How to find your ideal weight
- Choose metric or US units and your Sex.
- Enter your height.
- Read the range the four formulas give, each formula on its own line, and the healthy weight range from BMI.
The formulas
Each formula starts from a weight at 5 feet (60 inches) and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that. Metric heights are converted to inches first.
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
For a man of 5 ft 10 in, 10 inches over 5 feet, Devine gives 50 + 23 = 73 kg (160.9 lb) and Hamwi gives 48 + 27 = 75 kg (165.3 lb).
Ideal weight or healthy weight?
The ideal weight formulas give one number for a height and sex. The healthy BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 gives a wider band, because people of the same height can be healthy at quite different weights. Someone with a large frame or a lot of muscle may sit above the formulas and still be fit, which is why the calculator shows both.