Ideal weight calculator

There is no single ideal weight: the most widely used clinical formulas give answers several kilos apart.

That is why all four are shown here, along with the BMI range, which is far broader and more realistic.

Every formula starts from a fixed base for a height of 152.4 cm (5 feet) and adds an amount per additional inch, different for each author and by sex.

Where these formulas come from

The Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas were not created to guide diets. Devine published hers in 1974 to adjust drug doses according to estimated lean body mass, and in that clinical use she remains valid. Applying them as an aesthetic target takes them out of their original context.

What no formula sees

All of them start from height and sex alone. They take no account of muscle mass, bone density, age or fat distribution. An athlete with substantial muscle comes out above their 'ideal' weight without that indicating any problem, and a sedentary person can sit inside the range with little lean mass.

Measurements that tell you more

Waist circumference and the waist-to-height ratio predict cardiovascular risk better than weight alone, because they distinguish where the fat is. Keeping your waist below half your height is a simple and fairly robust rule.

This does not replace a professional

A weight range is a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis. Any decision about food, exercise or weight loss is best taken with a doctor or a registered dietitian, particularly if there are existing conditions.