Free tool

Ideal Weight Calculator

Calculate your clients' healthy weight range using multiple scientific formulas. Get a realistic range based on height and sex to set well-grounded weight goals.

What is ideal weight?

Ideal weight is the range of body weight associated with a lower risk of disease. This calculator uses four different scientific formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) to give you a realistic range rather than a single number.

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What is ideal weight?

Ideal weight refers to the range of body weight associated with a lower risk of chronic disease. Rather than a fixed number, it is best understood as a band — one that varies depending on the formula used, the population it was derived from, and the individual's own biology.

This calculator computes results from four validated formulas — Devine (1974), Robinson (1983), Miller (1983) and Hamwi (1964) — and presents them as a range rather than a single target. This gives coaches and clients a more honest picture of what a healthy weight looks like for a given height and sex.

The four ideal weight formulas explained

All four formulas share the same basic structure: a base weight at 5 feet (60 inches) plus an increment per inch of height above that baseline. The differences lie in those constants, which reflect the populations each formula was calibrated on.

FormulaYearNotes
Devine1974Originally for drug dosing, not nutrition. Most widely cited.
Robinson1983Modification of Devine. Better accounts for skeletal frame.
Miller1983Most conservative. Returns the highest values of the four.
Hamwi1964Oldest formula. Greater height penalty — lower values for tall people.

Ideal weight vs. body composition

The biggest limitation of any ideal weight formula is that it ignores body composition entirely. Weight alone tells you nothing about how much of that weight is muscle, fat, or bone. Two people can share the same height and weight while having dramatically different levels of fitness and health.

For general populations with no regular training history, these formulas provide a useful starting point for goal-setting conversations. For athletes or clients who lift weights consistently, body fat percentage, FFMI, or waist circumference are far more meaningful metrics.

Frequently asked questions