"What's the ideal weight for my height?" is one of the most-googled health questions in the world. And it's also one of the trickiest to answer — because the answer depends on which formula you use, your sex, your body composition, and frankly, your goals.
This guide gives you straightforward ideal weight ranges by height for both men and women, explains the formulas behind the numbers, and tells you what these targets actually mean (and don't mean).
Ideal weight chart for women
These ranges use the average of four trusted formulas: Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi. The "ideal" range covers what most healthcare professionals would consider a healthy target.
| Height | Ideal Weight (kg) | Ideal Weight (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 4'10" (147 cm) | 43-52 kg | 95-115 lb |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 46-56 kg | 101-123 lb |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 49-60 kg | 108-132 lb |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 53-65 kg | 116-143 lb |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 56-69 kg | 124-153 lb |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 60-74 kg | 132-163 lb |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 64-78 kg | 140-174 lb |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 67-83 kg | 148-184 lb |
Ideal weight chart for men
| Height | Ideal Weight (kg) | Ideal Weight (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 52-63 kg | 115-139 lb |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 56-68 kg | 123-149 lb |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 59-72 kg | 131-159 lb |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 63-77 kg | 139-169 lb |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 67-82 kg | 147-180 lb |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 71-86 kg | 156-191 lb |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 75-91 kg | 164-201 lb |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 78-96 kg | 173-211 lb |
How these numbers are calculated
The ranges above use four formulas developed by medical researchers between 1964 and 1983. Each gives slightly different answers, which is why showing the range (rather than one number) is more honest.
Devine formula (1974)
Originally created for medication dosing. Widely used in clinical settings.
- Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
Robinson formula (1983)
A refinement of Devine based on larger datasets. Tends to give slightly lower values.
- Men: 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Women: 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
Miller formula (1983)
Often produces the lowest values of the four formulas.
- Men: 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Women: 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet
Hamwi formula (1964)
The oldest of the four, originally designed for diabetic patients. Often gives the highest value.
- Men: 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Women: 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet
What these formulas don't account for
Every one of these formulas only uses two inputs: height and sex. That's it. They don't know about:
- Your body frame. Small-boned and large-boned people of the same height have different ideal weights. Add 5-10% for large frames, subtract for small.
- Your muscle mass. An athletic person legitimately needs to weigh more than a sedentary person of the same height.
- Your age. Healthy weight ranges shift slightly with age, especially after 60.
- Your ethnicity. Asian populations may face health risks at lower weights; some other groups at higher.
- Your goals. "Ideal weight for health" differs from "ideal weight for athletic performance" or "ideal weight for appearance."
How to determine your frame size
A quick way to estimate frame size: wrap your thumb and middle finger around the smallest part of your opposite wrist.
- Fingers overlap: Small frame (subtract ~10% from ideal weight)
- Fingers just touch: Medium frame (use the standard formulas)
- Fingers don't touch: Large frame (add ~10% to ideal weight)
This is rough but useful. For more accuracy, doctors measure wrist or elbow circumference and compare to charts.
BMI vs ideal weight: which should you use?
BMI and ideal weight formulas tell similar stories most of the time. The differences:
| Tool | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| BMI | Simple, universally used, has clear category cutoffs | Doesn't give a target weight, just a range |
| Ideal weight | Gives you a specific target number to aim for | Doesn't tell you how risky your current weight is |
The best approach is to use both. Check your BMI to see if your current weight is healthy. Use the ideal weight calculator to set a specific target if you need to lose or gain.
What if my current weight is far from "ideal"?
Don't panic. Ideal weight charts are not commandments — they're guidelines.
If you're below your ideal range:
- Talk to a doctor to rule out underlying conditions
- Focus on gaining muscle, not just weight (strength training + protein)
- Eat in a slight calorie surplus (200-500 above maintenance)
- Aim for 0.5-1 lb gain per week, mostly muscle
If you're above your ideal range:
- Check your BMI to gauge actual risk level
- Set a realistic intermediate target (5-10% loss) rather than the "ideal"
- Combine moderate calorie deficit with strength training
- Aim for 1-2 lb loss per week, sustainably
If you're a muscular athlete:
- Ignore the chart
- Track body fat percentage instead
- Use performance metrics as your real measure of health
How long should it take to reach your ideal weight?
Sustainable weight change is slower than most people think. A reasonable timeline:
- Weight loss: 0.5-1% of body weight per week (so 1-2 lb for a 200 lb person)
- Weight gain: 0.25-0.5% of body weight per week (slower, to ensure it's mostly muscle)
If you need to lose 20 lb, expect 5-6 months of consistent effort. If you need to gain 20 lb of muscle, expect 12-18 months. There are no real shortcuts.
The bottom line
Ideal weight charts give you a useful target range, but they're not the final word. Your real goal isn't a number on a scale — it's overall health, energy, strength, and how you feel in your body.
Use ideal weight as one data point alongside BMI, waist circumference, body fat (if you have access), and how you actually feel. The healthiest weight is the one you can maintain while feeling good, eating without obsession, and moving your body regularly.
Want your specific numbers? Use our ideal weight calculator — it shows you all four formulas plus the average, in seconds.