Ideal Weight Calculator
What’s a healthy weight for your height? See estimates from the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas and the healthy BMI range — several useful reference points side by side.
Example: with Height 5 ft → Ideal weight (Devine): 156 lb.
- Ideal weight (Robinson)152 lb
- Ideal weight (Miller)152 lb
- Ideal weight (Hamwi)159 lb
Computed by the calculator below using its default values. Change any input to see your own numbers.
Nutrition and fitness planning tools
Learn moreA range, not a single number
“Ideal weight” is really a healthy range, not a single figure. The Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas each give a classic point estimate from height and sex, while the healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) spans a band for your height. None of these formulas account for frame size (small/medium/large) or muscle mass — they were built from population averages, not your individual build. Athletes, very muscular people and those with a larger bone structure often sit above these numbers while perfectly healthy; smaller-framed people may sit comfortably below them.
How it’s calculated & sources
Devine formula (1974): 50 kg (male) or 45.5 kg (female) + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. Robinson formula (1983): 52 kg (male) or 49 kg (female) + 1.9 kg / 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet. Miller formula (1983): 56.2 kg (male) or 53.1 kg (female) + 1.41 kg / 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet. Hamwi formula (1964): 48.0 kg (male) or 45.5 kg (female) + 2.7 kg / 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet. The BMI range converts the 18.5–24.9 thresholds to pounds for your height. None of the four weight formulas adjust for frame size or muscle mass, so treat the spread between them as a reasonable range rather than any single number as definitive.
Benchmark: the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas and the WHO healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) — all are estimates that don’t capture body composition or frame size.
Results update as you type and are general estimates, not personalized financial, tax, medical or legal advice. Verify with a professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is BMI accurate for everyone?
No — it doesn’t distinguish muscle from fat, so it can mislabel athletes and may miss risk in others. Use it as one signal alongside waist size and body composition.
Which number should I aim for?
Treat the BMI range as a healthy target band and the Devine figure as a midpoint. Your best weight also depends on fitness, health markers and how you feel.
Why do Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi give different numbers?
Each formula was built from a different reference population and study era, so they don’t agree exactly. Devine is the most widely used in clinical dosing; Robinson and Miller came later and tend to run slightly lower or in between; Hamwi is an older dietetics rule of thumb. Treat the spread across all four as a reasonable range rather than picking one as “correct.”
Do these formulas account for body frame or muscle?
No — none of the four formulas or the BMI range adjust for frame size (small/medium/large) or muscle mass. A muscular or large-framed person can be healthy well above these estimates, and a small-framed person may sit comfortably below them.