⚖️Ideal Weight Calculator

An ideal weight calculator gives you a science-based reference point for what a person of your height and gender might weigh under healthy conditions. This tool uses four widely recognized clinical formulas alongside a BMI-based healthy weight range to provide a complete picture rather than a single arbitrary number. Whether you are setting a weight loss target, tracking progress, or simply curious about where you stand, understanding your ideal body weight is a useful starting point for any health goal.

Ideal Weight Calculator by Height for Men and Women

Ideal body weight estimates differ between men and women at the same height, reflecting average differences in bone density, skeletal frame size, and muscle mass. For a person who is 5 feet 10 inches tall, the four clinical formulas produce the following estimates:

• Men: approximately 163 to 172 lbs (74 to 78 kg), depending on the formula
• Women: approximately 143 to 153 lbs (65 to 69 kg), depending on the formula

These figures are population-level averages. Individual factors like frame size, muscle mass, bone density, and age all influence what a healthy weight looks like for any specific person. Use these numbers as a directional guide, not a rigid target.

Ideal Body Weight Formula Explained

This calculator uses four established ideal body weight formulas, each developed for different clinical contexts. All four are based on height, with separate constants for men and women, and are expressed in kilograms before being converted to pounds for display.

Hamwi Formula (1964)

The oldest of the four, the Hamwi formula was developed for clinical nutrition planning. For men, it starts at 106 lbs for 5 feet of height and adds 6 lbs for every inch above that. For women, it starts at 100 lbs and adds 5 lbs per additional inch. This formula is still taught in hospital dietetic programs and remains common in clinical nutrition practice.

Devine Formula (1974)

The Devine formula was originally created to guide drug dosing in hospital settings and became the most widely referenced ideal body weight formula in medicine. For men: 50 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. For women: 45.5 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. Despite its widespread clinical use, the Devine formula was never formally validated as a health standard and was based on limited population data.

Robinson Formula (1983)

Published as a refinement of the Devine formula, the Robinson formula uses slightly different per-inch increments. For men: 52 kg plus 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet. For women: 49 kg plus 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet. It tends to produce results similar to the Devine formula for average heights, with minor divergence at the extremes.

Miller Formula (1983)

The Miller formula produces the highest estimates of the four, particularly for taller individuals, because it uses a higher base weight and a smaller per-inch increment. For men: 56.2 kg plus 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet. For women: 53.1 kg plus 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet. This formula is sometimes preferred for taller populations where the other formulas may underestimate healthy weight.

Healthy Weight Range Calculator Based on BMI

In addition to the four formulas, this calculator displays the weight range corresponding to a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, which the World Health Organization classifies as the normal weight range for adults. Unlike the single-number formulas, the BMI-based healthy weight range typically spans 25 to 35 lbs, acknowledging that there is a spectrum of healthy weights at any given height rather than one precise target.

Many clinicians consider the BMI range more useful than any single formula because it reflects real-world variation in healthy body composition. If your weight falls within the BMI healthy range, you are unlikely to benefit from intentional weight change from a purely physiological standpoint.

IBW Calculator for Adults: Important Limitations

All four ideal body weight formulas share a critical limitation: they estimate weight purely from height and sex, with no input for body composition, frame size, age, or ethnicity. A highly muscular athlete and a sedentary person of average build can be the same height and gender, yet have very different healthy weights. The formulas cannot distinguish between muscle and fat, so a lean, muscular individual might fall above the ideal range while actually being in excellent health.

Ethnic background also matters. Research indicates that people of Asian descent face higher metabolic health risks at lower BMI values, while people of Black and African descent often have higher average bone density and muscle mass. Applying a single set of formula constants across all populations introduces meaningful inaccuracy. These formulas are best used as one data point among several, alongside body fat percentage, waist circumference, blood markers, and how you feel and perform day to day.

What Your Ideal Weight Number Should and Should Not Tell You

The most useful thing an ideal weight calculator tells you is roughly where the center of a healthy range is for your height. If you are significantly above the range across all four formulas and the BMI scale, gradual and sustainable weight reduction is likely to improve metabolic health, reduce joint stress, and lower risk of chronic disease. If you are near or within the range, body composition (the ratio of fat to muscle) matters more than the number on the scale. Strength training, cardiovascular fitness, and healthy blood markers are better indicators of health than hitting a formula-derived weight target.