Ideal Weight Calculator
Estimate a healthy target weight for your height.
cm or in
Results update as you type.
This calculator provides estimates based on population research. Results are not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before making health or nutrition decisions.
How it works
Ideal body weight is a reference figure for roughly where a person's weight might sit given their height and sex. This ideal weight calculator reports the Devine value, a formula Dr. B. J. Devine introduced in 1974. He originally created it not for aesthetics but to standardise medication dosing, since many drugs are dosed by body size and using actual weight can over- or under-dose people at the extremes. The equation starts from a base weight at five feet of height and adds a fixed increment for each inch above that, which is why it remains embedded in clinical pharmacy and anaesthesia today. Alongside the Devine number, this ideal weight calculator shows a healthy-weight range built from the World Health Organization BMI band of 18.5 to 24.9 applied to your height, giving a span rather than a single point. Doctors, pharmacists and dietitians reach for an ideal weight calculator to set dosing weights, plan nutrition support and give patients a sensible target zone. Treat the output as a general reference, not a personal verdict: it says nothing about muscle mass, frame size or body composition, so a lean, muscular person can healthily sit above these figures. For most people the healthy BMI range is the more useful of the two outputs shown here.
Devine: 50 kg (male) / 45.5 kg (female) + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft
Devine's formula assumes a fixed base weight at five feet of height, then adds a set amount, 2.3 kg, for every inch taller. This linear step reflects the observation that, above a reference height, additional stature carries a fairly constant increment of lean tissue. The different base weights for men and women, 50 versus 45.5 kg, account for men's typically greater lean mass.
Source:Ideal Body Weight (Devine, 1974) — StatPearls
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter sex and height.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust units if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Ideal weight (Devine) updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one true ideal weight?
No. The very idea of a single perfect weight is a myth. Different formulas, Devine, Robinson, Hamwi and others, all return slightly different numbers, and a healthy weight is genuinely a range rather than a point. Your best weight depends on muscle mass, frame, age and health markers, none of which a height-based formula can see. Use these figures as a ballpark, not a goal to hit exactly.
What is the ideal weight for my height?
This tool answers that two ways: the Devine value gives a single reference point, and the healthy range shows every weight that keeps your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 for your height. The range is usually the more practical answer, because it accommodates different builds. Anywhere within that band is generally considered healthy, so there is no need to aim for one specific figure.
Does the ideal weight formula account for muscle?
No, and this is its main limitation. The Devine formula and the BMI range both work purely from height and sex, so they cannot tell muscle from fat. A very muscular or athletic person may weigh more than the formula suggests while being perfectly healthy. If you carry a lot of lean mass, a body-fat estimate gives a far more meaningful target than any weight formula.
Why is the ideal weight formula still used in medicine?
Because Devine designed it for drug dosing, not appearance. Many medications, particularly in anaesthesia and critical care, are dosed by body size, and using a standardised ideal weight avoids overdosing people with high body fat. Kidney function estimates and ventilator settings also lean on it. That clinical role, more than any fitness use, is why the 1974 formula endures in hospitals worldwide today.
Can I use this if I am very tall or very short?
You can, but read it with caution at the extremes. The Devine formula is linear, so it can drift for people well outside average height, and it was validated mainly on adults of typical stature. If you are notably tall or short, lean on the healthy BMI range instead, and consider frame size and body composition rather than treating any single number as a firm target.