There is no single "perfect" weight for a given height. People differ in frame size and muscle. What doctors use instead is a healthy weight range, plus a few formulas that give an ideal body weight for medical purposes such as working out medicine doses.
This calculator shows both:
- The healthy weight range for your height using the BMI range of 18.5 to 22.9, which is the normal range recommended for Asian Indians.
- Your ideal weight from the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas.
How to use the ideal weight calculator
- Choose your gender.
- Enter your height in centimetres. For feet and inches: feet × 30.48 + inches × 2.54.
Ideal weight formulas
Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet (152.4 cm) and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that.
| Formula | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch | 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch | 53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 kg + 2.7 kg per inch | 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch |
Healthy weight range = 18.5 × height (m)² to 22.9 × height (m)²Example
A man who is 170 cm tall (66.9 inches, so 6.9 inches above 5 feet):
- Healthy weight range: 18.5 × 1.7² to 22.9 × 1.7² = 53.5 – 66.2 kg
- Devine: 50 + 2.3 × 6.9 = 65.9 kg
- Robinson: 65.2 kg
- Miller: 66.0 kg
- Hamwi: 66.7 kg
For a woman who is 160 cm tall, the healthy range is 47.4 – 58.6 kg, and the formulas give between 52.1 kg (Hamwi) and 57.2 kg (Miller).
Healthy weight range by height
| Height | Healthy weight (BMI 18.5 – 22.9) |
|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in (152.4 cm) | 43.0 – 53.2 kg |
| 5 ft 2 in (157.5 cm) | 45.9 – 56.8 kg |
| 5 ft 5 in (165.1 cm) | 50.4 – 62.4 kg |
| 5 ft 8 in (172.7 cm) | 55.2 – 68.3 kg |
| 5 ft 10 in (177.8 cm) | 58.5 – 72.4 kg |
| 6 ft 0 in (182.9 cm) | 61.9 – 76.6 kg |
Limits of these formulas
- They were made for adults and work best for heights above 5 feet.
- They don't account for muscle, so an athlete may be healthy above the range.
- They are not meant for children, teenagers or pregnant women.
A healthy weight is one you can keep with good food habits and regular activity. Your waist size and fitness matter as much as the number on the scale.
FAQ
What is the ideal weight for 5 feet 5 inches?
For 165 cm, the healthy weight range for Indians is about 50.4 to 62.4 kg. The Devine formula gives 61.5 kg for men and 57.0 kg for women.
Why does the calculator use BMI 22.9 and not 24.9?
The WHO normal range goes up to 24.9, but for Asian Indians, the risk of diabetes and heart disease starts rising at lower BMI values, so Indian guidelines treat 23 and above as overweight. See the BMI calculator for both scales.
Which formula is the most accurate?
None is exact for everyone. They give similar answers for average heights. Use the healthy range as your main guide and the formulas as reference points.
I am above my ideal weight. What should I do?
Aim to lose 0.25 to 0.5 kg a week with a small calorie deficit and regular exercise. The calorie calculator shows how much to eat for your goal.