Ideal Body Weight

Calculate your ideal weight.

Q: Which ideal weight formula is the most accurate?

In modern clinical medicine, the Devine equation is the most widely adopted standard for estimating ideal body weight, particularly for calculating medication dosages. However, because these formulas do not account for muscle mass, they are general baselines rather than absolute ideals.

Online calculators use standard clinical equations to approximate your ideal body weight based on height and gender. Fill out the form below to see your limits.

Ideal Weight Calculator

Enter your details below. We support both metric and imperial units.

Estimated Total Daily Energy Expenditure

2,450 kcal/day

Based on your physical details, this represents your estimated maintenance calories—the amount of energy needed to maintain your current weight.

BMR: 1,600 kcal

BMI: 22.4 Normal

Macronutrient Splits

Customize your nutrition macros according to your current diet.

Target Intake Calories: 2,450 kcal

Customize Percentages Total: 100%

Carbs: 35%

Fats: 35%

Protein: 30%

Macronutrient	Ratio	Daily Weight	Energy Content
Carbohydrates	35%	214 g	858 kcal
Fats	35%	95 g	858 kcal
Protein	30%	184 g	735 kcal

Weight Management Goals

Adjusted calorie targets to help you lose weight or build muscle.

Goal	Daily Calories	Adjustment	Weekly Rate
Extreme Weight Loss	1,450 kcal	-1,000 kcal	~2.0 lbs (0.9 kg) loss
Weight Loss (Cutting)	1,950 kcal	-500 kcal	~1.0 lbs (0.45 kg) loss
Weight Maintenance Current	2,450 kcal	0 kcal	Stable weight
Weight Gain (Bulking)	2,950 kcal	+500 kcal	~1.0 lbs (0.45 kg) gain

TDEE Activity Comparison

Compare your daily calorie burn estimates across different levels of physical exertion.

Activity Level	Multiplier	Estimated TDEE
Sedentary (Desk Job / No exercise)	1.20	1,920 kcal
Lightly Active (Exercise 1–3 days/wk)	1.375	2,200 kcal
Moderately Active (Exercise 3–5 days/wk)	1.55	2,480 kcal
Very Active (Exercise 6–7 days/wk)	1.725	2,760 kcal
Extra Active (Intense work / Athlete)	1.90	3,040 kcal

Ideal Body Weight Estimates

Calculated using standardized medical equations for a height of 5'9".

Formula	Ideal Weight	Formula Definition
Devine Equation (1974)	155.4 lbs (70.5 kg)	50.0kg + 2.3kg/inch over 5ft
Robinson Equation (1983)	153.9 lbs (69.8 kg)	52.0kg + 1.9kg/inch over 5ft
Miller Equation (1983)	157.0 lbs (71.2 kg)	56.2kg + 1.41kg/inch over 5ft
Hamwi Equation (1964)	160.1 lbs (72.6 kg)	48.0kg + 2.7kg/inch over 5ft
Healthy BMI Range (18.5–24.9)	125 – 169 lbs (56.8 – 76.5 kg)	Standard WHO body index

Maximum Muscular Potential (Lean Limit)

Estimates the natural skeletal weight limit of your body at different body fat percentages using Martin Berkhan's models.

Body Fat Percentage	Max Body Weight	Lean Mass Portion
5% – 6% Body Fat (Contest Shredded)	165.3 lbs (75.0 kg)	157.1 lbs (71.3 kg)
10% Body Fat (Very Lean / Visible Abs)	174.5 lbs (79.2 kg)	157.1 lbs (71.3 kg)
15% Body Fat (Athletic / Moderately Lean)	184.8 lbs (83.8 kg)	157.1 lbs (71.3 kg)

* Note: Martin Berkhan's formula is designed for male natural athletes. Women typically support about 12-15% less lean muscle mass for the same frame size. Calculations are adjusted accordingly.

Understanding Ideal Weight Equations

Historically, ideal weight formulas were not designed as aesthetic metrics. Instead, researchers like Devine, Robinson, and Miller developed them to calculate accurate pharmaceutical dosages for clinical patients, preventing overdose errors. Today, they are popular markers in fitness communities to assess healthy baseline weight guidelines. Once you know your target weight range, you can determine your daily calorie maintenance goals using our TDEE Calculator. Your baseline resting metabolic rate also changes as your weight changes; you can estimate your resting calorie burn using our BMR Calculator.

