Male, 5'10" (178 cm)
Input: Height 5'10"; Sex Male
Output: Hamwi 75 kg; Devine 73 kg; Robinson 71 kg; Miller 70 kg; BMI range 58-79 kg
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Ideal Weight Calculator
Calculate ideal body weight using five established medical formulas (Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, Miller, BMI-based) for any height.
About Ideal Weight Calculator
The Ideal Weight Calculator computes suggested ideal body weight ranges using five of the most widely cited medical formulas: Hamwi (1964), Devine (1974), Robinson (1983), Miller (1983), and the BMI-based range (18.5-24.9 for a given height). Each formula was developed for different clinical contexts — Devine is widely used in pharmacology for drug dosing, Hamwi in nutritional assessments. Showing all five formulas together demonstrates that there is no single 'ideal' weight — results vary meaningfully between formulas, and the most realistic target lies within the combined range. The tool also shows BMI for any entered current weight so you can see where you stand against each formula's target.
Why use Ideal Weight Calculator
- Shows results from all five major ideal weight formulas side by side.
- Demonstrates the range of targets rather than a single misleading number.
- Includes the BMI-based healthy weight range for comparison.
- Supports metric and imperial height input.
- Educational tool that demystifies the wide range across published 'ideal weight' formulas — there is no single correct answer.
- Privacy-first: height, sex, and current weight inputs stay in your browser and are never logged or transmitted.
How to use Ideal Weight Calculator
- Enter your height in cm or feet/inches.
- Select your sex (formulas differ for male and female).
- Click Calculate — all five formula results appear simultaneously.
- Optionally enter your current weight to see BMI alongside ideal weight targets.
- Take note of the highest and lowest results across all five formulas — this range is more useful than any single value.
- Re-check your current weight against the BMI range every 4-6 weeks if you are actively pursuing a body composition goal.
When to use Ideal Weight Calculator
- Setting a personal goal weight range for a fitness or health program.
- Clinical reference for medication dosing calculations based on ideal body weight.
- Educational comparison of different medical weight estimation formulas.
- Getting a realistic healthy weight range beyond a single-point target.
- Curious about how different historical formulas would categorize your weight at your height.
- Discussing body composition goals with a coach or trainer who needs a starting target band.
Examples
Female, 5'5" (165 cm)
Input: Height 5'5"; Sex Female
Output: Hamwi 56 kg; Devine 57 kg; Robinson 57 kg; Miller 60 kg; BMI range 50-68 kg
Male, 6'2" (188 cm)
Input: Height 6'2"; Sex Male
Output: Hamwi 86 kg; Devine 82 kg; Robinson 80 kg; Miller 76 kg; BMI range 65-89 kg
Tips
- Compare all five formula results and aim for a healthy weight within the band rather than chasing a single specific number.
- Use the BMI-based range (BMI 18.5-24.9) as the most modern and inclusive target — older formulas like Hamwi were calibrated to mid-20th-century averages.
- Adjust the target upward by 5-10% if you have visibly higher-than-average muscle mass — these formulas underestimate ideal weight for athletes.
- Skip these formulas entirely for clinical applications like medication dosing — let your physician calculate from validated pharmacy references.
- Track your current weight against the band weekly; if you stay 5%+ above the upper limit for 6+ weeks, consider a structured fat-loss approach.
- Remember that ideal weight tells you nothing about body composition — two people at the same 'ideal' weight can have wildly different fat-to-muscle ratios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?▾
No formula is universally most accurate — each was developed for a specific context. The Devine formula is most used in pharmacology; Hamwi in nutrition. Comparing all five gives a more realistic range.
Is ideal weight the same as healthy weight?▾
Not exactly. Ideal weight formulas were originally designed for medical dosing, not fitness goals. A healthy weight is generally considered a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
Does body composition matter?▾
Yes. A muscular athlete may exceed 'ideal' weight ranges but still have low body fat. These formulas do not account for body composition. Use them as guidance, not absolute targets.
Do the formulas differ for men and women?▾
Yes. Most formulas use different base values and increments for men and women to account for average physiological differences.
How is BMI related to ideal weight?▾
A BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered normal. The BMI-based ideal weight range shown by this tool is simply the weight range that corresponds to this BMI interval for your height.
Are these formulas still used clinically?▾
Yes — Devine remains the most-used formula in pharmacology and ICU dosing calculations. Hamwi appears in nutrition and dietetics. Robinson and Miller are research refinements but less commonly applied. Modern clinical practice increasingly favors BMI ranges.
Why do my results vary so much between formulas?▾
Each formula was calibrated to a specific population at a specific time. Hamwi (1964) reflects mid-20th-century US insurance-table averages; Miller (1983) used different reference data. The 5-10 kg variance is normal and demonstrates that no single 'ideal' exists.
What if I'm muscular and weigh more than the highest formula result?▾
Ideal weight formulas assume average body composition. A 90 kg male at 6 ft with 12% body fat is not 'overweight' — he simply has more lean mass than the formulas account for. Use body fat percentage as a better reference for muscular individuals.
Explore the category
Glossary
- Hamwi formula (1964)
- Men: 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch above 5 ft. Women: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch above 5 ft. Created by G.J. Hamwi for diabetes management.
- Devine formula (1974)
- Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch above 5 ft. Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch above 5 ft. The pharmacology standard for IBW dosing.
- Robinson formula (1983)
- Men: 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch above 5 ft. Women: 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch above 5 ft. A modernized refinement of Devine.
- Miller formula (1983)
- Men: 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch above 5 ft. Women: 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch above 5 ft. Slightly higher target than other formulas.
- BMI (Body Mass Index)
- Weight (kg) / height² (m²). Normal range 18.5-24.9. The BMI-based ideal weight is the weight range corresponding to BMI 18.5-24.9 at your height.
- Ideal Body Weight (IBW)
- A reference weight historically used in clinical pharmacology to standardize medication dosing for tall, short, or obese patients.
- Adjusted Body Weight (ABW)
- IBW + 0.4 × (actual weight − IBW); used in dosing calculations for obese patients to avoid under- or overdosing.