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IDEAL WEIGHT / 4 FORMULAS

Ideal weight calculator

See the 'ideal' body weight for your height from the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas, next to the CDC healthy-weight range for your height.

Last verified: Methodology

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The formulas have separate equations for men and women.

Ideal weight (average of 4 formulas)

123

LB · WOMAN, 5 FT 4 IN

Average of the four formulas
123 lb
Range of the four formulas
120–129 lb
CDC healthy-weight range (BMI 18.5 to under 25)
108–146 lb
Devine (1974)
121 lb
Robinson (1983)
122 lb
Miller (1983)
129 lb
Hamwi (1964)
120 lb
  • These equations were built for drug dosing and from 20th-century insurance height-weight tables, not as health targets. They ignore age, frame and muscle. The CDC BMI range is the screening range health agencies use.
  • This is an estimate for general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or other qualified health professional about your own situation.

Ideal weight (average of 4 formulas): 123 LB · WOMAN, 5 FT 4 IN

Ideal body weight formulas at 5 ft 4 in

Each formula: a base weight at 5 ft plus a fixed amount for every inch above 5 ft. CDC healthy range shown for comparison (BMI 18.5 to under 25).

FormulaWomenResult
Devine (1974)45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft121 lb
Robinson (1983)48.67 kg + 1.65 kg per inch over 5 ft122 lb
Miller (1983)53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 ft129 lb
Hamwi (1964)100 lb + 5 lb per inch over 5 ft120 lb
CDC healthy BMI rangeBMI 18.5 to under 25 at your height108–146 lb

123

LB · WOMAN, 5 FT 4 IN

How it's calculated

"Ideal body weight" (IBW) formulas give a single weight for a height: a base weight at 5 feet, plus a fixed amount for each inch above 5 feet. The calculator shows the four best-known versions side by side, their average, and the CDC healthy-weight range for your height.

The formulas have a history in medicine rather than fitness. They grew out of old height-weight tables, and Devine's 1974 equations became popular because some drug doses were found to track IBW. Later researchers fitted similar equations to Metropolitan Life Insurance height-weight tables.Ann Pharmacother A review of their origins concluded that because the source tables broadly agreed, any one of the equations may be used.

This is an estimate for general information, not medical advice.

The formula

Height in inches, for heights of 5 ft (60 in) and over:Am J Clin Nutr

FormulaMenWomen
Devine (1974)50 kg + 2.3 kg × (in − 60)45.5 kg + 2.3 kg × (in − 60)
Robinson (1983)51.65 kg + 1.85 kg × (in − 60)48.67 kg + 1.65 kg × (in − 60)
Miller (1983)56.2 kg + 1.41 kg × (in − 60)53.1 kg + 1.36 kg × (in − 60)
Hamwi (1964)106 lb + 6 lb × (in − 60)100 lb + 5 lb × (in − 60)

Robinson's coefficients are the unrounded values from the 1983 paper's abstract.PubMed Some references round them to 52 + 1.9 kg and 49 + 1.7 kg.

CDC healthy-weight range = BMI 18.5 × height² up to BMI 25 × height².CDC

Worked example

For a woman 5 ft 4 in tall, the four formulas give 120–129 lb, averaging 123 lb. The CDC healthy-weight range at that height is much wider: 108–146 lb.

For a man 5 ft 10 in tall, Devine gives 161 lb and Hamwi 166 lb.

Man, 180 cmIDEAL WEIGHT / 4 FORMULAS

Ideal weight (average of 4 formulas): 74 KG · MAN, 180 CM

Assumptions and limitations

  • Not a health target on its own. These equations come from drug-dosing work and insurance tables and ignore age, body frame and muscle. Peterson and colleagues note that, unlike BMI, they fail to recognize that there is a range of healthy weights for each height.
  • 5 feet and taller. The equations start at 5 ft (60 in). Below that, the page shows only the CDC range.
  • Adults only. None of these formulas apply to children.
  • BMI has limits too. CDC notes BMI does not distinguish fat from muscle. See the BMI calculator for more.

For calorie needs at your current or goal weight, use the calorie calculator.

FAQ

Questions people ask

How is ideal body weight calculated?

Each ideal body weight formula starts with a base weight at 5 feet tall and adds a fixed amount for every inch above 5 feet, with separate numbers for men and women. The calculator shows the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas, their average and range, and the CDC healthy-weight range for your height.

What is the Devine formula?

Devine's 1974 formula gives 50 kilograms for men and 45.5 kilograms for women at 5 feet, plus 2.3 kilograms for each inch over 5 feet. It became widely used in medicine because some drug doses were found to track ideal body weight, and it remains the best-known of the four equations.

Why do the four formulas give different answers?

They were fitted to different height-weight tables at different times. Hamwi's 1964 rule of thumb, Devine's 1974 equation, and Robinson's and Miller's 1983 equations derived from Metropolitan Life Insurance tables all differ slightly. A review of their origins found the results are similar because the source tables broadly agreed.

Is ideal body weight the same as a healthy weight?

Not quite. The ideal weight formulas give one number for a height and were built largely for drug dosing. CDC's healthy-weight category is a range: any weight giving a BMI from 18.5 to less than 25. The calculator shows both so you can see how much wider the healthy range is.

Does the calculator work if I'm under 5 feet tall?

The four formulas are defined from 5 feet upward, because each one adds weight for every inch above 5 feet, so the calculator does not show them for shorter heights. The CDC healthy-weight range, based on BMI, still works at any adult height, so the calculator shows that range in pounds or kilograms instead.

Should I aim for my ideal body weight?

Not without context. The formulas ignore age, body frame and muscle, and BMI does not tell fat from muscle either. Use these numbers as rough reference points, and talk to a doctor or registered dietitian about a weight goal that suits your health.

Sources

  1. American Journal of Clinical NutritionPeterson CM et al. Universal equation for estimating ideal body weight and body weight at any BMI. Am J Clin Nutr 2016;103(5):1197-1203 (Table 3: Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) · retrieved 2026-10-16
  2. PubMed (NLM)Robinson JD et al. Determination of ideal body weight for drug dosage calculations. Am J Hosp Pharm 1983;40(6):1016-9 · retrieved 2026-10-16
  3. Annals of PharmacotherapyPai MP, Paloucek FP. The origin of the "ideal" body weight equations. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34(9):1066-9 · retrieved 2026-10-16
  4. CDCAdult BMI Categories · retrieved 2026-10-16
  5. IRSPublication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods · retrieved 2026-10-16
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  9. IRSPublication 505 (2026), Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax · retrieved 2026-10-16
  10. IRSForm 1040-ES (2026), Estimated Tax for Individuals · retrieved 2026-10-16
  11. IRSSchedule 1-A (Form 1040) 2026, Additional Deductions (early-release draft) · retrieved 2026-10-16
  12. IRSSchedule 8812 (Form 1040) 2026, Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents (early-release draft) · retrieved 2026-10-16
  13. IRSWorking Families Tax Cuts: Individuals and workers (tips, overtime, seniors, car loan interest) · retrieved 2026-10-16
  14. IRSWorking Families Tax Cuts provisions (charitable deduction for non-itemizers, Section 70424) · retrieved 2026-10-16
  15. IRSChild Tax Credit · retrieved 2026-10-16
  16. IRSIR-2025-111: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-16
  17. IRSRev. Proc. 2025-19: 2026 HSA limits · retrieved 2026-10-16

Last verified: CalcBloc Editorial Team