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Ideal Body Weight Calculator

Find your ideal weight using multiple formulas

Gender
Age
yrs
Height 170 cm

What is Ideal Body Weight?

Ideal body weight (IBW) is an estimated weight range considered healthy for a given height and gender. Several different formulas exist โ€” Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi โ€” and they give slightly different results because they were developed from different study populations. No single formula is universally correct.

It is worth being upfront: "ideal" weight is a bit of a loaded term. These formulas tell you a target range but they don't account for body composition, bone density, muscle mass or individual variation. A muscular person may weigh more than the "ideal" range and still be perfectly healthy. These numbers are guides, not rigid targets.

Devine (Men): 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
Devine (Women): 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
Robinson (Men): 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet

Which Formula Should You Use?

The Devine formula is the oldest and most widely used in medical settings, originally developed for drug dosing. The Robinson formula is considered more accurate for general use. The Miller formula tends to give slightly higher values and may be more appropriate for people with larger frames. The Hamwi formula is used by dietitians and gives a practical middle-ground estimate.

Rather than picking one formula, looking at the range across all formulas gives you a reasonable healthy weight window to aim for. Our calculator shows all four side by side so you can see the full picture.

Ideal Weight for Indians

Most IBW formulas were developed in Western countries and may slightly overestimate ideal weight for Indians. Given that Indians tend to have higher body fat percentage at lower weights, some researchers suggest that the lower end of the calculated IBW range is more appropriate as a target for Indian adults. This is especially relevant for metabolic health outcomes like diabetes and heart disease risk.

Is ideal body weight the same as healthy weight?
They are related but not identical. IBW formulas give a single target number based on height and gender. Healthy weight is better represented as a range โ€” typically the BMI 18.5-24.9 range. For Indians, the BMI 18.5-23 range is considered more appropriate. Body composition matters more than the number on the scale.
What if I am far from my ideal weight?
Don't panic. Use it as a long-term goal rather than a short-term fixation. Even a 5-10% reduction in body weight for overweight individuals significantly improves blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Small, consistent changes compound over time โ€” you don't need to hit an "ideal" number to see meaningful health benefits.
Do IBW formulas work for bodybuilders and athletes?
Not really. IBW formulas assume an average body composition. Athletes with high muscle mass will almost always exceed IBW calculations and that is completely normal and healthy. For muscular individuals, body fat percentage is a far more meaningful metric than ideal weight formulas.