How to use
- Choose your sex and units, then enter your height.
- The range covered by four ideal body weight formulas is shown large, along with the weight at BMI 22 and the healthy BMI ranges.
- The table lists each formula’s result and its working.
This calculator provides general information only and is not medical advice.
The formulas
“Inches over 5 ft” means your height in inches minus 60 — 5 ft 10 in is 10.
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 ft | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
| BMI 22 | height (m)² × 22 | height (m)² × 22 |
| Broca, modified | (height in cm − 100) × 0.9 | same |
- Devine was created for drug dosing and remains the basis of “ideal body weight” in clinical use, such as dosing some medications and setting ventilator volumes.
- Hamwi was originally written in pounds: 106 lb + 6 lb per inch for men and 100 lb + 5 lb per inch for women. The metric version used here gives results within about a pound of that.
- BMI 22 comes from a Japanese study (Tokunaga et al., 1991) that found the lowest rate of illness around that BMI.
- Modified Broca is the “standard weight” commonly quoted in Korea.
- The healthy BMI range is 18.5–24.9 under WHO cut-offs and 18.5–22.9 under the Asia-Pacific cut-offs.
Examples
| Man, 5 ft 10 in | Woman, 5 ft 5 in | |
|---|---|---|
| Robinson | 71.0 kg (156.5 lb) | 57.5 kg (126.8 lb) |
| Miller | 70.3 kg (155.0 lb) | 59.9 kg (132.1 lb) |
| Devine | 73.0 kg (160.9 lb) | 57.0 kg (125.7 lb) |
| Hamwi | 75.0 kg (165.3 lb) | 56.5 kg (124.6 lb) |
| Healthy BMI range (WHO) | 128.9 – 173.5 lb | 111.2 – 149.6 lb |
Things to keep in mind
- The formulas disagree by several pounds, and that is expected. Read the result as a range, not a single target.
- They use only height and sex. Frame size, muscle and age all affect what is healthy for you, and muscular people can be well above these numbers and perfectly healthy.
- Robinson, Miller, Devine and Hamwi were designed for heights of 5 ft (152.4 cm) and above. Below that the calculator extends the same line, which is less reliable.
- These are for adults. Talk to a health professional before setting a weight goal.
FAQ
Which formula is the most accurate?
None is “correct” — they were fitted to different data for different purposes. Devine is the clinical standard; Robinson and Miller were later refinements. The healthy BMI range is the broadest and most widely used guide.
I’m above my ideal weight. Should I lose weight?
Not necessarily. If your BMI is in the healthy range and your waist size is normal, being above a formula’s number may not matter. Check your BMI with the BMI calculator and estimate body fat with the body fat calculator.
How many calories should I eat to reach my goal?
Use the calorie calculator to find maintenance and weight-loss targets.