Ideal Weight Calculator

Last updated: Jul 22, 2026 | Reviewed by Calkulator Team | 2 min read

Health

Find your ideal weight range based on height and frame

Four established formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) each give slightly different ideal weight estimates based on your height. The range between them gives you a realistic target — not a single magic number.

Focus on body composition (muscle vs fat) rather than a specific weight number on the scale.

Your Details

Gender

Male Female

Height Unit

Centimetres Feet & Inches

Height (cm)

Note

Ideal weight formulas were developed primarily for clinical drug dosing purposes and represent statistical averages. They do not account for muscle mass, bone density, or body composition. Athletes and very muscular individuals may be "overweight" by these formulas while being perfectly healthy.

Average Ideal Weight

—

Healthy BMI range: —

Devine Formula—

Robinson Formula—

Miller Formula—

Hamwi Formula—

Live Result Illustration

Visual summary — updates instantly as you enter values above

LIVE

Real-Life Guide to Using the Ideal Weight Calculator

Ideal weight for your height. Use the examples and checks below to turn the number into a practical decision.

When this calculator is useful

People setting a long-term weight goal, or those curious how their current weight compares to classic medical formulas, use this to get a target range rather than a single fad-diet number.

For most people, the best way to use the Ideal Weight Calculator is to try the real case first, then change one input at a time. That makes the trade-off visible. For example, with a loan calculator you can change tenure while keeping the same rate; with an investment calculator you can change return assumption while keeping the same monthly contribution; with a health, education or measurement calculator you can check how much one input changes the final category.

The result should answer a practical question: Can I afford this? How much should I save? Is this score enough? Is this measurement within range? What is the safer or cheaper option? If the output does not answer the decision clearly, adjust the inputs until the scenario matches your real situation.

Real-Life Example

Height-based target for a new gym member: A 25-year-old woman who is 162 cm tall wants a reasonable weight goal before starting a structured gym program.

1Using the Devine formula for women, ideal weight = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet; 162 cm ≈ 63.8 inches, which is 3.8 inches over 5 feet, giving 45.5 + (2.3×3.8) ≈ 54.2 kg, while the Robinson formula gives roughly 53 kg, putting her reasonable target range around 53-55 kg.

2Now change one input, such as rate, time, quantity, unit or score, and compare the new result with the first one.

Different formulas give slightly different numbers for the same height, so the useful output is a range to aim within, not one precise kilogram figure.

Practical Advice

Use the Ideal Weight Calculator as a planning tool, not just a number generator. Write down the inputs you used, because the final answer is meaningful only when you remember the assumptions behind it.

If the decision affects money, health, tax, safety, academics or legal compliance, keep a second check ready. That second check may be a bank quote, payslip, official rule, prescription, site measurement, mark sheet or invoice.

Common Mistakes

Treating the output as one exact number to hit rather than a rough range, when formulas like Devine and Robinson can differ by 3-5 kg for the same height
Applying a male formula's constants to a female result or vice versa, since these formulas use different base weights and per-inch increments by sex
Ignoring frame size and muscle mass, so a broad-shouldered weightlifter is told they are "overweight" by a formula built for average build
Using an ideal-weight formula built for adult heights on a growing teenager, whose "ideal" weight changes with growth stage, not just current height
Chasing an old formula's number (like Broca's index) down to the last kilogram instead of treating results as a healthy zone alongside BMI and body fat

How to Interpret Results

Compare the ranges given by different formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) as a band rather than a single answer, and remember these are population-average estimates from decades-old medical literature, not personalized targets, so use them alongside BMI and how you actually feel and perform.

A good interpretation looks at both the main result and the supporting values. If a page shows totals, ratios, categories, schedules or warnings, read those together instead of focusing only on the biggest number.

Ideal Weight Calculator FAQs

Useful answers for interpreting the output, avoiding mistakes and using the result responsibly.

Which formulas does this calculator use?

It typically calculates results using the Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi formulas, all developed decades ago from population height-weight data, each with slightly different constants for men and women. Showing multiple formulas gives a range rather than one falsely precise number.

Why do the different formulas give me different numbers?

Each formula was derived from a different population sample and study era, so their base weights and per-inch increments vary slightly. A 3-5 kg spread between formulas for the same height is normal and expected.

Does this account for muscle mass or body frame size?

No, these classic formulas only use height and sex, so a muscular athlete or someone with a naturally larger bone frame can be told their healthy weight is lower than what is actually appropriate for their build. Body fat percentage and waist circumference give a fuller picture for muscular individuals.

Is this calculator suitable for children or teenagers?

No, these formulas were built for adults with stable height; growing children and teens need paediatric growth charts that account for age, sex, and growth stage instead. Please use age-appropriate paediatric tools for anyone under 18.

