Which ideal weight formula is the most reliable?

None is perfect. Devine is the most used in healthcare (for drug dosing). The healthy BMI range is the WHO reference for the general population. That is why we show all of them and the average.

● Body composition

Your ideal weight for your height.

Four classic formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi) plus the WHO healthy range — on a visual ruler that shows where your current weight stands.

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Ideal Weight Calculator

4 formulas + the WHO healthy range, on a visual ruler

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Your data

Sex

Height

Current weight — optional, to compare on the ruler

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Your panel

0 kg

average ideal weight

Healthy range (BMI 18.5–24.9)—

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Devine standard in healthcare—

Robinson (1983)—

Miller (1983)—

Hamwi (1964)—

Healthy range (WHO)—

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How it's calculated

Each formula starts from 5 ft (1.52 m)

The ideal weight calculator estimates a healthy weight for your height using four formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi) and the WHO healthy BMI range. For a man who is 1.75 m tall, the ideal weight is around 68 to 72 kg, and the healthy range runs from 56.7 to 76.3 kg.

The classic formulas were built from a base height of 5 ft (1.52 m) and add a fixed amount for every inch (2.54 cm) above that. They differ in their constants and in the base weight by sex.

Devine (male) = 50 + 2.3 × inches above 5 ft

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Height above 5 ft, converted into inches
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2
Sex base weight + constant × inches (Devine)
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3
Healthy range by WHO: 18.5 × height² to 24.9 × height²
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4
Average of the four formulas (main reference)
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Understand the terms

Devine formula: Created in 1974 to calculate drug doses; it became the most common ideal weight reference.
Healthy range (WHO): The weight interval that corresponds to a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 for your height.
Why an interval?: Ideal weight is not an exact number. The formulas give a reference; the WHO interval shows the healthy margin.

See the full glossary →

Disclaimer: estimation tool for informational purposes, using WHO reference ranges (2024). The formulas do not account for muscle mass, age or bone structure, and apply to adults. Athletes and people who lift weights should also use body fat percentage and FFMI. It does not replace assessment by a doctor or dietitian.

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Frequently asked questions — Ideal weight

What is ideal weight?

It is an estimate of a healthy weight for your height and sex. There is no single value: that is why we use four formulas and the WHO healthy weight range, which give an interval.

What is the ideal weight formula?

The formulas use height above 5 ft (1.52 m). Example (Devine, male): 50 + 2.3 × (inches above 5 ft). Each author changes the constants. The healthy range comes from BMI: 18.5 to 24.9 × height².

Which formula is the most reliable?

None is perfect. Devine is the most used in healthcare. The healthy BMI range is the WHO reference for the general population. That is why we show all of them and the average.

Does ideal weight work for people who lift weights?

With caveats. The formulas do not account for muscle mass, so athletes can land above the "ideal" without excess fat. Use FFMI and body fat percentage as well.

Is ideal weight different for men and women?

Yes. All the formulas have different constants by sex, reflecting the average difference in lean mass and frame.

📚 Learn more — official sources

🏛️ Organization WHO — Obesity and overweight World Health Organization: official definitions of healthy weight ranges and BMI. See official source → 🏛️ Organization CDC — Assessing your weight U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: how to assess a healthy weight for adults. See official source → 📘 Guide NIH / NHLBI — BMI & healthy weight National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reference on weight ranges and BMI. See official source → 🔬 Study Devine (1974) Original article that established the ideal body weight formula still used in clinical practice. See on PubMed →

Ideal weight

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About the Ideal Weight Calculator

Ideal weight is a reference, not a rigid target. That is why we show four recognized formulas and the WHO healthy range side by side, with the visual ruler placing your current weight in context.

These are estimates for tracking and planning, free and with no sign-up. For weight, training or diet goals, it's worth talking to a dietitian or fitness professional.