Ideal Body Weight Calculator

Calculate your ideal body weight using four clinical formulas: Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi.

Height (cm)

Enter your height to calculate ideal body weight.

How to Use

Select units and sex

Choose metric or imperial and your biological sex.

Enter your height

Input height in cm or inches. This is the primary driver of ideal weight estimates.

Review four formula results

See Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi formula estimates side by side.

Use the average as reference

The averaged result provides a balanced target. Consult a doctor for clinical guidance.

What Is Ideal Body Weight?

Ideal Body Weight (IBW) formulas were originally developed for clinical pharmacology — drug dosing calculations require a weight estimate that reflects lean body mass rather than actual weight. The formulas are now widely used as health targets, though they represent average population data rather than universal optima.

Real-World Examples & Use Cases

Clinical Drug Dosing Reference

IBW is used in clinical settings to calculate medication doses for drugs that distribute into lean body mass rather than total body mass — including some antibiotics, chemotherapy agents, and anaesthetics. Pharmacists use the Devine formula (or adjusted body weight for obese patients) to calculate loading doses to avoid under- or over-dosing.

Weight Loss Goal Setting

People planning a weight loss journey use IBW to set a long-term target weight. Having a specific evidence-based number (e.g., 72 kg Devine ideal weight for a 175 cm male) is more concrete than a vague desire to 'lose weight.' Combined with TDEE calculation, the IBW target can be worked backwards to a timeline.

Fitness Benchmarking

Athletes in weight-class sports (boxing, wrestling, powerlifting, rowing) use IBW to plan their competition weight class. A rower targeting a specific boat category needs their competition weight to be within a certain range — IBW provides a reference for whether that target is physiologically sustainable or requires extreme measures.

BMI Contextualisation

IBW combined with height provides context for BMI interpretation. Someone whose actual weight is 15% above their IBW has a more specific, actionable understanding of their position than just knowing their BMI is 27. The gap between actual weight and IBW translates directly to a weight-loss goal in kilograms.

How It Works

All IBW formulas use height in inches. Devine (1974) — most widely used in clinical pharmacology: Male: IBW = 50 + 2.3 × (height_in - 60) Female: IBW = 45.5 + 2.3 × (height_in - 60) Robinson (1983) — adjusted from Devine: Male: IBW = 52 + 1.9 × (height_in - 60) Female: IBW = 49 + 1.7 × (height_in - 60) Miller (1983): Male: IBW = 56.2 + 1.41 × (height_in - 60) Female: IBW = 53.1 + 1.36 × (height_in - 60) Hamwi (1964) — oldest formula, still used: Male: IBW = 48 + 2.7 × (height_in - 60) Female: IBW = 45.5 + 2.2 × (height_in - 60) All results in kg. Height above 5 feet (60 inches) adds weight per inch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there one universally agreed ideal body weight formula?▼

No. The Devine formula is most commonly used in clinical pharmacology; Robinson and Miller are used in adjusted body weight calculations for obese patients; Hamwi is used in dietitian practice. None is universally superior — they were derived from different population datasets and designed for specific clinical applications. This calculator shows all four and their average for a balanced reference.

How is ideal body weight different from healthy BMI weight range?▼

IBW formulas produce a single target weight; the healthy BMI weight range (BMI 18.5–24.9) produces a range. For a 175 cm person, the healthy BMI range is approximately 56.7–76.3 kg — a 20 kg span. The Devine IBW is approximately 70 kg — a single point within that range, typically near the middle. IBW is more specific but no more scientifically valid than the BMI healthy range.

What if I am more muscular than average?▼

IBW formulas were derived from average body composition data and do not account for high muscle mass. An athlete with significant lean muscle may have an actual weight well above their calculated IBW while being leaner and healthier than average. In this case, IBW is not an appropriate weight target — body fat percentage is a better guide for muscular individuals.

Is ideal body weight the same as goal weight for weight loss?▼

Not necessarily. IBW represents a statistical population average for your height and sex, not an individualized health target. Some people naturally have healthy body compositions at weights above their calculated IBW. The IBW is a useful reference point, but a healthcare provider assessing your full metabolic health, bone density, and body composition can set a more appropriate personal goal weight.

Why do the four formulas give different results?▼

The formulas were derived from different population samples at different times using different methodologies. The Hamwi formula (1964) tends to give lower estimates; Miller slightly higher. For a 175 cm male, results range from approximately 68–72 kg across the four formulas — a span of about 4 kg that reflects the inherent imprecision of population-derived weight ideals.

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