Ideal Weight for Your Height: Methods, Charts & What They Mean
Different ideal weight formulas give different answers. The Devine, Robinson, and Miller formulas, plus BMI-based ranges, all produce different targets. Here's what each means and which doctors actually use.
Why There's No Single "Ideal Weight"
Ideal weight is a function of height, but also frame size, muscle mass, age, and gender. A 5'10" (178 cm) person who is heavily muscled will have a higher healthy weight than a 5'10" person with a slight frame — even if both are equally healthy.
The formulas below provide useful ranges and starting points, not precise targets.
Use our BMI Calculator to find your BMI and healthy weight range for your height.
The Three Classical Ideal Weight Formulas
These formulas were developed by physicians in the 1960s–1970s for clinical use (primarily dosing medications). They should not be used as strict targets — they're reference points.
Devine Formula (1974):
- 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):
- 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):
- Men: 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet
- Women: 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet
Comparing the Formulas: A 5'7" (170 cm) Example
At 5'7" (7 inches over 5 feet):
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine | 66.1 kg (146 lb) | 61.6 kg (136 lb) |
| Robinson | 65.3 kg (144 lb) | 60.9 kg (134 lb) |
| Miller | 66.1 kg (146 lb) | 62.6 kg (138 lb) |
| Average | 65.8 kg (145 lb) | 61.7 kg (136 lb) |
The three formulas agree closely — within about 2 kg for any given height. The typical range between lowest and highest estimate is 3–5 lbs.
BMI-Based Healthy Weight Ranges
A different approach: instead of a single target, use BMI to define a healthy range (18.5–24.9). This gives a width of possible healthy weights rather than a single number:
| Height | Healthy Weight Range (BMI 18.5–24.9) |
|---|---|
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 101–136 lbs (46–62 kg) |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 108–145 lbs (49–66 kg) |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 115–154 lbs (52–70 kg) |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 122–164 lbs (55–74 kg) |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 129–174 lbs (59–79 kg) |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 136–184 lbs (62–83 kg) |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 144–194 lbs (65–88 kg) |
The BMI range is significantly wider than the single-number formula outputs, which is more realistic — there are healthy people at both ends of this range.
The Limits of Weight-Based Metrics
All height-based ideal weight targets share the same fundamental limitation: they don't account for body composition.
A 5'10" man who weighs 175 lbs could be:
- An athlete with 12% body fat and significant muscle mass — genuinely healthy
- A sedentary person with 30% body fat — at elevated metabolic risk
Both would show the same BMI. Neither a single formula nor a BMI range can distinguish between them.
For a more complete picture, measure body fat percentage instead of (or in addition to) BMI. See: Healthy Body Fat Percentage by Age & Gender for reference ranges.
What Doctors Actually Use
In clinical practice, BMI remains the primary screening tool because it's quick and requires only height and weight — no special equipment. The classical ideal weight formulas (particularly Devine) are still used for drug dosing calculations in hospitals.
For individual health goals, no single number should be treated as a hard target. Clinicians typically look at a cluster of markers: BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways
- The Devine, Robinson, and Miller formulas all produce similar results — typically within 3–5 lbs of each other
- At 5'7": men's ideal weight ≈ 144–146 lbs; women's ≈ 134–138 lbs
- BMI-based healthy range (18.5–24.9) is wider and more realistic than single-number targets
- Weight alone doesn't capture body composition — body fat percentage is more meaningful
- No formula is a hard target; doctors use weight alongside multiple other markers