Which formula should I trust?

None on its own. Devine is the most widely used in clinical dosing, but the average of the four, cross-checked against the healthy BMI range, gives a more realistic picture.

Do these formulas account for muscle?

No. They are height-based only, which is why athletes frequently and legitimately sit above the calculated weight.

Are they valid for shorter adults?

They lose accuracy below about 150 cm because they all extrapolate downward from a 5-foot baseline. The BMI range is the more reliable guide there.

Ideal Weight Calculator

There is no single ideal weight, so this calculator shows the four formulas clinicians actually use side by side, plus the healthy BMI range for your height. The spread between them tells you how wide the sensible range really is.

Fill in the fields above and select Calculate to see your result and the full working.

Please note: Health calculators on this site provide general estimates based on population-level formulas. They are not medical advice and cannot account for your individual medical history. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about diet, medication or training.

Formula used

Devine: 50 kg (men) or 45.5 kg (women) + 2.3 kg for every inch above 5 feet

How to use this calculator

Select your sex at birth and unit system.
Enter your height.
Compare the four formula outputs and the healthy BMI range rather than fixating on one number.

Example calculation

A woman 165 cm tall:

Inches above 5 ft = (165 − 152.4) ÷ 2.54 = 4.96

Devine = 45.5 + 2.3 × 4.96 = 56.9 kg

Healthy BMI range for 165 cm = 50.4–67.8 kg.

What does this result mean?

These formulas were designed for medication dosing and actuarial tables, not aesthetics. They ignore frame size and muscle mass, so a muscular person can be perfectly healthy well above every figure shown. Use the range as a broad orientation and pair it with body-fat percentage and how you feel and perform.

Frequently asked questions

Which formula should I trust?: None on its own. Devine is the most widely used in clinical dosing, but the average of the four, cross-checked against the healthy BMI range, gives a more realistic picture.
Do these formulas account for muscle?: No. They are height-based only, which is why athletes frequently and legitimately sit above the calculated weight.
Are they valid for shorter adults?: They lose accuracy below about 150 cm because they all extrapolate downward from a 5-foot baseline. The BMI range is the more reliable guide there.

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