Health
Ideal Weight Calculator
Find your healthy target weight.
What Is Ideal Body Weight?
Ideal body weight (IBW) is a weight range associated with good health outcomes for a given height. It was originally developed for medication dosing in clinical settings, but is now widely used as a general health reference. There's no single "perfect" weight — healthy ranges vary by age, muscle mass, and body frame.
IBW Formulas Compared
- Hamwi (1964): Men: 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5ft. Women: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5ft
- Devine (1974): Men: 50 + 2.3 kg/inch over 5ft. Women: 45.5 + 2.3 kg/inch over 5ft
- Robinson (1983): Men: 52 + 1.9 kg/inch over 5ft. Women: 49 + 1.7 kg/inch over 5ft
- Miller (1983): Men: 56.2 + 1.41 kg/inch over 5ft. Women: 53.1 + 1.36 kg/inch over 5ft
Frame Size Adjustment
People with larger bone frames naturally weigh more at the same height. A simple frame size test: wrap your thumb and middle finger around your wrist. If they overlap, you're small-framed; if they just touch, medium; if there's a gap, large-framed. Large-framed individuals can add 10% to IBW; small-framed can subtract 10%.
Is ideal body weight the same as a healthy BMI?
They're related but not identical. A healthy BMI (18.5–24.9) corresponds to a range of weights, while IBW formulas produce a single target weight. The IBW formulas were originally designed for drug dosing in hospitals, not as fitness targets. Both are useful reference points, but neither accounts for individual factors like muscle mass, age, or ethnicity.
Should I aim for my ideal body weight?
Not necessarily. IBW formulas provide a clinical reference, not a mandatory target. Someone who is 10 lbs over their IBW but has low body fat percentage and good metabolic markers is healthier than someone at IBW with high body fat. Focus on habits — diet quality, exercise consistency, sleep — rather than a specific number on the scale.