How to use the ideal weight calculator
- Choose your sex and enter your height in centimetres or feet and inches.
- Read the healthy weight range based on the World Health Organization BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9.
- Compare the four classic formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi), which give a single "ideal" number for your height.
Why a range is better than one number
There is no single perfect weight for a height. Bone structure, muscle, age and where you carry fat all matter. That is why the main result is the healthy BMI range, which is what doctors use for screening. The single-number formulas are shown because they are still used in medicine, for example to dose some drugs, but they disagree with each other by several kilograms.
The formulas
Robinson: men 52 kg + 1.9 kg · women 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 ft
Miller: men 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg · women 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 ft
Hamwi: men 48 kg + 2.7 kg · women 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 ft
Healthy range: 18.5 × height (m)² to 24.9 × height (m)²
Example
A woman 168 cm tall (5 ft 6 in) is 6.1 inches over 5 feet. Devine gives 45.5 + 2.3 × 6.14 = 59.6 kg; Robinson 59.4 kg; Miller 61.5 kg; Hamwi 59.0 kg. Her healthy BMI range is 52.2 to 70.3 kg (115 to 155 lb).
Ideal weight chart (healthy BMI range)
| Height | Healthy weight (kg) | Healthy weight (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) | 41.6 – 56.0 | 92 – 124 |
| 155 cm (5 ft 1 in) | 44.4 – 59.8 | 98 – 132 |
| 160 cm (5 ft 3 in) | 47.4 – 63.7 | 104 – 141 |
| 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) | 50.4 – 67.8 | 111 – 149 |
| 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | 53.5 – 72.0 | 118 – 159 |
| 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | 56.7 – 76.3 | 125 – 168 |
| 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | 59.9 – 80.7 | 132 – 178 |
| 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | 63.3 – 85.2 | 140 – 188 |
| 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | 66.8 – 89.9 | 147 – 198 |
When the result may not fit you
- Muscular people can be healthy above the range because muscle is heavier than fat. Check your body fat percentage instead.
- Older adults: some research suggests a BMI slightly above 25 is not harmful after about 65.
- People of Asian heritage: health risks start at a lower BMI, so aim for the lower part of the range (see our BMI calculator).
- Children, teens and pregnant women need different charts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal weight for my height?
For most adults, any weight within a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. The table above shows this range for common heights.
Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?
None is clearly best. Robinson and Miller tend to give more realistic numbers for women and shorter people, while Devine is the one most used in hospitals.
Is ideal weight different for men and women?
The formulas give men a few kilograms more for the same height. The BMI range is the same for both.
Do you store my data?
No. The calculation runs in your browser.
Sources: World Health Organization, BMI classification; Devine BJ, Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy, 1974; Robinson JD et al., American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 1983; Miller DR et al., 1983; Hamwi GJ, 1964; Pai MP, Paloucek FP, "The origin of the ideal body weight equations", Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2000.
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Last reviewed: 2026-11-10. These tools give general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor about your health. See our medical disclaimer.