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Ideal Weight Calculator

Estimate your ideal body weight using the Devine formula.

Sex
Units

Result

Ideal Weight
68.4 kg (150.8 lb)
806040200Ideal Weight (kg): 68Ideal Weight (kg): 67Ideal Weight (kg): 67Ideal Weight (kg): 70DevineRobinsonMillerHamwi

About the Ideal Weight Calculator

The Devine formula has been used in clinical settings for decades - originally to calculate medication dosing - and has become a common reference point for 'ideal' body weight estimates based on height alone. Our Ideal Weight Calculator applies it directly.

How It Works

The calculator uses the Devine formula, which starts with a base weight for 5 feet of height and adds a fixed amount for each inch over that, with different base and increment values for men and women.

Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet

Formula & Methodology

Dr. B.J. Devine published this formula in 1974 specifically to help clinicians estimate lean body weight for calculating medication dosages, not as a general wellness target - it was designed for practical clinical utility, using a simple linear relationship (a base weight plus a fixed increment per inch over 5 feet) rather than any deeper physiological model of what 'ideal' means.

Step-by-Step: Calculating It By Hand

  1. 1Start with the base weight: 50 kg for men, 45.5 kg for women.
  2. 2Count the number of inches of height over 5 feet.
  3. 3Multiply that number of inches by 2.3 kg.
  4. 4Add the result to the base weight for the estimated ideal weight.

Examples

Average height

A 5'8" man has an estimated ideal weight around 73.4 kg (162 lb) under the Devine formula.

Comparing to a healthy range

This single-number estimate is narrower than the broader healthy BMI-based weight range - our Healthy Weight Range Calculator shows that fuller range instead of one specific number.

Advantages

  • Uses a well-established, widely referenced clinical formula
  • Simple calculation requiring only height and sex
  • Useful as a reference point, even though it's not a strict target
  • Consistent, reproducible result for tracking purposes

Common Mistakes

  • Treating 'ideal weight' as a precise target rather than a rough clinical reference point
  • Not accounting for body composition, frame size, or muscle mass, none of which factor into this formula
  • Comparing this single number against a healthy BMI range, which is inherently a range, not one number
  • Using this formula for children or for medication dosing purposes it wasn't intended for by a layperson

Edge Cases to Watch For

  • Heights under 5 feet produce a negative adjustment in the strict formula, which most implementations handle by capping the calculation or noting reduced reliability below that height.
  • The formula makes no adjustment for frame size, muscle mass, or body composition - two people at the same height get the identical estimate regardless of build.
  • Because it was designed for medication dosing, not general health guidance, 'ideal weight' by this formula shouldn't be treated as a personal fitness or aesthetic goal.
  • Newer formulas (Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) exist with slightly different coefficients and produce somewhat different results from the same height - Devine is simply the most widely referenced of several similar approaches.

Common Use Cases

  • Getting a reference point for a clinically-used ideal weight formula
  • General health and fitness benchmarking
  • Comparing against BMI-based healthy weight ranges
  • Understanding the origin of a commonly cited weight formula
Written & fact-checked by the Calculateus TeamLast updated August 5, 2026How we verify our formulas

Frequently asked questions

Is the Devine formula the only "ideal weight" formula?

No - Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi formulas also exist and give slightly different results. Devine is the most widely used, originally developed for medication dosing rather than as a fitness target.

Related calculators

BMI CalculatorCalculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) and see which weight category you fall into.BMI Prime CalculatorCalculate BMI Prime - the ratio of your BMI to the upper limit of normal BMI (25).Calorie CalculatorEstimate your daily calorie needs to maintain, lose or gain weight.BMR CalculatorCalculate your Basal Metabolic Rate - calories burned at complete rest.

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Conclusion

'Ideal weight' is a clinical reference concept, not a personal mandate - body composition, muscle mass, and frame size all matter more for real health assessment. Our Healthy Weight Range Calculator offers a broader, BMI-based range that may be more useful for general reference.

References