Compare four historical height-based equations and the adult BMI reference range. The tool is limited to adults 20 and older, at least 152.4 cm tall. It does not determine a perfect weight, assess pregnancy, or calculate medication doses.
Ideal Weight Calculator
Compare historical height-based formulas and an adult BMI reference range. None establishes a perfect weight or personal treatment goal.
Enter Your Details
Choose your unit system, add your height, age, gender and current weight. The calculator will show formula-based results and a healthy BMI range.
Formula Comparison Chart
This chart compares your ideal weight results from Robinson, Miller, Devine and Hamwi formulas.
Interpretation
- Add your details and calculate to get personalized weight guidance.
- Use the average formula result as an estimate, not a fixed medical target.
- BMI is useful for screening, but it does not measure body fat directly.
Ideal Weight Results Table
Side-by-side formula results, healthy BMI range, and the average estimate for your selected height and gender.
| Formula | Ideal Weight | Best Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculate to view results. | |||
Height Weight Reference Chart
A quick reference chart based on healthy BMI range. Your exact ideal weight may change based on gender, body composition and health context.
| Height | Healthy Weight Range | Approx Ideal Midpoint |
|---|
What the formulas actually calculate
Let x be height in inches above 60 inches (5 feet). The equations implemented here return kilograms:
| Formula | Male equation | Female equation |
|---|---|---|
| Devine | 50 + 2.3x | 45.5 + 2.3x |
| Robinson | 52 + 1.9x | 49 + 1.7x |
| Miller | 56.2 + 1.41x | 53.1 + 1.36x |
| Hamwi approximation used here | 48 + 2.7x | 45.5 + 2.2x |
The mean of these equations is just their arithmetic average. The sex categories reflect the equations, not a complete representation of an individual’s body. Numerical frame adjustments and prescribed weight changes are withheld because these formulas do not establish individual targets.
Worked example
At 177.8 cm, height is 70 inches, so x = 10. The male equations give 73.0, 71.0, 70.3 and 75.0 kg respectively, averaging 72.325 kg (72.3 displayed). Agreement or disagreement between formulas does not diagnose health.
BMI reference range
The displayed lower and upper weights are 18.5 × height in meters squared and 24.9 × height in meters squared. The CDC adult BMI guidance applies adult categories from age 20 and treats BMI as one screening measure alongside other health information. This site does not establish that the midpoint is optimal for longevity or that an ethnic background requires an automatic upward or downward correction.
When to use another assessment
For children and teenagers, use an age-specific assessment through a health professional. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, illness, edema, unusually high muscle mass and medication dosing require context these equations cannot supply. Choosing an excluded context clears the adult result. The NIDDK Body Weight Planner information explains the scope of its separate adult planning tool; it is not evidence that these historical formula averages are treatment targets.
Common questions
Does age change the four equations?
No. Age is used here to enforce the adult scope. It does not appear in these height-based equations.
Why do I get no result below 5 feet?
This comparison does not extrapolate the equations below their 5-foot baseline. No arbitrary minimum weight is substituted for an unsupported result.
Should I aim for the average?
No. Use this as a comparison of equations. A suitable weight goal depends on individual health and should not be chosen from this average alone.
Related: Adult BMI calculator · Body frame and weight estimates