What is ideal body weight (IBW)?

Ideal body weight (IBW) is a height- and sex-based estimate from clinical formulas—originally for drug dosing and now used in sports weight classes and general screening. It is not body composition. Default on this page: 180 cm male → Devine 75 kg, Robinson 72.6 kg, average of four formulas ~74.1 kg, while healthy BMI band is wider at 59.9–81 kg.

How is ideal weight calculated?

Each formula: IBW (kg) = base weight at 5 ft + (inches over 5 ft × kg per inch). Example 5 ft 10 in male (10 in over 5 ft), Devine: 50 + (10 × 2.3) = 73 kg. Robinson: 52 + (10 × 1.9) = 71 kg. At 180 cm (10.9 in over 5 ft), Devine = 50 + (10.9 × 2.3) = 75.1 kg.

Which IBW formula is most accurate?

No formula is perfect for every person. Devine (1974) is most used in hospitals for dosing. For 180 cm male here: Devine 75 kg, Miller 71.5 kg, Robinson 72.6 kg, Hamwi 77.3 kg — span 71.5–77.3 kg. Compare the set and use healthy BMI range (59.9–81 kg) as a width check.

What is the difference between Robinson, Miller, Devine, and Hamwi?

Same structure, different coefficients. Male per-inch increment: Hamwi +2.7 kg (highest), Devine +2.3, Robinson +1.9, Miller +1.41 (lowest). Female bases: 45.5–53.1 kg at 5 ft. At 168 cm female: Devine 59.6 kg, average ~59.9 kg. At 178 cm male: Devine 73.2 kg vs healthy BMI 58.6–79.2 kg.

Ideal weight vs healthy weight — which should I use?

Single target weights from clinical formulas (often mid-60s–70s kg for average-height men). Narrower than BMI band. Weight range from BMI 18.5–25 — wider band acknowledging diverse builds. Example 180 cm male: IBW formulas ~71.5–77.3 kg (avg 74.1 kg); BMI band 59.9–81 kg. Use our healthy weight calculator for height-only BMI range; BMI calculator when you know current weight.

What is the healthy BMI weight range on this page?

WHO adult normal BMI is 18.5–25 kg/m². Weight = BMI × height(m)². At 180 cm: min = 18.5 × 1.8² = 59.9 kg (132.1 lb); max = 25 × 1.8² = 81 kg (178.6 lb). Mid-band ~70.5 kg.

How much should I weigh if I am 5 foot 10?

Depends on sex and method. Male 5 ft 10 in (178 cm): Devine ~73 kg (~161 lb), four-formula average ~72.3 kg, healthy BMI range ~58.5–79 kg (~129–174 lb). Female at same height runs lower bases—enter sex in the tool.

Does ideal weight account for muscle and body fat?

No. A lifter at 185 lb with 12% body fat may exceed IBW while healthy; formulas ignore lean mass. Body fat calculator and FFMI add composition context. IBW is a population equation, not a physique target.

Does age change ideal weight in this calculator?

These four formulas do not include age—only height and sex. Growth plates close by ~16–17; IBW is for adults. Older adults lose muscle; clinical care may focus on BMI, grip strength, and function rather than 1970s IBW targets.

What is body frame size and IBW?

Frame size (small/medium/large) uses wrist circumference vs height. Large frames naturally weigh more at the same height, but Robinson/Devine/Hamwi do not adjust for frame—reason BMI range is wider. Women under 5 ft 2 in: small wrist < 5.5 in; men over 5 ft 5 in: medium wrist 6.5–7.5 in (see table on page).

Should I strive to hit my ideal weight?

Use IBW as context, not a rule. If healthy BMI band is 59.9–81 kg and you feel well at 82.1 kg with good labs and training, that can be appropriate. Prioritize nutrition, sleep, strength, and medical advice over matching Devine 75 kg exactly.

How does ideal weight relate to BMI?

BMI uses actual weight; IBW predicts a target from height. At 180 cm, if you weigh 80 kg, BMI ≈ 24.7 (normal). Devine IBW 75 kg implies BMI ~23.1 at that weight—inside the band. Mismatch between high muscle and IBW is common in athletes.

theCalcs

Get Custom Solution

Loading calculators...

Fetching calculator categories and tools for this section.

Go to Calculators Browse Calculators

Loading the page...

Preparing tools and content for you. This usually takes a second.

Go Home Browse Calculators

theCalcs

Get Custom Solution

IBW · 4 formulas · BMI band

Ideal Weight Calculator — IBW by Height & Sex

Free ideal weight calculator (IBW): compare Robinson, Miller, Devine, and Hamwi ideal body weight formulas plus the WHO healthy BMI weight range (18.5–25). Answers “how much should I weigh?” with numbers—not one mythic perfect weight.

