Vertoq
Ideal Weight Calculator
Enter your height and sex to see estimated ideal weight from three different formulas.
There's no single ideal weight
"Ideal weight" formulas were originally developed for clinical use, like estimating drug dosages, not as personal targets. Three different formulas are shown below side by side on purpose: seeing the spread between them is more honest than picking one and presenting it as a definitive answer.
The three formulas
All three estimate ideal body weight from height (converted to inches) and sex, for heights above 60 inches (152.4 cm):
Devine (1974)
Men: IBW = 50 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Women: IBW = 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Robinson (1983)
Men: IBW = 52 + 1.9 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Women: IBW = 49 + 1.7 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Hamwi (1964)
Men: IBW = 48.0 + 2.7 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Women: IBW = 45.5 + 2.2 × (height in inches − 60) kg
Not personal medical guidance
These numbers are population-level estimates, not a personalized target. Actual healthy weight depends on frame size, muscle mass, and individual factors none of these formulas can see. Two people at the same height can both be healthy at noticeably different weights.
Limitations
These formulas predate modern body composition science and were designed for average adult body types. They weren't built with athletes, very tall or short people, or unusual builds in mind. They use only height and sex, so two people with very different amounts of muscle and fat get the same number. Treat the result as a rough reference point, not a target to hit.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the three formulas give different numbers?
They were developed independently, using different reference populations and decades. None is more 'correct' than the others. The range between them is the honest answer, not any single number.
Which formula should I use?
There's no clear winner. Devine is the most widely cited in clinical contexts, but all three are population averages, not personalized targets. Treat the spread as your answer rather than picking one.
Does this account for muscle mass or body frame?
No, these formulas only use height and sex. Someone muscular or with a larger frame will reasonably weigh more than these numbers suggest without being overweight. That's exactly why they're not personalized medical guidance.