Ideal Weight Calculator
Find your healthy weight range using four established formulas, Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, and Miller. Works in pounds and kilograms for both male and female.
Healthy Weight Range
144 lbs - 148 lbs
(65.2 kg - 67.1 kg) · Average: 145 lbs (66.0 kg)
Formula Breakdown
How to use
Select your unit system (imperial or metric), choose your gender, and enter your height. The calculator applies four established medical formulas and shows the resulting range, plus a breakdown of each formula's individual estimate. The range between the lowest and highest values is a practical healthy weight window.
About the Formulas
Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet and adds a fixed amount per inch above 5 feet. The Hamwi formula (1964) adds 6 lbs/inch for men, 5 lbs/inch for women. Devine adds 5.1 lbs/inch for both. Robinson uses 4.2 lbs/inch for men and 3.7 for women. Milleruses 2.9 lbs/inch for both. The spread between formulas reflects uncertainty in any single "ideal" number, a healthy range is more useful than a single target.
When this calculator helps
Ideal weight calculators provide a science-based starting point for setting realistic health goals. Unlike BMI, which gives a wide range, these formulas offer a specific target weight for your height and gender. This calculator is helpful for people beginning a fitness process who want a concrete goal, healthcare providers doing quick assessments, and anyone curious about where established medical formulas place their recommended weight. By showing results from four different formulas simultaneously, it provides a balanced perspective rather than relying on any single estimate.
Examples
Example 1: Average Height Male (5'10")
Hamwi: 166 lbs, Devine: 160.9 lbs, Robinson: 158 lbs, Miller: 155.8 lbs. The range spans 155.8-166 lbs, giving a roughly 10-pound window. At 185 lbs, he would be about 20-30 lbs above the ideal range, a manageable goal to work toward over 5-7 months at 1 lb/week loss.
Example 2: Tall Woman (5'8")
Hamwi: 140 lbs, Devine: 141.1 lbs, Robinson: 139.6 lbs, Miller: 138.2 lbs. The range of 138-141 lbs is remarkably tight for this height, suggesting strong agreement among the formulas. Her healthy BMI range (121-164 lbs) is much wider, showing how ideal weight provides a more focused target.
Example 3: Shorter Male (5'6")
Hamwi: 142 lbs, Devine: 140.6 lbs, Robinson: 141.2 lbs, Miller: 144.2 lbs. Range: 140.6-144.2 lbs. At this height, the Miller formula gives the highest estimate, the opposite of what happens at taller heights, where Miller tends to be the lowest. This shows why checking multiple formulas matters.
Things to watch
- •These formulas were designed for average adults and do not account for frame size, muscle mass, or body composition. Use them as a guideline, not an absolute target.
- •If you are muscular or athletic, your ideal weight is likely higher than these formulas suggest. Consider pairing this with a body fat calculator for a fuller picture.
- •All four formulas assume a height of at least 5 feet (60 inches) and may be less accurate for very short or very tall individuals.
- •Focus on how you feel and your health markers rather than obsessing over a specific number, sustainable health is more important than hitting an exact weight.
- •These formulas were developed decades ago using limited population data. Modern research suggests healthy weight ranges are broader than originally thought.
Common questions
- Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?
- No single formula is universally accurate. The Hamwi formula (1964) is widely used in clinical settings. The Devine formula is common in pharmacology for drug dosing. The Robinson and Miller formulas were developed later with updated data. Because they differ, a range across all four gives a better picture than any single number.
- Can ideal weight formulas be wrong for athletes?
- Yes, these formulas were designed for average adult populations and don't account for muscle mass or frame size. A heavily muscled athlete may weigh well above the "ideal" range while having excellent health markers. For athletes, body fat percentage is a more useful metric than ideal weight.
- What is a healthy BMI vs ideal weight?
- A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. You can convert this to a weight range for your height. For example, a 5'7" person has a healthy BMI weight range of roughly 121-153 lbs. Ideal weight formulas typically fall within this BMI range, providing a single target rather than a range.
- Does ideal weight change with age?
- The classic formulas don't adjust for age, but research suggests body composition naturally changes with age, older adults often benefit from slightly higher weight (particularly more muscle mass) for metabolic health and bone density. For adults over 65, doctors often focus more on muscle preservation than reaching a specific scale number.
- Are ideal weight formulas different for men and women?
- Yes. All four formulas use different base weights and per-inch increments for men and women, reflecting natural differences in body composition. Men typically have more muscle mass and larger frames, resulting in higher ideal weight estimates at the same height. For example, at 5'10", the Hamwi formula gives 166 lbs for men and 150 lbs for women.
- Should I aim for a specific ideal weight number?
- Focus on a healthy range rather than a single number. The spread across the four formulas typically spans 10-20 pounds, and anywhere within that range is reasonable. Health markers like blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, energy level, and how you feel physically are better indicators than hitting an exact target weight on the scale.