What is the ideal weight for your height? There is no single magic number, but there are well-tested formulas and a healthy range that doctors use. This guide explains the four best-known ideal body weight formulas – Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi – with worked examples for men and women, gives an ideal weight chart in cm and feet, and shows how to use a healthy BMI range to set a realistic target.
What Does "Ideal Weight" Mean?
Ideal body weight (IBW) is an estimate of a healthy weight for a person's height and sex. The formulas were originally created for medical use – for example to calculate medicine doses and ventilator settings – and later became popular as weight goals. They are useful guides, but they do not account for muscle mass, body frame or age, so your personal healthy weight range is usually more useful than a single number.
Ideal Body Weight Formulas
All four formulas start from a base weight at 5 feet (152.4 cm) and add a fixed amount for every inch above 5 feet:
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
The Devine formula is the one most often used in hospitals.
Worked Example: Ideal Weight for 5 Feet 7 Inches
A height of 5 feet 7 inches (about 170 cm) is 7 inches over 5 feet.
| Formula | Man | Woman |
|---|---|---|
| Devine | 50 + 2.3 × 7 = 66.1 kg | 45.5 + 2.3 × 7 = 61.6 kg |
| Robinson | 52 + 1.9 × 7 = 65.3 kg | 49 + 1.7 × 7 = 60.9 kg |
| Miller | 56.2 + 1.41 × 7 = 66.1 kg | 53.1 + 1.36 × 7 = 62.6 kg |
| Hamwi | 48 + 2.7 × 7 = 66.9 kg | 45.5 + 2.2 × 7 = 60.9 kg |
So the ideal weight for 5 feet 7 inches is roughly 65–67 kg for a man and 61–63 kg for a woman. The formulas agree closely at average heights and differ more for very short or very tall people.
Healthy Weight Range Using BMI
A more flexible approach is to use the BMI range for your height. For most adults the healthy BMI is 18.5–24.9, while for Asian Indians experts recommend 18.5–22.9 because health risks start at lower BMIs.
Healthy weight = BMI × height (m)²
At 170 cm (1.70 m): 18.5 × 2.89 = 53.5 kg and 24.9 × 2.89 = 72.0 kg, so the WHO healthy range is 53.5–72.0 kg. Using the Asian-Indian upper limit of 22.9, the range is 53.5–66.2 kg.
Ideal Weight Chart by Height
This height and weight chart shows the Devine ideal weight and the healthy BMI range for Indian adults (18.5–22.9):
| Height | Devine – men | Devine – women | Healthy range for Indians |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′0″ (152 cm) | 50.0 kg | 45.5 kg | 43.0 – 53.2 kg |
| 5′2″ (157 cm) | 54.6 kg | 50.1 kg | 45.9 – 56.8 kg |
| 5′4″ (163 cm) | 59.2 kg | 54.7 kg | 48.9 – 60.5 kg |
| 5′6″ (168 cm) | 63.8 kg | 59.3 kg | 52.0 – 64.4 kg |
| 5′8″ (173 cm) | 68.4 kg | 63.9 kg | 55.2 – 68.3 kg |
| 5′10″ (178 cm) | 73.0 kg | 68.5 kg | 58.5 – 72.4 kg |
| 6′0″ (183 cm) | 77.6 kg | 73.1 kg | 61.9 – 76.6 kg |
If you prefer to work in centimetres, convert with 1 inch = 2.54 cm, or use our height calculator, which includes a cm-to-feet converter.
What Affects Your Ideal Weight?
- Muscle mass – muscle is denser than fat, so athletic people can be healthy above the formula weight.
- Body frame – people with a larger bone structure naturally weigh more. A rough check is wrist size: if your thumb and middle finger overlap easily around your wrist, you likely have a small frame.
- Age – many older adults are healthiest slightly above the minimum of the range.
- Sex – women naturally carry more body fat than men at the same weight.
