There's no single 'perfect' weight — but there is a healthy range for your height, frame, and goals. This calculator uses established formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) to give you a target range based on published data.
How ideal weight is calculated
The four classic formulas start with a baseline for a 152 cm (5 ft) person and add a fixed amount per inch above that. Devine (1974) is the most-cited in clinical medicine and used for medication dosing. All four agree within ~5 kg for most heights.
Ideal weight vs. goal weight
'Ideal' is a statistical starting point. Your actual goal weight should factor in your muscle mass, activity level, and how you feel and perform. A muscular lifter might weigh 10 kg above 'ideal' and be healthier than someone at the exact number with 30% body fat.
Frame size matters
Small-framed people sit at the low end of the range; large-framed people at the top. Wrist circumference is a rough proxy: men >19 cm = large frame, women >16 cm = large frame.
Worked example
A 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) man. Devine formula: 50 kg + 2.3 kg × (9 inches above 5 ft) = 50 + 20.7 = ~71 kg. Robinson gives ~68 kg. Healthy range for a medium-frame man of this height: 65–75 kg.
- 1Use the range, not the number. Bodies are diverse.
- 2If you lift, ignore the number — muscle mass changes what a healthy weight looks like.
Frequently asked questions
Q1.Which formula is 'right'?
None is perfect. Devine is most-cited clinically; average all four for a robust target.
Q2.I'm above my ideal weight but I lift heavy. Am I unhealthy?
Probably not. Check body fat %, blood work, and how you feel. Muscle mass changes everything.
Q3.Ideal weight for women vs. men?
Women's formulas subtract slightly less per inch. All four formulas above include gender adjustments.
Ideal weight formulas were derived from mid-20th-century populations and don't apply well to athletes, elderly people, or those with abnormal body composition. Use as a rough guide.