Ideal Weight Calculator

What Is an Ideal Weight Calculator?

An ideal weight calculator estimates an ideal body weight using a person's height and sex. Several mathematical formulas have been developed for this purpose, with the Devine formula being one of the commonly referenced methods. The result is an estimate rather than a universal definition of the weight a person should have.

This calculator lets you compare four established ideal body weight formulas: Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi. You can enter height in centimetres or feet and inches and receive the calculated estimate in both kilograms and pounds. The tool can be useful for general education and understanding how different ideal body weight formulas work.

Why Use the Ideal Weight Calculator?

The calculator provides a straightforward way to calculate an estimated ideal body weight from height without requiring manual formula calculations.

How to Use the Ideal Weight Calculator

Enter your height and select a formula to calculate an estimated ideal body weight.

1. Select your sex — Choose male or female so the selected ideal body weight formula can use the appropriate reference values.
2. Choose a formula — Select Devine, Robinson, Miller or Hamwi.
3. Enter your height — Enter your height in centimetres or switch to feet and inches.
4. Calculate your result — Select Calculate Ideal Weight to see the estimated result in kilograms and pounds, together with the formula used.

Ideal Body Weight Formulas Explained

Ideal body weight formulas are mathematical methods that estimate a reference body weight primarily from height and sex. They are different from measures such as body mass index (BMI), which uses both body weight and height to classify weight relative to standard BMI categories. An ideal body weight estimate should therefore not be interpreted as a complete assessment of an individual's health.

The formulas included in this calculator use different coefficients and reference values, so they can produce different results for the same height. Comparing results can help demonstrate why there is no single universally applicable ideal body weight number.

Devine Ideal Body Weight Formula

The Devine formula uses a base weight at a height of 5 feet and adds 2.3 kg for every inch above 5 feet. The commonly used values are 50 kg for men and 45.5 kg for women as the base at 5 feet. For people below 5 feet, the same linear formula is extended mathematically by subtracting the corresponding amount for each inch below 5 feet.

Robinson, Miller and Hamwi Formulas

The Robinson formula uses a base of 52 kg for men and 49 kg for women at 5 feet, with an additional 1.9 kg or 1.7 kg respectively for each inch above that height. The Miller formula uses 56.2 kg for men and 53.1 kg for women, adding 1.41 kg or 1.36 kg per inch. The Hamwi formula uses 48.0 kg for men and 45.5 kg for women at 5 feet, adding 2.7 kg or 2.2 kg per inch.

Important Information About Ideal Weight Results

Ideal body weight formulas are simplified estimates and do not account for factors such as age, muscle mass, body composition, frame size, pregnancy, medical conditions or individual health circumstances. Two people with the same height can have very different healthy body weights because of differences in body composition and other characteristics.

The formulas are calculated using height relative to a 5-foot reference point. This calculator accepts heights from 50 cm to 300 cm to prevent obviously invalid entries. Results are rounded for display, while the underlying calculation uses the entered height. The calculator is intended for general informational and educational use and should not be used by itself to make medical, dietary or medication decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions