Ideal Weight Calculator

Estimate your ideal body weight based on height using the Devine formula.

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Enter your values and click Calculate

Ideal body weight is a clinical estimate of the weight at which a person of a given height and biological sex is considered to be within a healthy range for medical purposes. The Devine formula, developed by Dr. B.J. Devine in 1974, is the most widely used method in healthcare settings — it was originally created for pharmaceutical dosing calculations because drug metabolism is closely tied to lean body mass rather than total weight. The formula is also used by dietitians, fitness professionals, and public health researchers as a height-based reference point. Unlike BMI, which scales with the square of height, the Devine formula increases linearly with each inch above 5 feet, producing more conservative estimates for very tall individuals. This calculator converts centimeter height inputs to inches, applies the sex-specific formula, and returns the estimate in kilograms.

How It Works

Step 1 — convert height to inches: Height (inches) = Height (cm) ÷ 2.54. Step 2 — calculate inches over 5 feet: Excess inches = max(0, height in inches − 60). Step 3 — apply the Devine formula: Males: Ideal weight = 50 + 2.3 × excess inches (kg). Females: Ideal weight = 45.5 + 2.3 × excess inches (kg). For heights at or below 5 feet (152.4 cm), excess inches is zero, so the formula returns the base value. The 2.3 kg per inch increment was calibrated to clinical observations of lean body mass distributions across a large patient population. The result is in kilograms. To convert to pounds, multiply by 2.205.

Examples

Average Male Height
A male standing 175 cm (5 ft 9 in).
Result: Ideal weight ≈ 71.2 kg (157 lbs).
Average Female Height
A female standing 163 cm (5 ft 4 in).
Result: Ideal weight ≈ 54.6 kg (120 lbs).
Tall Male
A male standing 190 cm (6 ft 3 in).
Result: Ideal weight ≈ 82.5 kg (182 lbs).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ideal weight the same as healthy weight?
Not exactly. Ideal body weight formulas are clinical tools designed for drug dosing calculations, where lean body mass is the key variable. Healthy weight for an individual depends on many factors including muscle mass, bone density, age, and body composition, and is best assessed by a healthcare provider rather than a formula alone.
What if I am shorter than 5 feet?
The Devine formula returns the base value — 50 kg for males and 45.5 kg for females — for any height at or below 5 feet (152.4 cm), since the excess-inches term becomes zero. The formula was validated primarily for adults of average height and may be less accurate for very short individuals.
Should I try to reach my ideal weight from this formula?
Use this as a rough clinical reference rather than a personal target. Heavily muscled athletes, for example, may exceed this figure while having excellent health markers. Always consult a healthcare provider before setting specific weight loss or gain goals.

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