🎯 Ideal Weight Calculator

Calculate your ideal body weight using four proven medical formulas — Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, and Miller. Compare results and find your healthy weight range.

🎯 Ideal Weight Calculator
Results
Average Ideal Weight (4 Formulas)

By Formula:

Hamwi
Devine
Robinson
Miller
Current Weight
Difference from Ideal

These are statistical estimates, not personal health targets. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

vs Your Weight
Formula Comparison
This result is for informational purposes only and is not a medical diagnosis. These are statistical estimates from four historical formulas, not personalized health targets — consult a healthcare professional for individualized guidance.
🎯

Enter your height and gender to calculate ideal weight

Guide

About the Ideal Weight Calculator

Last updated: July 2026 · Reviewed by the NeftCal editorial team

This ideal weight calculator — usable as a straightforward perfect weight calculator, too — estimates a healthy weight for your height using four established clinical formulas: Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, and Miller. Rather than relying on a single number, it shows all four results side by side plus their average, so you can see the natural spread between formulas built for different purposes. Free to use in both metric (cm/kg) and imperial (ft/lbs) units, it also adjusts for body frame size and includes an age-aware informational note, making it more personalized than a plain height-weight chart.

What It Measures

This calculator doesn't measure anything about your actual body composition — it calculates a statistical reference weight from your height, gender, and frame size, using formulas built from historical clinical and actuarial datasets. Each formula starts from a base weight at exactly 5 feet of height and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that, then the calculator shifts the result up or down by roughly 10% depending on the body frame size you select.

Who Should Use This Calculator

This ideal weight calculator is useful for anyone setting a broad weight goal, clinicians and pharmacists who want a quick reference figure for ideal body weight (the Devine formula in particular is still used in medication dosing), and anyone who wants a sanity check on where their current weight sits relative to long-used medical benchmarks. Results are shown in both ideal weight kg and ideal weight in lbs, so it works equally well as an imperial or metric ideal weight calculator. It's designed for adults; for anyone under 18, a pediatric growth chart is more appropriate.

Why It Matters

Ideal weight formulas give doctors and pharmacists a standardized reference point — the Devine formula in particular remains widely used for calculating medication dosages by ideal body weight rather than actual weight, since some drugs need to be dosed relative to lean body mass rather than total mass. For general use, comparing across all four formulas rather than trusting just one gives a more balanced picture, and pairing that with a healthy weight BMI range or a body fat percentage reading gives a fuller sense of where a reasonable target might sit.

Real-World Applications

  • Setting a broad, evidence-informed weight goal instead of guessing a target number
  • Getting a clinical-style reference figure before a doctor's visit or medication conversation
  • Cross-checking a single formula's estimate against three other established formulas
  • Adjusting a weight goal for body frame size rather than using a flat height-weight chart
  • Pairing with NeftCal's BMI Calculator and Body Fat Calculator for a fuller picture of healthy weight range and body composition

Tips for Accurate Results

  • Treat the output as a broad estimate, not a precise target — a person carrying more muscle can healthily sit 5–10 kg above the calculated average
  • Select your body frame size as accurately as you can, since it shifts every formula's result by roughly 10% in either direction
  • If you're of South Asian or East Asian descent, note these formulas were built on mostly Western population data and may run slightly high — cross-check against the BMI-based healthy range (18.5–23) for those populations
  • These formulas are designed for adults; for anyone under 18, use a pediatric growth chart instead, and always consult a healthcare professional before setting a firm weight target
  • Switch between metric and imperial units freely — the underlying math is identical, so your ideal weight in lbs and its kilogram equivalent will always agree
Formula

The Four Ideal Weight Formulas, Explained

Exactly how this ideal weight calculator converts your height into four reference weights

Step 1 — Inches over 5 feet
Inches Over 5 ft = max(0, Height in inches − 60)

Step 2 — Apply each formula (Men)
Hamwi = 48 kg + 2.7 kg × Inches Over 5 ft
Devine = 50 kg + 2.3 kg × Inches Over 5 ft
Robinson = 52 kg + 1.9 kg × Inches Over 5 ft
Miller = 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg × Inches Over 5 ft

Step 2 — Apply each formula (Women)
Hamwi = 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg × Inches Over 5 ft
Devine = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg × Inches Over 5 ft
Robinson = 49 kg + 1.7 kg × Inches Over 5 ft
Miller = 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg × Inches Over 5 ft

Step 3 — Frame size adjustment
Adjusted Result = Formula Result × (1 + Frame Adjustment), where Frame Adjustment is −0.10 for Small Frame, 0 for Medium Frame, and +0.10 for Large Frame

The calculator computes all four adjusted results, averages them for the headline "Average Ideal Weight" figure, and compares your current weight against that average. It also shows a ±10% band around each individual formula's result (displayed as its "range") as a broader visual reference — separate from, and applied on top of, the frame-size adjustment above.

