Ideal Weight Calculator
Determine your recommended weight based on standard height-based equations (Robinson, Miller, Devine, and Hamwi) and compare it with the healthy BMI guidelines.
Average Recommended Ideal Weight
70 kg
(Based on Robinson, Miller, Devine, and Hamwi equations)How to Use the Ideal Weight Calculator
- Select your gender (the baseline and multiplication factors vary for males and females).
- Choose your preferred unit: **Metric (cm/kg)** or **Imperial (ft-in/lbs)**.
- Adjust the height slider. You can read the corresponding size in both systems simultaneously on the label.
- Select your age (standard formulas apply for adults).
- The calculator instantly displays the average recommended ideal weight, a visual WHO healthy weight bar, and a side-by-side formula comparison table.
Ideal Body Weight Formulas Used
The calculator estimates your ideal weight (measured in kilograms) based on standard formulas, where excess represents the height in inches exceeding 5 feet (60 inches):
• Male: 50.0 + 2.3 x excess
• Female: 45.5 + 2.3 x excess
Robinson (1983):
• Male: 52.0 + 1.9 x excess
• Female: 49.0 + 1.7 x excess
• Male: 56.2 + 1.41 x excess
• Female: 53.1 + 1.36 x excess
Hamwi (1964):
• Male: 48.0 + 2.7 x excess
• Female: 45.5 + 2.2 x excess
Understanding Ideal Body Weight (IBW)
Ideal Body Weight was initially introduced by medical researchers in the mid-20th century to estimate the clearance rates of medications in patients (since fat tissue does not absorb certain drugs at the same rate as lean muscle). Over time, these formulas became popular in sports science, nutrition, and dietetics to help individuals establish healthy weight targets.
It is important to remember that these formulas only take height into account and do not evaluate bone structure, body composition (fat vs muscle ratio), or genetic factors. An athletic individual with high muscle density may naturally weigh more than their formula-derived ideal weight while remaining in excellent health. Therefore, these values should be viewed as reference guidelines alongside general wellness metrics like BMI and waist-to-hip ratios.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is ideal body weight calculated?
Ideal body weight is calculated using height-based medical formulas. The most popular formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) establish a baseline weight for a height of 5 feet, and then add a specific number of kilograms or pounds for every additional inch.
Why are there multiple ideal weight formulas?
Different researchers created formulas to fit different populations and use cases. For example, the Devine formula is widely used by doctors to determine clinical drug doses, while the Robinson and Miller formulas were developed later to adjust for body proportions and provide better accuracy.
What is the standard ideal weight formula for men and women?
The Devine formula is the most common: For men: 50.0 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. For women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. Other formulas use slightly different baselines and multiplication factors.
Does the ideal weight calculator apply to children or short individuals?
No. The standard medical formulas (Devine, Hamwi, etc.) are only designed for adults who are at least 5 feet (152.4 cm) tall. For children or shorter individuals, health professionals rely on WHO healthy BMI percentile ranges ($18.5$ to $25$) to determine healthy weight boundaries.