Ideal Weight Calculator
Estimate your ideal body weight from your height using the Devine formula.
Sex
cm
63.4 kg
77.5 kg
Devine
Formula
Examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| Man, height 5 ft 10 in (70 in) | Ideal weight about 73.0 kg |
| Woman, height 5 ft 4 in (64 in) | Ideal weight about 54.7 kg |
| Man, height 6 ft 0 in (72 in) | Ideal weight about 77.6 kg |
About this calculator
An ideal weight calculator estimates a target body weight that is associated with good health for your height and sex. Rather than picking an arbitrary goal from the scale, it gives you an evidence-based reference point that doctors and dietitians have used for decades, especially as a quick check and for medication dosing.
This calculator uses the Devine formula, originally created in 1974 to help calculate drug doses. For men, ideal weight equals 50 kg plus 2.3 kg for every inch of height above 5 feet (60 inches). For women, it equals 45.5 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch above 5 feet. So a 5-foot-tall person starts at the base figure, and each additional inch adds 2.3 kg regardless of sex.
To use it, select your sex and enter your height in either feet and inches or centimetres. The tool converts your height as needed and returns your Devine ideal weight, and many versions also show a healthy weight range built around it so you have realistic boundaries rather than a single fixed number.
Interpret the output as a midpoint rather than an exact must-hit target. Real healthy weights span a band of several kilograms around the Devine figure, and being a little above or below it is perfectly normal. Compare the result with your current weight to gauge roughly how far you are from a typical healthy range.
Remember the formula's limits. Devine ignores age, frame size and body composition, and it slightly under-weights very short people and can read low for muscular builds. It also has no input for muscle versus fat, so an athlete may sit above their Devine weight while being extremely lean. Use it alongside BMI, waist measurement and a healthy lifestyle rather than as a strict rule, and consult a professional before setting aggressive weight goals.
Frequently asked questions
It uses the Devine formula from 1974. Men start at 50 kg and women at 45.5 kg for a height of 5 feet, then add 2.3 kg for each inch above that. It is one of the most widely cited methods and is still used for some medication dosing.
No. The Devine figure is a single reference midpoint, not a strict target. Healthy weight realistically spans a range of several kilograms around it, and factors like muscle mass and frame size mean many people are healthy slightly above or below the calculated value.
Men generally carry more muscle and bone mass than women of the same height, so the Devine formula sets the male baseline 4.5 kg higher (50 kg versus 45.5 kg). The per-inch increase of 2.3 kg is the same for both sexes.
No. The Devine formula uses only height and sex, so it does not adjust for a large or small frame, age, or how much of your weight is muscle versus fat. Muscular athletes in particular may exceed their ideal weight while being very lean and healthy.
Ideal weight gives you a single target weight in kilograms for your height, while BMI gives a ratio that maps to a healthy band (18.5 to 24.9). They tend to agree, but BMI defines a range whereas Devine returns one number; using both gives a fuller picture.
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