Ideal weight calculator
Ideal body weight from your height, gender and frame size, averaged across four published formulas.
Your ideal weight
Ideal weight, four-formula average
-
- Devine formula
- -
- Robinson formula
- -
- Miller formula
- -
- Hamwi formula
- -
- Healthy BMI range, 18.5 to 24.9
- -
- Current weight versus ideal
- -
How it works
An ideal weight calculator estimates a target body weight using published formulas built from height, gender and frame size. This tool averages four clinical formulas, Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi, then adjusts the result up to 10% for a small or large frame.
- Set gender and frame
Frame size shifts the result by about 10% either way.
- Enter your height
US feet and inches, or metric centimeters.
- Add your current weight
Optional. Shows how far you are from the ideal figure.
The four formulas
Each formula sets a starting weight at 5 feet and adds a fixed amount per inch above that. They were originally developed for clinical drug-dosing calculations and later adopted as general weight-goal references.
| Formula | Men at 5 ft | Per inch over |
|---|---|---|
| Devine, 1974 | 110 lb | +5.1 lb |
| Robinson, 1983 | 114 lb | +4.2 lb |
| Miller, 1983 | 123 lb | +3.1 lb |
| Hamwi, 1964 | 106 lb | +6.0 lb |
Women's versions of each formula start lower and add less weight per inch. This calculator averages all four for a balanced estimate, then applies the frame size adjustment.
Not built for muscle mass
These formulas do not account for muscle, so a very muscular person will typically weigh more than the formulas suggest while having excellent body composition. Athletes are better served by tracking body fat percentage than a scale-based ideal weight target. The formulas are also not intended for anyone under 18.
Frequently asked questions
How is ideal body weight calculated?
This calculator uses four formulas and averages them. The Devine formula, widely used in clinical settings, sets 50 kg for men or 45.5 kg for women at 5 feet and adds 2.3 kg per additional inch. Robinson, Miller and Hamwi each use slightly different starting points and per-inch increments. The average of all four is shown as the ideal weight, with a plus or minus 10% adjustment for frame size.
What frame size should I choose, small, medium or large?
Frame size adjusts the result by about 10% either way. A quick self-check: wrap your thumb and middle finger around your wrist. If they overlap you likely have a small frame, if they just touch, medium, and if they do not meet, large. The calculator applies your choice as a percentage adjustment to the formula average.
Do these formulas work for athletes and very muscular people?
Not well. Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi were originally built for clinical drug dosing, not fitness targets, and none of them account for muscle mass. A highly muscular person will typically weigh more than these formulas suggest while carrying very little body fat. Athletes are better served by tracking body fat percentage than a scale-based target.
What is the difference between ideal weight and healthy weight range?
This calculator shows both. Ideal weight is the single averaged value from the four formulas, adjusted for frame size. Healthy weight range is the span of weights that keep your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 for your height, a wider range that reflects normal variation. Treat both as estimates alongside actual body composition.
Is ideal weight the same for men and women at the same height?
No. All four formulas use different starting weights and per-inch increments for men and women. On average, women have a lower ideal weight than men at the same height, mainly because men tend to carry greater bone density and muscle mass. At 5 ft 4 in, for example, the formulas average lower for women than for men.