Last updated: May 25, 2026

Four clinical formulas + average IBW

Healthy BMI min–max for same height

kg and lb · US or metric height

Want a BMI range only? Healthy weight calculator

Ideal body weight (IBW)

Robinson, Miller, Devine, Hamwi + healthy BMI range

Units

Sex (used in formulas)

Height (cm)

Results

Average of 4 formulas

74.1 kg

Span 71.5–77.3 kg · 10.9 in over 5 ft

Formula	kg
Hamwi (1964)	77.3
Devine (1974)· common	75
Robinson (1983)	72.6
Miller (1983)	71.5
Healthy BMI 18.5–25	59.9–81

• At 180 cm (male), IBW formulas span 71.5–77.3 kg; average ~74.1 kg.
• Healthy BMI (18.5–25) range: 59.9–81 kg.
• Devine (common clinical): 75 kg — 10.866141732283467 in over 5 ft × per-inch coefficient + base.

Compare with healthy weight (BMI band) and BMI calculator if you know current weight.

Default result snapshot (180 cm · male)

Average IBW

Mean of 4 formulas

74.1 kg

163.4 lb

Devine (clinical)

Most cited for dosing

75 kg

165.3 lb

Healthy BMI band

Wider range

59.9–81 kg

132.1–178.6 lb

Quick examples (computed)

5 ft 6 in female

Avg IBW ~59.9 kg · BMI 52.2–70.6 kg

5 ft 10 in male

Avg IBW ~72.5 kg · BMI 58.6–79.2 kg

6 ft 0 in male

Avg IBW ~76.6 kg · BMI 62–83.7 kg

6 ft 2 in male

Avg IBW ~80.7 kg · BMI 65.4–88.4 kg

IBW formula coefficients

Formula	Male	Female	Note
Hamwi (1964)	48 + 2.7× in/ft over 5 ft	45.5 + 2.2× in/ft over 5 ft	Oldest; originally for drug dosing
Devine (1974)	50 + 2.3× in/ft over 5 ft	45.5 + 2.3× in/ft over 5 ft	Most widely used in hospitals
Robinson (1983)	52 + 1.9× in/ft over 5 ft	49 + 1.7× in/ft over 5 ft	Modification of Devine; often lower
Miller (1983)	56.2 + 1.41× in/ft over 5 ft	53.1 + 1.36× in/ft over 5 ft	Modification of Devine; moderate estimates

Ideal vs healthy weight

Ideal weight (this page)

Single target weights from clinical formulas (often mid-60s–70s kg for average-height men). Narrower than BMI band.

Healthy weight (BMI band)

Weight range from BMI 18.5–25 — wider band acknowledging diverse builds.

For many adults, Devine/Robinson land inside the healthy BMI range but not always — compare both tools.

Body frame size (wrist) reference

IBW formulas do not adjust for frame — use for context only.

Women

Under 5 ft 2 in
S < 5.5 in · M 5.5–5.75 in · L > 5.75 in
5 ft 2 in – 5 ft 5 in
S < 6 in · M 6–6.25 in · L > 6.25 in
Over 5 ft 5 in
S < 6.25 in · M 6.25–6.5 in · L > 6.5 in

Men

Over 5 ft 5 in
S 5.5–6.5 in · M 6.5–7.5 in · L > 7.5 in

How it works

IBW (kg) = base at 5 ft + (inches over 5 ft × kg per inch) · BMI weight = BMI × height(m)²

50 + (10.9 × 2.3) = 75.1 kg for default height.

Limitations

Formulas use height and sex only — not muscle mass, body fat, frame size, or activity
Age is collected for context but does not change these IBW equations (growth finished by ~16–17)
Athletes may weigh above IBW while healthy; BMI band may be wider than any single formula
Originally developed for medication dosing — not a mandatory goal weight
For height-only healthy range (BMI 18.5–25), use our healthy weight calculator

WHO — obesity and overweight (BMI context)

Worked example — 5 ft 10 in male

US height · four formulas

Matches common search “ideal weight 5 foot 10 male”

Height: 70 in total → 10 in over 5 ft
Robinson: 52 + (10 × 1.9) = 71 kg
Devine: 50 + (10 × 2.3) = 73 kg
Hamwi: 48 + (10 × 2.7) = 75 kg
Healthy BMI: 58.5–79 kg (129–174 lb)

Frequently Asked Questions

Share this IBW calculator

Share This Calculator

Help others discover this useful tool

Copy Link

Share on Social Media

X Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp

Share via Email

Suggested hashtags: #IdealWeight #IBW #Health #Fitness

Related Calculators

Healthy Weight Calculator

BMI 18.5–25 weight range from height only.