⚕️

Hamwi Formula (1964)

Men: 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 ft. Women: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 ft. Originally developed as a quick clinical reference for medication dosing calculations.

🔬

Devine Formula (1974)

Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft. Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft. Popular in pharmacology and critical care medicine for drug dosing by ideal body weight.

📊

Robinson & Miller (1983)

Robinson (Men): 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 ft. Miller (Men): 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 ft. Derived from insurance actuarial height-weight data.

⚙️ Why This Formula Works

Each formula is a linear approximation: a fixed starting weight at 5 feet of height, plus a constant amount added per inch of additional height. This linear structure mirrors how average body weight scales with height across a population, and it was fit using historical clinical or actuarial height-weight records. Because the formulas are simple arithmetic, they've remained easy to compute by hand for decades, which is part of why they're still referenced today.

🎯 When to Use It

  • Getting a quick, standardized reference weight using only height, gender, and frame size
  • Cross-checking a single "ideal weight" figure against three other established formulas
  • Comparing your current weight to a statistical average, not a personalized target

📋 Assumptions

  • Applies to adults — these formulas are not designed for anyone under 18
  • Assumes a standard body frame unless you select small or large
  • Uses fixed multipliers derived from Western population data from the 1960s–1980s

⚠️ Limitations of the Formula

  • Doesn't account for muscle mass, body fat percentage, or actual body composition
  • The four formulas can disagree by several kilograms for the same height
  • Frame-size adjustment is a rough ±10% approximation, not a precise measurement
  • May run high for South Asian and East Asian populations, who show elevated metabolic risk at lower BMI and weight levels
Walkthrough

Step-by-Step: How to Use the Ideal Weight Calculator

From entering your height to comparing four formula results

Select your gender

Gender determines which set of base weights and per-inch multipliers each of the four formulas uses.

Choose your unit system and enter your height

Pick Metric (cm/kg) or Imperial (ft/lbs), then enter your height. This is the only measurement all four formulas require.

Enter your current weight

Type your current body weight so the calculator can show how far it sits above or below the four-formula average.

Optionally enter your age and select a body frame size

Age triggers an informational note for under-18 or 65+ users. Frame size shifts every formula's result by roughly 10% up or down.

Click "Calculate Ideal Weight" and review your results

See all four formula results with their ranges, the overall average, your current weight, the difference from that average, and two comparison charts.

Example

Worked Example

Using the calculator's own default scenario — a man, 170 cm tall, 75 kg, medium frame

Scenario

A man is 170 cm tall, weighs 75 kg, and has a medium body frame (no frame adjustment applied).

GenderMale
Height170 cm
Current Weight75 kg
Frame SizeMedium (no adjustment)
Step 1 — Convert height and find inches over 5 ft: 170 cm ÷ 2.54 ≈ 66.93 in. 66.93 − 60 = 6.93 inches over 5 ft.
Step 2 — Hamwi: 48 + (2.7 × 6.93) ≈ 48 + 18.71 = 66.7 kg.
Step 3 — Devine: 50 + (2.3 × 6.93) ≈ 50 + 15.94 = 65.9 kg.
Step 4 — Robinson and Miller: Robinson = 52 + (1.9 × 6.93) ≈ 52 + 13.17 = 65.2 kg. Miller = 56.2 + (1.41 × 6.93) ≈ 56.2 + 9.77 = 66.0 kg.
Step 5 — Average and compare: Average = (66.7 + 65.9 + 65.2 + 66.0) ÷ 4 ≈ 65.9 kg. Current weight (75 kg) minus average (65.9 kg) ≈ +9.1 kg above ideal, or about 13.7% above the four-formula average.
Average Ideal Weight
65.9 kg
Current Weight
75.0 kg
Difference
+9.1 kg above ideal

Explanation: All four formulas land within about 1.5 kg of each other (65.2 to 66.7 kg) for this height, which shows the kind of natural agreement you can expect between formulas built on different historical data. Because no age was entered in this example, no age-related informational note is shown. A 13.7% difference from the average falls in the "moderately above average" interpretation band described below — not extreme, but a reasonable prompt to look at body composition alongside the number.

