Ideal Weight Calculator: Clinical Weight Formulas & Ranges
Calculate your ideal body weight using 4 clinical formulas: Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi. Compare medical benchmarks with healthy BMI ranges.
Your Measurements
Wrap thumb + middle finger around opposite wrist: overlapping = small, touching = medium, gap = large.
Based on your height, a healthy BMI corresponds to 53.5–72 kg.
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Check Your Body Composition
Ideal weight formulas don't account for muscle mass. Use our Body Fat Calculator for a more accurate assessment.
Understanding Clinical Ideal Weight Formulas
There is no single universally "correct" ideal body weight (IBW). Instead, clinical medicine relies on multiple validated estimation formulas, each developed from different population samples and methodologies. Our calculator presents four of the most widely cited IBW equations to give you a comprehensive range rather than a single misleading number.
The Four Formulas Explained
- Devine Formula (1974): Originally developed for pharmaceutical dosing calculations, this became the most commonly cited IBW formula in clinical settings. It tends to produce lower values for shorter individuals and higher values for taller people.
- Robinson Formula (1983): A refinement of Devine's work that adjusted the per-inch increment to be less aggressive, producing more moderate estimates especially for very tall adults.
- Miller Formula (1983): Uses the smallest per-inch increment, generally yielding the highest absolute values. Best suited for larger-framed individuals.
- Hamwi Formula (1964): The earliest of the four, originally designed for quick clinical estimation. Includes the frame size adjustment concept (±10% for small/large frames) that our calculator implements.
Why Ideal Weight ≠ Health
IBW formulas do not account for body composition. A muscular athlete at 200 lbs may be far healthier than a sedentary individual at their "ideal" 165 lbs. For a more accurate health assessment, combine your ideal weight range with our Body Fat Calculator and BMI Calculator.
Reviewed against peer-reviewed primary sources by the TDEEmacro Editorial Team · Last reviewed 2026-08-24
Formulas and clinical thresholds on this page are grounded in peer-reviewed primary literature and established physiological standards. Always consult a registered dietitian or physician before changing your dietary or exercise protocol.
- Mifflin-St Jeor resting energy expenditure equation Mifflin MD, et al. A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;51(2):241-247.
- Evidence-based sports nutrition and macronutrient distribution Morton RW, et al. A systematic review, meta-analysis of protein supplementation on resistance training. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(6):376-384.
Frequently Asked Questions (Ideal Weight Benchmarks, Formulas & Health)
Which ideal weight formula is considered the medical standard?
The Devine formula (developed in 1974) remains the most widely cited clinical standard in medicine and pharmacy for establishing ideal weight benchmarks.
What is the most accurate ideal body weight formula?
No single ideal body weight formula is definitively
How does frame size affect my ideal weight?
The Hamwi method recommends adjusting ideal weight by ±10% based on skeletal frame size. To determine your frame size: wrap your thumb and middle finger around the opposite wrist. If they overlap, you have a small frame; if they just touch, medium; if there is a gap, large. A large-framed individual may have an ideal weight 10% higher than a small-framed person of the same height.
Why does my ideal weight differ from my BMI healthy range?
Ideal weight formulas like Devine and Hamwi use linear height-based equations developed decades ago, while BMI uses a power-law relationship (weight/height²). They often produce slightly different ranges. Additionally, BMI does not account for muscle mass — a muscular athlete may exceed their
What is a healthy weight for my height and age?
Our calculator provides the clinical ideal weight range for your height and sex based on four validated medical formulas. For adults, ideal weight does not change significantly with age, though body composition shifts (more fat, less muscle) after age 40 due to sarcopenia. The healthy BMI range (18.5-24.9 kg/m²) for your height is also displayed for cross-reference.
Should I treat my calculated ideal weight as a hard target?
No. Ideal weight formulas produce a statistical estimate for a general population of the same height and sex, not a mandate for your specific body. Healthy ranges vary with muscle mass, frame size, and athletic goals. Treat the four-formula range as a screening benchmark, and pair it with our our interactive tool.