Find your ideal body weight by height and sex using the Robinson, Miller, Devine, and Hamwi formulas, plus the healthy weight range from BMI.
| Formula | Ideal weight |
|---|---|
| Robinson (1983) | — |
| Miller (1983) | — |
| Devine (1974) | — |
| Hamwi (1964) | — |
Ideal body weight (IBW) is an estimate of a healthy weight based on your height and sex. It originated in medicine for dosing and clinical assessment, and several formulas exist because researchers refined the idea over the decades. None is a single "correct" answer — together they give a sensible target range rather than one exact number.
The Robinson, Miller, Devine, and Hamwi formulas each return a single ideal weight, and they cluster closely together. The healthy BMI range (a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 for your height) gives a wider, equally valid window. Because these methods only use height and sex, they don't account for muscle mass or frame size — a muscular person may sit healthily above their "ideal" number.
No single formula is definitively most accurate — they were each derived differently and produce similar results. The Devine formula is the most widely used in medicine. Looking at the range across all four, alongside the healthy BMI range, gives the most realistic target.
No. These formulas use only height and sex, so they can't tell muscle from fat or account for a larger frame. A muscular athlete may weigh more than their ideal figure and still be perfectly healthy. Pair the result with a body fat measurement for a fuller picture.
Not necessarily. Ideal weight is a reference range, not a prescription. A sensible goal weight depends on your starting point, body composition, and health markers. Use the range as a guide rather than a strict target.