What should I do if my current weight is far from the ideal range shown?

Treat the gap as a long-term direction rather than an urgent target, and combine it with your BMI, body fat percentage, and how you feel physically before deciding whether change is needed. If you have any underlying health concerns, discuss the target with a doctor or dietitian.

Is "ideal weight" the same as the healthiest weight for me personally?

Not necessarily. These formulas estimate a population average based purely on height and sex, while your genuinely healthiest weight also depends on muscle mass, fat distribution, fitness level, and family health history that no formula captures.

Can I use this while pregnant to track weight goals?

No, ideal-weight formulas are meant for a non-pregnant, stable adult body; pregnancy has its own trimester-based healthy weight-gain targets set by your obstetrician. Please do not use this calculator to judge pregnancy weight.

How is this different from BMI?

BMI gives you a category (underweight, normal, overweight) based on your current height and weight, while this calculator works backward from your height to suggest a target weight range using classic medical formulas. The two are complementary ways of looking at the same general question.

What is Ideal Body Weight?

Ideal Body Weight (IBW) is an estimate of the optimal weight for a given height, traditionally used in medicine for calculating drug dosages and assessing nutritional status. Several formulas exist, each developed for different purposes and populations.

For general health, the BMI-based healthy weight range (18.5–24.9 kg/m²) is a broader and more inclusive target. The formula averages shown here give you a central reference point, but remember that healthy weight is also influenced by muscle mass, bone structure, age, and ethnicity.

Example Calculation

Male, 175 cm (5′8.9″)

1Devine: 50 + 2.3×8.9 = 70.5 kg

2Robinson: 52 + 1.9×8.9 = 68.9 kg

3BMI range: 18.5×1.75² to 24.9×1.75² = 56.7–76.2 kg

✓ Average ideal: ~69.6 kg for 175 cm male

About the Formulas

Devine Formula (1974): Most widely used in clinical medicine for drug dosing. Male: 50 + 2.3×(inches over 5ft). Female: 45.5 + 2.3×(inches over 5ft). Originally developed for anesthesia dosing.
Robinson Formula (1983): Adjusted for gender: Male: 52 + 1.9×(inches over 5ft). Female: 49 + 1.7×(inches over 5ft). Slightly lower estimates than Devine.
Miller Formula (1983): Similar structure but different coefficients, generally gives slightly higher estimates than Robinson for taller individuals.
Hamwi Formula (1964): Oldest and most conservative formula. Often used in nutrition counseling. Male: 48 + 2.7×(inches over 5ft). Female: 45.4 + 2.3×(inches over 5ft).

Limitations & Context

All IBW formulas were developed on Western populations — may not perfectly apply to South Asian body types, which tend to have higher body fat at lower BMIs
Athletes and strength trainers often exceed "ideal weight" by 5–15 kg due to muscle mass
Age matters — healthy weight ranges shift slightly with age as body composition naturally changes
Body fat percentage (see our Body Fat Calculator) is a better health indicator than weight alone
Use these numbers as a general reference, not a strict target — your doctor can assess your specific situation

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I weigh for my height in India?

The WHO and Indian health guidelines recommend using BMI 18.5–23 as the healthy range for Asian adults (lower than the 18.5–24.9 used globally), as South Asian populations tend to have higher cardiovascular risk at lower BMIs. For a 165 cm Indian woman, this means 50.3–62.7 kg; for a 175 cm Indian man, 56.7–70.4 kg. These are healthy ranges, not strict targets. Weight within 5–10% of these ranges is generally not a health concern if body composition is normal.

Is it possible to be "overweight" but healthy?

Yes — this is well-documented in the research literature as the "obesity paradox" and more specifically in athletes and muscular individuals. A person with high muscle mass may have a BMI above 25 but low body fat percentage (15–20%), good cardiovascular fitness, and excellent metabolic health markers. Conversely, "normal weight obesity" — BMI in the healthy range but high body fat — is common in sedentary individuals with low muscle mass and carries significant health risks. Weight is an incomplete picture; body composition, fitness level, and metabolic markers tell a more complete story.

How fast should I aim to lose or gain weight to reach my ideal weight?

For fat loss: target 0.25–0.5 kg per week for sustainable loss with muscle preservation. Faster rates (above 1 kg/week) significantly increase muscle loss and hormonal disruption. For muscle gain: a natural trainee can gain 0.5–1 kg of muscle per month optimally — gaining faster than this means gaining mostly fat. So "bulking" at more than 1–2 kg/month is typically counterproductive. For most people, the path to their ideal weight takes 3–12 months depending on how far they start from the target. Patience and consistency beat any crash approach.