Ideal Weight Calculator
Calculate your ideal weight using four established formulas (Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, Miller) plus the healthy BMI weight range. Estimates only — not medical advice.
Average Ideal Weight (4 formulas)
159.4 lbs
72.3 kg
- Healthy BMI low
- 128.9 lbs (58.5 kg)
- Healthy BMI high
- 173.5 lbs (78.7 kg)
Sex
Units
By Formula
- Devine (1974)
- 160.9 lbs (73 kg)
- Hamwi (1964)
- 165.3 lbs (75 kg)
- Robinson (1983)
- 156.5 lbs (71 kg)
- Miller (1983)
- 155 lbs (70.3 kg)
Healthy BMI Range (18.5–24.9)
- Lower bound (BMI 18.5)
- 128.9 lbs (58.5 kg)
- Upper bound (BMI 24.9)
- 173.5 lbs (78.7 kg)
What this calculator assumes
- All four formulas (Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, Miller) were developed for adults and assume a medium frame.
- None accounts for age, muscle mass, ethnicity or health conditions. Devine in particular was designed for drug dosing, not health targets.
- The headline figure is the mean of the four. They disagree by several kilograms, which is itself the useful signal: there is no single ideal weight.
Formulas, assumptions, and rounding are documented in our calculator methodology.
Built and maintained by Will Henschell, Data Scientist. Editorial policy.
How Ideal Weight Formulas Are Used
The four classic ideal weight formulas — Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, and Miller — were originally developed for clinical drug dosing, not fitness goals. They estimate a reference weight for a person of average frame size. Medical professionals use them to adjust medication dosages based on body weight without overestimating for obese or muscular patients.
Healthy BMI Range vs. Formula Estimates
While formula results represent a single point estimate, the healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) gives a weight range. For most people, the formula estimates fall near the lower-middle of the BMI range. Differences between formulas reflect their different coefficients and target populations — an average across all four provides a reasonable central estimate.
What 'Ideal Weight' Cannot Capture
Body weight alone cannot capture health. Two people at the same weight may have very different body compositions — one with 15% body fat, another with 35%. Muscle weighs more than fat, so fit individuals often exceed 'ideal' weight by formula while being metabolically healthy. Age-related muscle loss can cause weight to fall within range while body fat remains high. Consider body fat percentage, waist circumference, and metabolic health markers alongside weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
- No single formula is universally most accurate — each was developed for different clinical purposes. The Devine formula is most widely used in medicine (drug dosing). The average of all four formulas is a reasonable general estimate. Use the healthy BMI range as an additional reference.
- Devine (1974): Men 50 + 2.3 × (inches over 5 ft); Women 45.5 + 2.3 × (inches over 5 ft). Hamwi (1964): Men 48 + 2.7 × (inches over 5 ft); Women 45.4 + 2.3 × (inches over 5 ft). Robinson (1983): Men 52 + 1.9 × (inches over 5 ft); Women 49 + 1.7 × (inches over 5 ft). Miller (1983): Men 56.2 + 1.41 × (inches over 5 ft); Women 53.1 + 1.36 × (inches over 5 ft).
- These formulas were developed on populations of average stature and become less reliable at the extremes of height (below 5 ft or above 6 ft 5 in). The healthy BMI range is often more useful for people outside the typical height range.
- A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is considered the 'normal' or 'healthy' range. The weight range corresponding to this BMI depends on your height: weight (kg) = BMI × height² (m²). For a 5 ft 10 in person, this is approximately 129–173 lbs.
- Ideal weight formulas are rough guidelines, not targets. A person who is muscular, older, or has a large frame may be healthy well above the formula estimates. Weight is just one indicator of health — fitness level, diet quality, blood pressure, and metabolic health matter equally or more.