Ideal Weight Calculator
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Results
Ideal-weight formulas give 120–129 lb for a woman 5 ft 4 in tall; the healthy BMI range is 108–145 lb.
- Robinson
- 123 lb
- Miller
- 129 lb
- Devine
- 121 lb
- Hamwi
- 120 lb
- Healthy BMI range: lower end (18.5)
- 108 lb
- Healthy BMI range: upper end (24.9)
- 145 lb
These formulas were designed for adults of average build, mainly to dose medicines. They ignore age, frame and muscle, so treat them as a reference, not a target. Many people are healthy outside them.
This is an estimate from a published formula, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian about your own situation.
How to use the ideal weight calculator
- Choose female or male: each formula has separate versions.
- Enter your height in feet and inches, or switch to metric and use centimeters.
- Compare the four formula results with the healthy BMI range. The bar chart puts them on one scale.
Ideal body weight formulas
Robinson (1983): men 52 kg + 1.9x · women 49 kg + 1.7x
Miller (1983): men 56.2 kg + 1.41x · women 53.1 kg + 1.36x
Devine (1974): men 50 kg + 2.3x · women 45.5 kg + 2.3x
Hamwi (1964): men 106 lb + 6 lb·x · women 100 lb + 5 lb·x
All four formulas share the same shape: a base weight for someone exactly 5 feet tall, plus a fixed amount for every extra inch. B. J. Devine published his formula in 1974 to help dose the antibiotic gentamicin, and it is still the version most hospitals use. Robinson and Miller each published refinements in 1983, and Hamwi's rule of thumb comes from a 1964 diabetes text, where it was given in pounds; we use the original pound version. They were designed for adults of average build and use 5 feet as their base height, so below 5 feet the calculator shows the healthy BMI range first.
Worked example
A woman 5 ft 4 in tall is 4 inches over 5 feet. Devine gives 45.5 + 2.3 × 4 = 54.7 kg. All four: Robinson123 lb, Miller129 lb, Devine121 lb and Hamwi120 lb. The healthy BMI range for her height is wider: 108–145 lb, which covers every formula result.
Ideal weight by height
Generated with the calculator's engine, in pounds.
Women
| Height | Robinson | Miller | Devine | Hamwi | Healthy BMI range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 108 | 117 | 100 | 100 | 95–127 lb |
| 5 ft 2 in | 116 | 123 | 110 | 110 | 102–136 lb |
| 5 ft 4 in | 123 | 129 | 121 | 120 | 108–145 lb |
| 5 ft 6 in | 131 | 135 | 131 | 130 | 115–154 lb |
| 5 ft 8 in | 138 | 141 | 141 | 140 | 122–163 lb |
| 5 ft 10 in | 146 | 147 | 151 | 150 | 129–173 lb |
| 6 ft 0 in | 153 | 153 | 161 | 160 | 137–183 lb |
Men
| Height | Robinson | Miller | Devine | Hamwi | Healthy BMI range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 4 in | 131 | 136 | 131 | 130 | 108–145 lb |
| 5 ft 6 in | 140 | 143 | 141 | 142 | 115–154 lb |
| 5 ft 8 in | 148 | 149 | 151 | 154 | 122–163 lb |
| 5 ft 10 in | 157 | 155 | 161 | 166 | 129–173 lb |
| 6 ft 0 in | 165 | 161 | 171 | 178 | 137–183 lb |
| 6 ft 2 in | 173 | 167 | 181 | 190 | 145–193 lb |
| 6 ft 4 in | 182 | 174 | 191 | 202 | 152–204 lb |
How to read the results
- They are reference points, not targets. "Ideal" here is a historical term from drug dosing, not a judgment about anyone's body.
- Frame and muscle matter. The formulas assume an average build. A broad, muscular person can be healthy well above them.
- Age is not included. The formulas give the same result at 25 and 75, although body composition changes with age.
- The healthy BMI range is broader. For adults it spans roughly 30 to 50 lb, depending on height, which reflects real variation between healthy people.
To check where your current weight sits, use the healthy weight calculator or the BMI calculator. This is not medical advice; talk to a doctor or registered dietitian.
Sources
- Robinson JD, Lupkiewicz SM, Palenik L, Lopez LM, Ariet M. Determination of ideal body weight for drug dosage calculations. Am J Hosp Pharm 1983;40(6):1016–1019.
- Miller DR, Carlson JD, Lloyd BJ, Day BJ. Determining ideal body weight (and mass). Am J Hosp Pharm 1983;40(10):1622–1625.
- Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intell Clin Pharm 1974;8:650–655.
- Hamwi GJ. Therapy: changing dietary concepts. In: Danowski TS, ed. Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis and Treatment. American Diabetes Association, 1964.
- CDC, Adult BMI Categories (healthy weight: BMI 18.5 to 24.9).
Frequently asked questions
How is ideal body weight calculated?
Each formula starts from a base weight for a height of 5 feet and adds a set amount for every inch above that. The Devine formula, for example, is 50 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch for men and 45.5 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch for women. A woman 5 ft 4 in tall gets 45.5 + 2.3 × 4 = 54.7 kg, about 121 lb.
What is the ideal weight for a 5 ft 4 in woman?
The four formulas give about 120 to 129 lb: Hamwi 120 lb, Devine 121 lb, Robinson 123 lb and Miller 129 lb. The healthy BMI range at that height is wider, about 108 to 145 lb.
What is the ideal weight for a 5 ft 10 in man?
The formulas give about 155 to 166 lb: Miller 155 lb, Robinson 157 lb, Devine 161 lb and Hamwi 166 lb. The healthy BMI range for 5 ft 10 in is about 129 to 173 lb.
Why do the ideal weight formulas give different answers?
They were built at different times from different data and for different purposes, mostly to dose medicines rather than to set personal goals. Hamwi dates from a 1964 diabetes text, Devine from a 1974 paper on gentamicin dosing, and Robinson and Miller from 1983 refinements.
Should I aim for my ideal body weight?
Not necessarily. These formulas ignore age, frame size and muscle, and were designed for adults of average build. The healthy BMI range, plus waist size and how you feel, is a better guide, and a doctor or registered dietitian can help you set a goal that suits you.