range and Miller near the bottom; if your target falls anywhere inside the spread, all four methods broadly agree with it. Every result is shown in both kilograms and pounds so you do not have to convert.
One caveat worth keeping in mind: these formulas date from the 1960s to 1980s and assume an average build. They ignore frame size, muscle mass, fat distribution and age, so a muscular or large-framed person can land "above ideal" while being perfectly healthy. Use it as a conversation starter, not a diagnosis — measures like BMI, waist circumference or a clinician's assessment paint a fuller picture.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the four formulas give different results?
Each was derived from different population data and assumptions. Hamwi (1964) tends to give the highest values and Miller the lowest, so showing all four gives you a realistic range rather than a single point.
Which ideal weight formula should I use?
The Devine formula is the most widely used in clinical settings, especially for drug dosing. For a general target, the average of all four formulas shown here gives a balanced estimate.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this calculator runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Is this a substitute for medical advice?
No. These are educational estimates — consult a qualified health professional for medical decisions.
People also ask
What is the difference between ideal body weight and a healthy weight range?
Ideal body weight is a single reference figure produced by a fixed formula based on height and sex, while a healthy weight is usually expressed as a range (often from BMI) that many weights can fall within. The ideal-weight formulas give one target per method, whereas healthy-weight tools accept a band of acceptable values.
How is ideal body weight calculated from height?
Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet (60 inches) of height and adds a fixed amount of weight for every inch above that, with different base and per-inch values for men and women. For heights below 5 feet the formulas subtract proportionally, which is why very short results can be unreliable.
Why is ideal body weight used for medication dosing?
Some drugs are dosed on ideal or adjusted body weight because they distribute mainly through lean tissue rather than fat, so total body weight can overestimate the needed dose. The Devine formula is the one most commonly used for this purpose in clinical practice.
Does ideal body weight account for muscle mass or body fat?
No. These formulas use only height and sex, so they cannot tell the difference between fat and muscle. A muscular athlete and a sedentary person of the same height get the same number, which is a known limitation of the approach.
Is ideal body weight the same for men and women of the same height?
No. The formulas use lower base weights and, in most cases, smaller per-inch increments for women, so a woman and a man of identical height will get different ideal-weight figures from each formula.
Can children use an ideal body weight calculator?
These adult formulas are not designed for children, whose weight is normally assessed with age- and sex-specific growth charts and percentiles. Pediatric weight evaluation is typically handled by a healthcare provider using those references instead.
Which ideal weight formula is the oldest?
The Hamwi formula dates from 1964 and is the oldest of the four shown here, followed by Devine (1974), Robinson (1983) and Miller (1983). Hamwi also tends to produce the highest estimates of the group.
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