For a deep dive into the history, mathematics, and clinical accuracy of these formulas, see our article: Ideal Weight Formulas: A Scientific and Historical Breakdown.

Devine Equation (1974)

The most popular formula used in clinical settings.

Men: 50.0 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet

Robinson Equation (1983)

An updated model that sets slightly lower weight baselines.

Men: 52.0 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet
Women: 49.0 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet

Miller Equation (1983)

Sets a slightly higher base weight but scales slowly.

Men: 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet
Women: 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet

Hamwi Equation (1964)

The oldest and most aggressive scaling equation.

Men: 48.0 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
Women: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet

What is a healthy weight range?

Because individual bone densities, skeletal frames, and muscle mass levels vary, there is no single "perfect" number. For general health, medical practitioners prefer the Healthy BMI Range (18.5 to 24.9). You can calculate your specific body mass ratio using our BMI Calculator. This provides a dynamic range of roughly 30–40 pounds rather than a rigid target weight, accommodating differing body compositions. Since standard ideal weight formulas do not distinguish between adipose tissue and active muscle mass, checking your body composition on our Body Fat Calculator is recommended to get a complete picture of your health.

Understanding the Limitations of Ideal Body Weight (IBW)

It is crucial to recognize that the term "ideal weight" is a mathematical simplification of human biology. While useful as a starting screening tool, these formulas fail to differentiate between fat mass and muscle mass. For instance, a bodybuilder with a low body fat percentage and a large amount of skeletal muscle would be classified as "overweight" or "obese" under standard ideal weight equations, despite being in peak physical condition. In contrast, an individual with a sedentary lifestyle might fall perfectly within their calculated ideal weight range but possess an unhealthy ratio of visceral body fat, a condition commonly referred to as "skinny fat." For this reason, these numbers should be evaluated in combination with active body fat tracking and waist-to-height screenings on our Waist-to-Height Ratio Calculator.

Why Choose MyHealthCalculate Over Competitors?

Unlike other online tools that overwhelm you with screen-blocking ads, popups, and slow load times, we provide a clean, free, and privacy-first Vercel-style health tracking suite. Here is how we compare to the top health calculators.

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Dark Mode Support	Full Native Support (Toggleable)	No (Light Mode Only)	No (Light Mode Only)	No (Light Mode Only)
Design Aesthetic	Premium Vercel-Style (Minimal)	Outdated 2000s Layout	Basic & Cluttered Layout	Standard News / Article Layout
Mobile Optimization	100% Touch-Friendly (Fluid Responsive)	Tiny fonts on Mobile viewport	Cluttered with ad overlays	Ad banners block content
Page Load Speed	Ultra-Fast Static (99+ Lighthouse)	Medium (Delayed by ad servers)	Medium (High script load)	Slow (Tracking script overhead)
JSON-LD Structured Schema	Fully Optimized Rich Snippet Schemas	Basic schemas only	Partial schemas	Informational Article schemas only

Frequently asked questions.

Answers to common queries regarding ideal weight formulas and clinical weight targets.

How is ideal body weight calculated?

Ideal body weight is estimated using clinically established mathematical formulas, including the Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi equations. These formulas establish a base weight for an individual who is 5 feet (60 inches) tall and add a specific weight multiplier for each additional inch of height.

Which ideal weight formula is the most accurate?

In modern clinical medicine, the Devine equation is the most widely adopted standard for estimating ideal body weight, particularly for calculating medication dosages. However, because these formulas do not account for muscle mass, they are general baselines rather than absolute ideals.

Why do different formulas show different weights?

Different researchers designed their equations using distinct clinical datasets. For instance, the Hamwi equation (1964) scales aggressively, whereas the Miller equation (1983) starts with a heavier base weight but increases more slowly per inch of height. Comparing all four models gives a healthy reference range.

Does the ideal weight calculator work for athletes?

No. These formulas are height-to-weight ratios that assume an average body fat and muscle distribution. Muscular athletes typically weigh more than their calculated ideal weight because skeletal muscle is highly dense, meaning they can be perfectly healthy at a higher weight.