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Ideal Weight Calculator

Find a healthy target weight for your height and gender. See the average of four well-known medical formulas, the healthy BMI range, and how your current weight compares.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Nothing you enter is stored
  • Updated 30 Sept 2026

Calculate your ideal weight

For adults aged 18 and above.

Gender
Age
Height
Height unit
Weight
Weight unit

Your result will appear here

Enter your details, then press Calculate ideal weight to see the healthy weight for your height.

What is an ideal weight?

There is no single perfect weight for everyone of the same height. People carry different amounts of muscle and bone, so a healthy weight is really a range. An ideal weight calculator gives you a sensible target inside that range.

The best-known ideal body weight formulas were first created by doctors to work out medicine doses, not as beauty or fitness goals. They are still useful as a quick, height-based reference point, especially when you read them alongside the healthy BMI range.

How is ideal weight calculated?

Each formula starts from a base weight for a height of 5 feet and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that. This calculator shows all four and uses their average as your ideal weight.

FormulaMenWomen
Robinson (1983)52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 ft49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 ft
Miller (1983)56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 ft53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 ft
Devine (1974)50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft
Hamwi (1964)48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 ft45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 ft

For example, a man who is 175 cm tall stands about 8.9 inches over 5 feet. The Devine formula gives 50 + 2.3 × 8.9, or about 70.5 kg, and the average of all four formulas is about 70.0 kg. The formulas were designed for adults 5 feet and taller, so treat results for shorter heights as a rough guide.

Ideal weight and the healthy weight range

The healthy weight range is the span of weights that keeps your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. It is wider than any single formula and is the range most doctors use. Being anywhere inside it is generally considered healthy for adults.

Indian guidelines suggest South Asian adults aim a little lower, with a BMI under 23, because risks such as diabetes start at lower weights. For someone 175 cm tall, that means staying under about 70 kg instead of 76 kg.

Healthy weight chart by height

HeightHealthy weight range (BMI 18.5 – 24.9)
150 cm (4 ft 11 in)41.6 – 56.0 kg
155 cm (5 ft 1 in)44.4 – 59.8 kg
160 cm (5 ft 3 in)47.4 – 63.7 kg
165 cm (5 ft 5 in)50.4 – 67.8 kg
170 cm (5 ft 7 in)53.5 – 72.0 kg
175 cm (5 ft 9 in)56.7 – 76.3 kg
180 cm (5 ft 11 in)59.9 – 80.7 kg
185 cm (6 ft 1 in)63.3 – 85.2 kg

The same ranges apply to men and women. Where you sit within the range depends on your build: people with a larger frame or more muscle are often healthiest towards the upper end.

What ideal weight formulas do not consider

  • Muscle: a fit, muscular person can weigh more than their formula result and still be very healthy.
  • Frame size: people with broader shoulders and heavier bones naturally weigh more.
  • Age: the formulas do not change with age, although body composition does.
  • Where fat is stored: fat around the waist is more harmful than weight carried elsewhere, so check your waist size too.
  • Pregnancy and medical conditions: the results do not apply during pregnancy or for people with conditions that affect weight.

Reaching and keeping a healthy weight

  • Set a target inside the healthy range rather than chasing one exact number.
  • Aim for slow change, around half a kilo a week, by eating a little less and moving a little more.
  • Build meals around vegetables, dal, whole grains and lean protein, and cut back on fried food and sugary drinks.
  • Add strength training twice a week to keep muscle while you lose fat.
  • Weigh yourself once a week at the same time of day instead of every day.

Healthy weight and your insurance

Insurers usually ask for your height and weight when you apply for health or term insurance. A weight well outside the healthy range can mean extra medical tests or a higher premium, so reaching a healthy weight can help when you buy or renew cover. Always declare your details accurately.

Frequently asked questions

1.What is the ideal weight for my height?

Enter your height and gender in the calculator to see the average of four ideal weight formulas and your healthy weight range. As a guide, the healthy range at 165 cm is about 50.4 kg to 67.8 kg, and at 175 cm it is about 56.7 kg to 76.3 kg.

2.Why do the formulas give different answers?

They were built at different times from different groups of people and for different purposes, such as medicine dosing. That is why the calculator shows all four and uses their average, alongside the wider healthy BMI range.

3.Is ideal weight different for men and women?

Yes. The formulas give women a lower base weight and a smaller increase per inch, because women on average carry less muscle and have a lighter frame. The healthy BMI range is the same for both.

4.Does age change my ideal weight?

The formulas do not use age. In practice, a slightly higher weight within the healthy range can be fine for older adults, as long as waist size and health markers such as blood sugar and blood pressure stay in check.

5.I am above my ideal weight but feel healthy. Should I worry?

Not necessarily. If you are muscular or have a large frame, a higher weight can be healthy. Check your waist size and get regular health check-ups; they say more about your health than the scale alone.

6.How quickly should I try to reach my ideal weight?

Aim for about half a kilo a week. Faster loss is harder to keep up and more likely to come with muscle loss. Talk to a doctor before a large change, especially if you have a health condition.

Guides to read next

Plain-English guides from the Policywings desk on the same topic as this calculator.