Ideal body weight formulas
Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that. They were developed to dose medicines and estimate nutrition needs, not as weight goals, so they disagree with each other by several pounds.
Example: a man who is 5 ft 9 in is 9 inches over 5 feet. Devine gives 50 + 2.3 × 9 = 70.7 kg (155.9 lb), Robinson 69.1 kg, Miller 68.9 kg and Hamwi 72.3 kg. His healthy BMI range is 125–169 lb.
Which number should I use?
A range is more useful than a single number. The healthy BMI range covers a wide band because frame size, muscle and age all matter. A muscular person can be healthy above the formulas' figures, and older adults often do better at the higher end. For a fuller picture of body composition, estimate your body fat percentage, and check your current BMI with the BMI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal weight for a 5 ft 4 in woman?
The formulas give about 54.7 kg (120.5 lb) by Devine to 58.5 kg (129 lb) by Miller, and her healthy BMI range is 108–145 lb.
What is the ideal weight for a 6 ft man?
About 77.6 kg (171 lb) by Devine, with a healthy BMI range of 136–184 lb.
Why do the formulas give different answers?
They were fitted to different populations and purposes decades apart. None accounts for muscle or frame size, which is why the healthy BMI range is shown too.
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