Ideal body weight calculator
See what three historical formulas give for your height, and why the CDC healthy-weight range is the more useful reference.
Historical formula results
Enter your age and height, then calculate.
How the formulas work
Each formula starts at 5 feet (60 inches) and adds a fixed number of kilograms for every extra inch.
| Formula | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 + 2.3 kg per inch over 60 | 45.5 + 2.3 kg per inch over 60 |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 + 1.9 kg per inch over 60 | 49 + 1.7 kg per inch over 60 |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 + 1.41 kg per inch over 60 | 53.1 + 1.36 kg per inch over 60 |
Worked example
An adult man is 175 cm tall, which is 68.9 inches, or 8.9 inches over 60. Devine: 50 + 2.3 × 8.9 = 70.5 kg. Robinson: 52 + 1.9 × 8.9 = 68.9 kg. Miller: 56.2 + 1.41 × 8.9 = 68.7 kg. The range is 68.7 to 70.5 kg. For the same height, the CDC healthy-weight BMI range is 56.7 kg up to (not including) 76.6 kg, a much wider band.
Limits: please read
- These formulas were created to scale drug doses in hospitals, not as health goals. We do not give medicine doses.
- They ignore muscle mass, frame size, age and ethnicity. Many healthy people sit well above or below them.
- Treat the CDC range and measures such as waist-to-height ratio as better guides. Do not use any of these numbers to set an aggressive weight-loss target.
Who this tool is for
This tool is for healthy adults aged 20 and older. It is not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it does not diagnose any condition, suggest medicine doses, set weight-loss targets or write personal meal plans. If you have a medical condition, or a result worries you, speak to a doctor or registered dietitian.
Your numbers stay in your browser. They are not sent anywhere, saved, or added to the page address. See our privacy policy.
Sources
- Devine BJ (1974). Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intelligence & Clinical Pharmacy 8:650–655
- Robinson JD et al. (1983). Determination of ideal body weight for drug dosage calculations. American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 40:1016–1019
- Miller DR et al. (1983). Determining ideal body weight. American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 40:1622–1623
- CDC: Adult BMI Calculator — healthy-weight BMI range of 18.5 up to 25
See the editorial methodology for how we check sources.