Use Calculator

BMI Calculator

BMI score and category with your current weight.

Use Calculator

Body Fat Calculator

Body fat % beyond weight formulas.

Use Calculator

Calorie Calculator

Daily calories to move toward or maintain a goal weight.

Use Calculator

Fat Loss Calorie Deficit

Deficit planning if above your healthy band.

Use Calculator

Lean Body Mass Calculator

Lean mass estimates for muscular builds.

Use Calculator

theCalcs

Get Custom Solution

Loading calculators...

Fetching calculator categories and tools for this section.

Go to Calculators Browse Calculators

theCalcs

Get Custom Solution

IBW · 4 formulas · BMI band

Ideal Weight Calculator — IBW by Height & Sex

Last updated: May 25, 2026

Four clinical formulas + average IBW

Healthy BMI min–max for same height

kg and lb · US or metric height

Want a BMI range only? Healthy weight calculator

Ideal body weight (IBW)

Robinson, Miller, Devine, Hamwi + healthy BMI range

Units

Sex (used in formulas)

Height (cm)

Results

Average of 4 formulas

74.1 kg

Span 71.5–77.3 kg · 10.9 in over 5 ft

Formula	kg
Hamwi (1964)	77.3
Devine (1974)· common	75
Robinson (1983)	72.6
Miller (1983)	71.5
Healthy BMI 18.5–25	59.9–81

• At 180 cm (male), IBW formulas span 71.5–77.3 kg; average ~74.1 kg.
• Healthy BMI (18.5–25) range: 59.9–81 kg.
• Devine (common clinical): 75 kg — 10.866141732283467 in over 5 ft × per-inch coefficient + base.

Compare with healthy weight (BMI band) and BMI calculator if you know current weight.

Default result snapshot (180 cm · male)

Average IBW

Mean of 4 formulas

74.1 kg

163.4 lb

Devine (clinical)

Most cited for dosing

75 kg

165.3 lb

Healthy BMI band

Wider range

59.9–81 kg

132.1–178.6 lb

Quick examples (computed)

5 ft 6 in female

Avg IBW ~59.9 kg · BMI 52.2–70.6 kg

5 ft 10 in male

Avg IBW ~72.5 kg · BMI 58.6–79.2 kg

6 ft 0 in male

Avg IBW ~76.6 kg · BMI 62–83.7 kg

6 ft 2 in male

Avg IBW ~80.7 kg · BMI 65.4–88.4 kg

IBW formula coefficients

Formula	Male	Female	Note
Hamwi (1964)	48 + 2.7× in/ft over 5 ft	45.5 + 2.2× in/ft over 5 ft	Oldest; originally for drug dosing
Devine (1974)	50 + 2.3× in/ft over 5 ft	45.5 + 2.3× in/ft over 5 ft	Most widely used in hospitals
Robinson (1983)	52 + 1.9× in/ft over 5 ft	49 + 1.7× in/ft over 5 ft	Modification of Devine; often lower
Miller (1983)	56.2 + 1.41× in/ft over 5 ft	53.1 + 1.36× in/ft over 5 ft	Modification of Devine; moderate estimates

Ideal vs healthy weight

Ideal weight (this page)

Single target weights from clinical formulas (often mid-60s–70s kg for average-height men). Narrower than BMI band.

Healthy weight (BMI band)

Weight range from BMI 18.5–25 — wider band acknowledging diverse builds.

For many adults, Devine/Robinson land inside the healthy BMI range but not always — compare both tools.

Body frame size (wrist) reference

IBW formulas do not adjust for frame — use for context only.

Women

Under 5 ft 2 in
S < 5.5 in · M 5.5–5.75 in · L > 5.75 in
5 ft 2 in – 5 ft 5 in
S < 6 in · M 6–6.25 in · L > 6.25 in
Over 5 ft 5 in
S < 6.25 in · M 6.25–6.5 in · L > 6.5 in

Men

Over 5 ft 5 in
S 5.5–6.5 in · M 6.5–7.5 in · L > 7.5 in

How it works

IBW (kg) = base at 5 ft + (inches over 5 ft × kg per inch) · BMI weight = BMI × height(m)²

50 + (10.9 × 2.3) = 75.1 kg for default height.

Limitations

Formulas use height and sex only — not muscle mass, body fat, frame size, or activity
Age is collected for context but does not change these IBW equations (growth finished by ~16–17)
Athletes may weigh above IBW while healthy; BMI band may be wider than any single formula
Originally developed for medication dosing — not a mandatory goal weight
For height-only healthy range (BMI 18.5–25), use our healthy weight calculator

WHO — obesity and overweight (BMI context)