Ideal Weight Calculator
Four classic ideal-body-weight formulas side by side, and the range that matters more: the weights that keep your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
Healthy weight range (BMI 18.5–24.9)
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| Formula | Ideal weight |
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Common questions
Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?
None is 'accurate' for one person. Pai and Paloucek's review found the equations agree because they come from the same old height-weight tables; Devine (1974) is the one most used, mainly to dose drugs. They ignore muscle, frame and age.
Is ideal body weight the same as a healthy weight?
No. A healthy weight is a range: for adults, WHO's healthy BMI band of 18.5–24.9. The formula values all sit inside or near that band; the band is the better target.
Do the formulas work under 5 feet?
They were written as a base weight at 5 ft plus a fixed amount per inch above it, so they are not defined below 5 ft (152.4 cm). This page shows only the BMI range for shorter heights.
Why do men and women get different numbers?
The equations have separate base weights and per-inch increments by sex, reflecting the source tables. The BMI range is the same for both.
How it's computed
Each formula is a base weight at 5 ft plus a fixed amount per inch over 5 ft: Hamwi (1964) men 48.0 kg + 2.7 kg, women 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg; Devine (1974) men 50.0 kg + 2.3 kg, women 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg; Robinson (1983) men 52 kg + 1.9 kg, women 49 kg + 1.7 kg; Miller (1983) men 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg, women 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg. The BMI range is 18.5 × m² to 24.9 × m². Pounds = kg × 2.2046.
Sources
- Pai MP, Paloucek FP. The origin of the "ideal" body weight equations. Ann Pharmacother. 2000;34(9):1066-9. PMID 10981254. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- WHO — A healthy lifestyle: WHO recommendations (BMI bands for adults). www.who.int