Interpretation

Understanding Your Ideal Weight Result

How to read the "Difference from Ideal" figure against the four-formula average

Difference from Average Ideal WeightInterpretationGeneral Consideration
Within ±5%Very close to averageYour current weight closely matches the four-formula average for your height and frame
5–10% above or belowWithin typical rangeStill within the ±10% band these formulas treat as broadly expected
10–20% above averageModerately above averageWorth considering alongside body composition and other health markers, not weight alone
10–20% below averageModerately below averageWorth considering alongside body composition and other health markers, not weight alone
More than 20% above or belowNotably outside typical rangeA conversation with a healthcare professional is a reasonable next step

If your result falls within ±10% of average: this generally aligns with the range these formulas treat as typical for your height and frame — no specific action is implied by the number alone.

If your result falls more than 10% above or below average: the individual formula results and their ranges give you more context than the single average figure. Body composition, muscle mass, and overall health markers matter more than closing the gap to a formula's output.

This result is for informational purposes only and is not a medical diagnosis. These four formulas are statistical estimates from historical population data, not an individual diagnostic measure — they do not know your muscle mass, body fat percentage, or medical history.

ℹ️

This calculator provides educational estimates only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Results may vary depending on individual health conditions. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical concerns.

Use Cases

Practical Use Cases for the Ideal Weight Calculator

Where a four-formula reference weight is genuinely useful

🎯

Setting a broad weight goal

Use the four-formula average as an evidence-informed starting point instead of an arbitrary target number.

🔍

Cross-checking a single formula

See how Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, and Miller compare for your exact height instead of trusting just one number.

💊

Clinical and pharmacology reference

Understand how the Devine formula is used as an ideal-body-weight reference point in medication dosing contexts (informational only).

📈

Benchmarking current weight

Compare your current weight to a statistical benchmark and see the percentage difference from average.

🧑‍🏫

Health and fitness coaching baseline

Coaches can use the average and range as one data point among several when discussing goals with clients.

🦴

Frame-aware weight goal setting

Adjust a reference weight for small, medium, or large body frame instead of using a flat height-weight chart.

🌍

International, unit-flexible use

Switch freely between metric and imperial units — useful for international travelers, expats, or bilingual households.

🥗

Nutrition counseling preparation

Bring an objective reference figure into a conversation with a dietitian alongside other body composition data.

🧭

General wellness self-monitoring

Get a periodic sanity check on your weight relative to established medical reference formulas.

📚

Health education and coursework

Students and educators can use the worked formulas to illustrate how ideal body weight has historically been estimated.

🏁

Pre-diet baseline reference

Establish a reference figure before starting a weight-management plan, to revisit later alongside progress data.

🧮

Comparing formulas for research interest

See side-by-side how four historically significant formulas diverge for the same height and gender.

Sanity-checking an external target

Check a weight goal given by another source (app, chart, or provider) against four independent formulas.

Pros & Cons

Benefits and Limitations

What this ideal weight calculator does well, and where it can't replace professional advice

✅ Benefits

  • Free, instant, and requires no signup or personal information
  • Runs entirely in your browser — your data is never sent to a server
  • Uses four established, medically referenced formulas instead of relying on just one
  • Supports both metric (cm/kg) and imperial (ft/lbs) units
  • Adjusts every formula for small, medium, or large body frame
  • Shows an age-aware informational note for under-18 and 65+ users
  • Displays the full range around each formula, not just a single number
  • Visual pie and bar charts comparing your weight to each formula
  • Downloadable plain-text summary of your results
  • Fast-loading and mobile-friendly
  • Useful as a sanity check alongside BMI and body fat percentage results
  • Based on long-established, publicly documented medical formulas
  • Needs no special equipment — just height, weight, and an optional frame estimate
  • Clear "Difference from Ideal" figure shown in your own preferred units