- Ethnicity – South Asians tend to carry more fat at the same weight, which is why lower BMI cut-offs are used.
Why Waist Size Matters Too
Two people with the same weight can have very different health risks depending on where they carry fat. Fat around the waist is the most harmful. For Indian adults, a waist circumference above 90 cm for men or 80 cm for women signals higher risk of diabetes and heart disease, and your waist should ideally be less than half your height. Read more in our guide to BMI for Indians.
How to Reach Your Ideal Weight
- Set a range, not a single number – for example, the middle of your healthy BMI range.
- Lose weight slowly – about 0.5 kg a week through a daily calorie deficit of around 500 kcal. Work out your numbers with the calorie calculator.
- Prioritise protein and vegetables at every meal.
- Add strength training so that the weight you lose is fat, not muscle.
- Track your waist as well as the scale.
- If underweight, add healthy calories from milk, nuts, dal, eggs and paneer, and check with a doctor to rule out thyroid or digestive problems.
Ideal Weight for Common Heights in Centimetres
For readers who measure in centimetres, here is the healthy BMI range for Indian adults (18.5–22.9) at popular heights:
- 155 cm: about 44.4–55.0 kg
- 160 cm: about 47.4–58.6 kg
- 165 cm: about 50.4–62.3 kg
- 170 cm: about 53.5–66.2 kg
- 175 cm: about 56.7–70.1 kg
- 180 cm: about 59.9–74.2 kg
Aim for a weight in the middle of your range rather than the lowest possible number.
Body Fat Percentage: A Better Measure?
Body fat percentage tells you how much of your weight is fat rather than muscle, bone and water. Healthy ranges are roughly 10%–20% for adult men and 20%–30% for adult women, varying with age. It can be estimated with smart scales, skinfold callipers or a DEXA scan at a clinic, but home devices can be off by several percentage points. For most people, tracking weight, waist size and how clothes fit gives enough information without special equipment.
Ideal Weight for Children and Teenagers
The adult formulas do not apply to children, whose healthy weight changes with age and growth spurts. Doctors compare a child's height and weight with growth charts for their age and sex. For children under five, the WHO Child Growth Standards are used – you can check them with our Poshan child growth calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal weight for my height?
Use a formula such as Devine (men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet; women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch) or, better, a healthy BMI range. For Indian adults, a BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 is considered healthy.
What is the ideal weight for 5 feet 7 inches?
About 65 to 67 kg for a man and 61 to 63 kg for a woman using the common formulas. The healthy BMI range at this height is about 53.5 to 66 kg for Indian adults.
Which ideal weight formula is most accurate?
None is perfect. The Devine formula is the most widely used in medicine, but a healthy BMI range combined with waist size gives a more complete picture.
Is ideal weight different for men and women?
Yes. The formulas give women a lower base weight because women naturally have less muscle and more body fat at the same height.
How do I calculate a healthy weight from BMI?
Multiply the BMI by your height in metres squared. At 1.70 m, a BMI of 22.9 corresponds to 22.9 × 2.89 = 66.2 kg.
Can I be healthy above my ideal weight?
Yes, especially if you are muscular. Waist size, fitness, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol matter as much as weight.
What is the ideal weight for a 5 feet 4 inch woman?
About 54.7 kg using the Devine formula. The healthy BMI range for Indian adults at this height is roughly 48.9 to 60.5 kg.
Should I aim for the lowest weight in my range?
No. The middle of your healthy range is usually a more sustainable and healthier target, especially if you are older or muscular.
What is the ideal weight for a 6 feet man?
About 77.6 kg using the Devine formula. The healthy BMI range for Indian adults at 6 feet is roughly 61.9 to 76.6 kg.
Disclaimer: Ideal weight formulas are estimates for adults and are not suitable for children, pregnant women or people with certain medical conditions. Talk to a doctor or dietitian before starting a weight-loss or weight-gain plan.