What is Ideal Weight Calculator?

The Ideal Weight Calculator estimates a healthy weight range for your height using five scientific formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi, and the modern Peterson). Compare results across formulas to find your ideal range.

All five formulas key off your height and gender. The four classics (Devine 1974, Robinson and Miller from the 1980s, and the older Hamwi rule-of-thumb) anchor at 60 inches (5 feet) and add a per-inch offset. Peterson (2016) is the newest and was fitted to NHANES population data, which is why it tends to read a touch lower. Showing them side by side reveals that 'ideal weight' is a range of about 3 to 5 kg, not a single number.

How to use

1. Step 1 — Enter your height in centimeters or feet/inches using the metric/imperial toggle.
2. Step 2 — Select your gender, as the formulas use different coefficients for male and female body composition.
3. Step 3 — View ideal weight ranges from all five formulas side by side, plus a combined recommended range.

When to use

• Cross-checking a clinician's drug-dose calculation that uses Devine ideal body weight.
• Sense-checking a target weight a fitness coach gives you against four medical sources.
• Quick reference when reading a paper that quotes IBW without saying which formula.

Result

A 5'10" (178 cm) male gets: Devine: 73.2 kg, Robinson: 71.1 kg, Miller: 70.4 kg, Hamwi: 75.2 kg. The combined recommended range is 70-75 kg (154-166 lbs).

FAQ

Which of the five formulas is most accurate?

None is definitively 'right'. Devine is the standard in clinical pharmacology because it's the formula drug dose calculators were built around. Miller and Robinson tend to give slightly higher numbers for taller frames. Peterson (2016) is the most recent and was validated against population data. The combined range from all five is more useful than any single value.

Why does the calculator only work for heights of 5 feet or more?

The original equations were derived for adults at or above 152 cm. Below that, the linear formula gives unrealistically low weights. For pediatric or short-stature IBW estimates, clinicians use different methods (e.g. weight-for-height percentile charts).

Does ideal body weight account for muscle mass or body fat?

No. Every formula here is height- and gender-based only. A muscular athlete will frequently exceed their IBW while being lean and healthy. For body-composition assessments use BMI alongside a body fat percentage measurement or a DEXA scan.

Why are the male and female numbers different at the same height?

Each formula uses different coefficients for typical male and female body composition (men carry more lean mass per cm of height, women carry more essential body fat). For example Devine adds 2.3 kg per inch over 60 for men but only 2.3 starting from a base of 45.5 kg for women, vs 50 kg for men.

Should I aim to hit my ideal weight exactly?

Treat the range as orientation, not a target. Many healthy adults sit a few kilos above or below IBW with no metabolic issues. If you're using this to set a goal, talk it through with a doctor or dietician who can factor in muscle mass, age, and history.

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