⚠️ Limitations

  • Formulas were built primarily on Western population data from the 1960s–1980s
  • Doesn't account for muscle mass, body fat percentage, or actual body composition
  • Not a substitute for a BMI-based healthy weight range or a body fat percentage reading
  • Frame size adjustment is a rough ±10% approximation, not a precise measurement
  • Not designed for children or teenagers
  • The four formulas can disagree with each other, which can be confusing without context
  • Not a personal medication-dosing tool, despite the Devine formula's clinical origins
  • A single "ideal weight" number oversimplifies what a healthy weight range actually looks like
  • Doesn't factor in age-related body composition changes beyond a general informational note
Reference

Comparing the Four Ideal Weight Formulas

Base weight at 5 feet and the per-inch multiplier each formula adds above that

Formula (Year)Men — Base / Per InchWomen — Base / Per Inch
Hamwi (1964)48 kg + 2.7 kg/in45.5 kg + 2.2 kg/in
Devine (1974)50 kg + 2.3 kg/in45.5 kg + 2.3 kg/in
Robinson (1983)52 kg + 1.9 kg/in49 kg + 1.7 kg/in
Miller (1983)56.2 kg + 1.41 kg/in53.1 kg + 1.36 kg/in

Common Mistakes and Expert Tips

❌ Common Mistakes

  • Treating the average result as a strict target rather than a broad estimate
  • Forgetting to select the correct body frame size, which shifts every formula by about 10%
  • Comparing results across formulas without realizing they were built from different historical datasets
  • Ignoring muscle mass when a "difference from ideal" figure looks unexpectedly high
  • Switching between imperial and metric inputs inconsistently within the same session
  • Applying these adult formulas to someone under 18

💡 Expert Tips & Best Practices

  • Look at the spread across all four formulas, not just the average, to understand the natural range
  • Select your body frame size as accurately as possible for a more personalized estimate
  • Pair your result with a Body Fat Calculator or BMI Calculator reading for a fuller picture
  • Treat the output as a broad target zone, not an exact number to hit
  • Recalculate if your height measurement or frame-size assessment changes
📝

Summary: This free ideal weight calculator gives you an instant reference weight from four established medical formulas — Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, and Miller — in metric or imperial units, adjusted for body frame size, with an age-aware note. It's a useful sanity-check tool, not a medical diagnosis. Pair it with related tools like the BMI Calculator and Body Fat Calculator for a fuller picture of your healthy weight range and body composition.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ideal weight and the formulas used

