See a healthy weight for your height using the four best-known ideal body weight formulas and the healthy BMI range, in kilograms or pounds.
The formulas
Each adds a fixed weight for every inch of height over 5 feet (152.4 cm):
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch |
|---|
| Hamwi (1964) | 106 lb + 6 lb per inch | 100 lb + 5 lb per inch |
|---|
The healthy BMI range gives a weight range instead: weight = BMI × height in metres².
Worked example
For a man 5 ft 10 in (177.8 cm) tall, 10 inches over 5 feet: Robinson 52 + 19 = 71.0 kg, Miller 56.2 + 14.1 = 70.3 kg, Devine 50 + 23 = 73.0 kg and Hamwi 106 + 60 = 166 lb = 75.3 kg. A healthy BMI of 18.5–24.9 at 1.778 m is 58.5–78.7 kg (129–174 lb).
For a woman 5 ft 5 in (165.1 cm): Robinson 57.5 kg, Miller 59.9 kg, Devine 57.0 kg and Hamwi 56.7 kg, with a healthy BMI range of 50.4–67.9 kg.
Already know your weight? Check it with the BMI calculator, and plan how to get there with the calorie calculator.
Sources, checked 2 October 2026: Pai MP, Paloucek FP, “The origin of the ‘ideal’ body weight equations”, Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2000;34(9):1066–1069; the PENG statement on ideal body weight; BMI ranges from the NHS and WHO. A guide for adults, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Which ideal weight formula is best?
None is clearly best. They were made for different purposes: Devine (1974) for working out drug doses, Robinson and Miller (1983) from life-insurance height and weight tables, and Hamwi (1964) as a quick rule of thumb that is still common in the USA. That's why they disagree by a few kilos. The healthy BMI range is a better guide for most adults.
Why are there two healthy BMI ranges?
The usual healthy range is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. The NHS says people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds have a higher risk of health problems at a lower BMI, and counts 23 and above as overweight for them, so the healthy range ends at 22.9.
Does this work for children or very muscular people?
No. Children and teenagers need age-specific BMI charts, and muscle weighs more than fat, so athletes can be above these weights and perfectly healthy. Waist size is another useful check.
Why don't I get formula results under 5 feet?
The four formulas start from a weight at exactly 5 feet (152.4 cm) and add weight for each inch above it; they weren't designed for shorter heights. The BMI range still works.