Calculate Your Ideal Weight Range
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | – |
| Robinson (1983) | – |
| Miller (1983) | – |
| Hamwi (1964) | – |
The Formulas
Each formula starts with a base weight at 5 feet and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that:
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch |
| Robinson | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
| Hamwi | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
The healthy BMI range is the weight that gives a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 at your height.
These formulas ignore muscle, frame size and where you carry fat. A muscular person can be well above them and perfectly healthy. For a better read on health risk, check your waist-to-height ratio and read why BMI misleads athletes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my ideal weight?
There is no single ideal weight. Formulas like Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi give a rough reference point based only on height and sex, and they often disagree by 10 pounds or more. A healthy BMI range (18.5 to 24.9) gives a wider band, and your waist-to-height ratio tells you more about health risk than any single number on the scale.
Where do these formulas come from?
Most were created in the 1960s to 1980s to help estimate medication doses, not to set personal weight goals. They are still widely used as quick references, which is why we show them alongside the BMI range and waist-to-height ratio.
Why is my weight above the ideal range if I'm muscular?
Muscle is denser than fat, so muscular people often weigh more than height-based formulas expect. If your waist is under half your height, a higher weight is usually not a concern. Our guide on BMI for athletes explains this in detail.
Do these formulas work for short or tall people?
They are least reliable at the extremes. Most add a fixed amount per inch over 5 feet, so they can be unrealistic for people under 5 feet or well over 6 feet.
Weight Is Only Part of the Story
Waist-to-height ratio shows whether your weight is muscle or belly fat.
Check Your Waist-to-Height Ratio →📚 Sources
- Devine, B. J. (1974). Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intelligence & Clinical Pharmacy, 8, 650–655.
- Robinson, J. D., Lupkiewicz, S. M., Palenik, L., Lopez, L. M., & Ariet, M. (1983). Determination of ideal body weight for drug dosage calculations. American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 40(6), 1016–1019.
- Miller, D. R., Carlson, J. D., Lloyd, B. J., & Day, B. J. (1983). Determining ideal body weight. American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 40(10), 1622.
- Hamwi, G. J. (1964). Therapy: changing dietary concepts. In Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis and Treatment. American Diabetes Association.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult BMI categories.
CDC →