Ideal Weight Calculator

1. 01Enter your heightHeight in centimeters, between 130 and 230 cm — the plausible adult range these formulas were derived for.
2. 02Choose the male or female formula variantEach formula defines separate constants for male and female, based on how the original studies were conducted.
3. 03Compare all four estimatesRead them as a range of historical reference points, not as four attempts to find one hidden correct answer.

• Understanding where a clinical "ideal body weight" figure comes fromThese formulas appear in some clinical contexts (like drug-dosing calculations) — this tool shows what they actually are and where each one came from.
• Comparing formulas instead of trusting a single numberSeeing all four side by side makes clear how much they can disagree, which is useful context before treating any single "ideal weight" figure as meaningful.
• Getting a general reference point, not a targetUse the range these formulas produce as one general reference among many factors, not as a weight-loss or weight-gain goal.

• A 177.8 cm (5'10") maleDevine: 73 kg. Robinson: 71 kg. Miller: 70.3 kg. Hamwi: about 75.3 kg. A spread of roughly 5 kg between formulas, for the exact same height.
• A 165.1 cm (5'5") femaleDevine: 57 kg. Robinson: 57.5 kg. Miller: 59.9 kg. Hamwi: about 56.7 kg — again, a real spread rather than one agreed-upon number.
• Why the spread mattersIf these formulas measured one true "ideal weight," they would agree. The fact that four respected clinical formulas produce different answers for the same person shows they are estimates from different reference populations, not a single objective truth.

Devine (1974) was created specifically to estimate a weight for medication-dosing calculations in clinical pharmacology, not as a personal target. Robinson (1983) and Miller (1983) are both later revisions of the same general approach, each using a different reference population, which is part of why their results differ from Devine's and from each other. Hamwi (1964) is an older, simpler clinical rule of thumb, originally expressed in pounds rather than kilograms.

None of these formulas account for muscle mass, bone density, body-fat distribution, frame size, age, or overall health — factors that meaningfully affect what a healthy weight looks like for a given individual. Presenting any one of them as "your ideal weight" would overstate what a simple height-based formula from the 1960s-1980s can actually tell you about a specific person today. Showing all four, named and dated, is the honest way to present this kind of estimate.

This tool only accepts heights between 130 and 230 cm, the plausible adult range these formulas were derived from. Extrapolating a linear formula built for adult heights to a much shorter or taller input (or to a child's height) would produce a number with no real basis, so this tool does not attempt it.

Which formula is the most accurate?

None of them is "the accurate one" — they are four different historical estimates built from different reference populations and for different original purposes (Devine, for example, was built for medication dosing). Their disagreement with each other is expected, not a bug.

Should I try to reach the number these formulas show?

No. These are reference estimates from decades-old formulas, not personalized health targets. A healthcare provider can account for your actual body composition, health history, and goals in a way a height-only formula cannot.

Why do the formulas need a separate male/female version?

Each formula was originally derived with separate constants for male and female study participants, based on the reference population data used at the time — this tool preserves that distinction rather than inventing a merged formula that does not match any published source.

Why is there a minimum and maximum height?

These formulas are linear equations derived from adult population data in a typical adult height range. Applying them far outside that range (to children, for example) would produce a number with no genuine basis, so this tool restricts input to the plausible adult range.

Is my data saved?

No. Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.