Estimate ideal body weight using Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi formulas. Compare your current weight with formula averages and a healthy BMI-based range in USA and UK formats.
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"What should I weigh?" is one of the most searched health questions in America — and the answer is more nuanced than a single number. There is no single universally correct ideal weight for any given height. What's healthy varies based on sex, body frame, age, and muscle mass. But there are evidence-based ranges that give you a meaningful target, and several medical formulas that can help you set realistic, healthy weight goals. This free ideal weight calculator uses four established formulas and the BMI healthy range to give you a complete picture of where your weight ideally sits for your height.
Ideal body weight (IBW) is the weight at which a person of a given height and sex is at the lowest statistical risk for weight-related health conditions. It's used in clinical settings for dosing medications, planning nutritional support, and assessing health risk. The concept was developed in the 1960s by Dr. Benjamin Devine for medication dosing, and several refined formulas have been developed since. None of them produce a single perfect number — they produce a range, and that range is what's medically meaningful.
Our calculator uses all four major formulas so you can see the full range:
Devine Formula (most widely used in clinical settings): Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet | Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
Robinson Formula: Men: 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet | Women: 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
Miller Formula: Men: 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet | Women: 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet
Hamwi Formula: Men: 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet | Women: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet
The results from these four formulas typically fall within a 5–10 kg range of each other, and the average of all four gives a solid central target. All formulas assume average body frame — adjust upward by approximately 10% for large frames and downward by 10% for small frames.
Based on the average of the four formulas and the BMI healthy range (18.5–24.9), here is a healthy weight reference for adult women:
5'0" (152 cm): approximately 95–128 lbs (43–58 kg) | 5'2" (157 cm): approximately 101–136 lbs (46–62 kg) | 5'4" (163 cm): approximately 108–145 lbs (49–66 kg) | 5'5" (165 cm): approximately 111–150 lbs (50–68 kg) | 5'6" (168 cm): approximately 115–154 lbs (52–70 kg) | 5'7" (170 cm): approximately 118–159 lbs (54–72 kg) | 5'8" (173 cm): approximately 122–164 lbs (55–74 kg) | 5'10" (178 cm): approximately 129–174 lbs (59–79 kg)
For adult men, the healthy weight range based on BMI 18.5–24.9 and the formula averages:
5'7" (170 cm): approximately 121–163 lbs (55–74 kg) | 5'9" (175 cm): approximately 128–172 lbs (58–78 kg) | 5'10" (178 cm): approximately 132–178 lbs (60–81 kg) | 5'11" (180 cm): approximately 136–183 lbs (62–83 kg) | 6'0" (183 cm): approximately 140–189 lbs (64–86 kg) | 6'1" (185 cm): approximately 144–194 lbs (65–88 kg) | 6'2" (188 cm): approximately 148–200 lbs (67–91 kg)
At 5'4" (64 inches), 135 pounds gives a BMI of 23.2 — well within the healthy range of 18.5–24.9. Very healthy. At 5'6" (66 inches), 135 pounds gives a BMI of 21.8 — also solidly healthy. 135 pounds is within the healthy range for women from approximately 5'2" to 5'10". The number itself is less important than where it falls relative to your height.
At 5'5", 140 lbs = BMI 23.3 — healthy range. At 5'6", 140 lbs = BMI 22.6 — healthy range. At 5'4", 140 lbs = BMI 24.0 — still in the healthy range, close to the upper boundary. For a woman 5'3" or shorter, 140 pounds begins to move into the overweight zone. Context always matters — a muscular, athletic woman at 140 lbs is in a very different health situation than a sedentary person at the same weight.
Ideal body weight formulas and BMI measure slightly different things. IBW formulas give you a single central target weight. BMI gives you a range (18.5–24.9 for healthy). For practical use, the BMI healthy range is more useful because it acknowledges that healthy people come in a range of sizes — there isn't one ideal number, there's a healthy zone. IBW formulas are most useful in clinical settings (medication dosing) or as a rough anchor point for weight loss goals. The NIH BMI Calculator uses the standard 18.5–24.9 healthy range. Use our BMI Calculator alongside this tool for the most complete picture.
All ideal weight formulas and BMI share one major limitation: they measure total body weight, not body composition. A 6'0" man weighing 200 lbs with 10% body fat (heavily muscular athlete) has a BMI of 27.1 — technically "overweight" — yet is in outstanding physical condition. Conversely, a person within the "normal" BMI range but with 35% body fat (sometimes called "skinny fat") may face significant health risks despite a "healthy" weight. If you're athletic or muscular, supplement ideal weight analysis with body fat percentage measurement. Our Body Fat Calculator and Lean Body Mass Calculator provide this perspective.
BMI Calculator | Body Fat Calculator | BMR Calculator | Calorie Calculator | Healthy Weight Calculator | Lean Body Mass Calculator
For a woman at 5'5", the BMI healthy range (18.5–24.9) corresponds to approximately 111–150 lbs (50–68 kg). The midpoint — around 130 lbs — is often considered ideal for this height. The ideal body weight formulas (Devine, Robinson) give a central estimate of approximately 118–125 lbs for a 5'5" woman, which sits in the lower portion of the healthy BMI range and is appropriate for smaller-framed individuals.
Overweight begins at BMI 25.0. For a woman at 5'4", that's approximately 146 lbs. For a man at 5'10", approximately 174 lbs. For a woman at 5'7", approximately 159 lbs. These are thresholds, not hard lines — someone at 147 lbs and 5'4" is not meaningfully different health-wise from someone at 144 lbs. The meaningful concern begins when weight is substantially and consistently above the healthy range, particularly if accompanied by high body fat percentage, high waist circumference, or related metabolic markers.
Ideal weight calculations are reference estimates and not individual health targets. Healthy weight ranges vary with body composition, frame size, age, ethnicity, and health status. This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. For personalised weight and health guidance, consult a physician or registered dietitian. Visit NHLBI.nih.gov for evidence-based healthy weight resources.
The calculator uses established clinical formulas — Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi — which estimate ideal weight from your height and sex. It shows the range across these methods rather than one figure.
Ideal body weight formulas give a single target derived from height and sex, while a healthy weight is the broader BMI 18.5-24.9 range. Both are guides; neither accounts for muscle or frame size.
The standard formulas do not directly adjust for small, medium or large frames. People with larger frames or more muscle may sit comfortably above their calculated ideal weight.
No. For the same height, the formulas assign men a higher ideal weight than women, reflecting average differences in build and body composition.