Ideal Weight Calculator
Enter your sex and height to see the healthy weight range suggested by three published formulas, side by side. This is a general estimate for informational purposes only — not medical advice. Results update as you type, and the link always reflects your numbers.
How this calculator works
Rather than pick one formula and present it as authoritative, this tool computes your estimate from three separate published methods so you can see the real spread between them — that transparency is the whole point of the tool. All three share the same basic shape: a base weight in kilograms, plus an addition for every inch of height over 5 feet. Devine (1974) gives Men 50 + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft, and Women 45.5 + 2.3 kg per inch. Robinson (1983) gives Men 52 + 1.9 kg per inch, and Women 49 + 1.7 kg per inch. Miller (1983) gives Men 56.2 + 1.41 kg per inch, and Women 53.1 + 1.36 kg per inch. For adults under 5 feet tall, the "inches over 5 ft" term floors at zero rather than going negative — these formulas were derived mainly from average-and-taller adult populations, and none of them was built to extrapolate reliably below that mark, so treat short-stature results with extra caution.
Worked example
A male who is 5 ft 10 in tall (70 inches total) is 10 inches over 5 feet. Devine gives 50 + 2.3 × 10 = 73.0 kg (160.9 lb). Robinson gives 52 + 1.9 × 10 = 71.0 kg (156.5 lb). Miller gives 56.2 + 1.41 × 10 = 70.3 kg (155.0 lb). The three formulas land within about 2.7 kg (6 lb) of each other for this height — a genuinely useful range to see, rather than one number presented as if it were exact.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this tool show three different numbers instead of one?
Devine, Robinson, and Miller are three independent formulas published by different researchers in different decades, each derived from different reference populations. None of them is more "correct" than the others — they're all population-level approximations. Showing one number as if it were definitive would be more misleading than showing the honest spread between three respected published methods.
Which of the three numbers is the right one for me?
None of them is individually "right" — that's the point of showing all three. These are population averages, not personalized targets. Your own healthy weight depends on factors none of these formulas can see, like frame size, muscle mass, and build. Use the range as a general reference point, not a target to hit exactly.
Were these formulas designed to work for everyone?
No. All three were derived primarily from adult population data collected in their era — Devine in 1974, Robinson and Miller in 1983 — and they're intended for adults of roughly average or above-average height. For heights under 5 feet, the height-based part of each formula stops contributing (it floors at zero), so results for shorter adults lean more heavily on the formulas' base constants and are less reliable as a result. This is a real, honestly-disclosed limitation, not a rounding error.
How is this different from a BMI calculator?
BMI looks at the ratio of weight to height squared, with no separate formula for sex. Devine, Robinson, and Miller instead estimate a weight directly from height and sex, using constants derived from clinical data. The two approaches can disagree, sometimes noticeably, because they're measuring different things — that's expected, not an error in either one. Try our bmi-calculator alongside this tool for a second, different lens on the same general question.
Is this medical advice?
No. This tool applies published, general-purpose formulas to the numbers you enter and reports the result instantly in your browser — it is a general estimate for informational purposes only, not medical advice. It cannot account for your individual health history, body composition, or medical conditions. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian for guidance specific to you.