Are these ideal weight formulas suitable for all ethnicities?
These formulas (Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, Miller) were developed primarily using Western population data from the 1960s–1980s. They may slightly overestimate ideal weight for South Asian and East Asian users, where lower BMI cutoffs and different body composition norms apply. For users from these backgrounds, consider using the BMI-based healthy range (18.5–23 for South/East Asian populations) alongside these formula estimates, and consult a healthcare professional for personalized targets.
Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?
No single formula is universally most accurate — they were developed for different clinical contexts. The Devine formula is most widely used in pharmacology. For general health purposes, using the average of all four formulas, as this calculator does, provides a reasonable estimate. Body composition matters more than matching any single formula's output exactly.
How does body frame size affect ideal weight?
People with a larger bone structure naturally weigh more at the same height. This calculator adjusts every formula's result by about 10% for a large frame and −10% for a small frame. Wrist circumference is a common way to estimate frame size: men with a wrist over 19 cm (7.5 in) and women with a wrist over 17.8 cm (7 in) are generally considered large-framed.
Should I aim for exactly my ideal weight?
Ideal weight formulas give estimates, not precise targets. Focus on body composition (fat vs. muscle ratio), health markers like blood pressure and blood sugar, energy levels, and physical fitness rather than matching a formula's output exactly. A person with more muscle mass may healthily exceed the calculated average by 5–10 kg.
What is the difference between ideal weight and healthy weight range?
Ideal weight is a single number from a formula. Healthy weight range, based on BMI 18.5–24.9, spans a wider band. For a 170 cm person, the healthy range is roughly 53–72 kg. This acknowledges that health can be maintained across a range of weights, not just at one specific value.
What is the Hamwi formula and how is it calculated?
The Hamwi formula, published in 1964, estimates ideal weight as a base weight for 5 feet of height plus a fixed amount per inch above that. This calculator uses 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 ft for men, and 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 ft for women. It was originally developed as a quick clinical reference for medication dosing.
What is the Devine formula and why is it used in medicine?
The Devine formula, introduced in 1974, calculates ideal weight as 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft for men, and 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft for women. It remains the most widely used formula in pharmacology and critical care today, because some medications need to be dosed relative to ideal or lean body weight rather than a patient's actual total weight.
What are the Robinson and Miller formulas?
Robinson (1983) and Miller (1983) are two later refinements developed from insurance actuarial height-weight data. Robinson uses 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 ft for men (49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch for women); Miller uses 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 ft for men (53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch for women). Both tend to produce slightly different estimates than Hamwi or Devine for the same height.
Why does this calculator show four different results instead of one?
Each formula was built from different historical data and for different clinical purposes, so they don't always agree. Showing all four side by side, along with their average, gives a more honest picture than presenting a single number as if it were exact — and lets you see the natural range of variation between accepted medical formulas for the same height.
Does this calculator work for people under 5 feet tall?
Yes. Each formula is a base weight for exactly 5 feet of height plus an addition per inch above that. If your height is at or below 5 feet, the "inches over 5 ft" term is floored at zero, so the calculator returns each formula's base weight rather than a negative adjustment.
How is body frame size determined if I don't know my wrist size?
Wrist circumference is the most common way to estimate frame size: measure around your wrist bone with a tape measure. Men with a wrist over 19 cm (7.5 in) and women with a wrist over 17.8 cm (7 in) are usually considered large-framed; a noticeably smaller wrist suggests a small frame. If you're unsure, selecting "Medium Frame" (the calculator's default) is a reasonable starting point.
Can I use this calculator in imperial units (feet, inches, pounds)?
Yes. Click the Imperial (ft/lbs) button to switch. The calculator converts your feet and inches to centimeters and your pounds to kilograms internally, applies the same four formulas, then converts the results back to pounds for display, so the underlying math is identical either way.
Does age affect the ideal weight formulas themselves?
No — none of the four formulas use age as an input; they calculate purely from height, gender, and frame size. However, entering your age lets the calculator show an informational note: a pediatric-growth-chart reminder for ages under 18, and a note that adults 65+ often maintain health at slightly higher weights than these formulas suggest.
What should I do if my current weight is far from the average ideal weight?
A large difference isn't automatically a problem — the "Difference from Ideal" figure is a comparison to a statistical average, not a personal medical assessment. Consider it alongside body composition, fitness level, and other health markers, and discuss any concerns with a healthcare professional rather than using this number alone to set a goal.
Are these formulas used by real doctors and pharmacists?
Yes, particularly the Devine formula, which is still commonly used in clinical pharmacology to calculate ideal body weight for dosing certain medications, since some drugs are dosed relative to lean body mass rather than total body weight. The other formulas (Hamwi, Robinson, Miller) are less common in modern clinical dosing but remain useful historical reference points for general weight estimation.
Is this ideal weight calculator free and private to use?
Yes. This ideal weight calculator is completely free, requires no signup or account creation, and runs entirely in your browser — your height, weight, age, and frame size are never transmitted to or stored on a server. You can use it as many times as you like across metric or imperial units.
About

About Ideal Weight Formulas

⚕️

Hamwi Formula (1964)

Men: 48kg + 2.7kg per inch over 5ft. Women: 45.5kg + 2.2kg per inch over 5ft. Originally developed for medication dosing calculations in clinical settings.

🔬

Devine Formula (1974)

Men: 50kg + 2.3kg per inch over 5ft. Women: 45.5kg + 2.3kg per inch over 5ft. Popular in pharmacology and critical care medicine for drug dosing by ideal body weight.

📊

Robinson & Miller (1983)

Robinson (Men): 52kg + 1.9kg per inch over 5ft. Miller (Men): 56.2kg + 1.41kg per inch over 5ft. These formulas use slightly different multipliers derived from insurance actuarial data.

Population note: All four formulas were developed using primarily Western population data from the 1960s–1980s. For South Asian and East Asian users, results may slightly overestimate ideal weight, as these populations show higher metabolic risk at lower BMI levels. Consider using the BMI-based healthy range (18.5–23 for South/East Asian populations) alongside these estimates.

Learn More

Authoritative Resources on Healthy Weight

Official guidance to complement this calculator — not a substitute for licensed medical advice

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