Ideal Weight Calculator by Height and Sex
Ideal weight calculator: calculate your ideal weight using Devine, Robinson, and Lorentz formulas. WHO healthy BMI range. Men and women.
See step-by-step calculation
When to use this calculator
- You want to know if your weight falls within the WHO healthy range.
- You came back from a doctor's visit where they mentioned an 'ideal weight' and you want to see how it's calculated.
- You're a physician/pharmacist and need ideal weight for drug dosing.
- You're setting up a weight loss or gain plan and want a realistic target.
- You want to compare different formulas before setting a weight goal.
Ideal Weight Adjusted for Body Frame Size (Small / Medium / Large)
The calculator gives one number for your height and sex, but a small-framed person should aim ~10% lower and a large-framed person ~10% higher (a long-standing Metropolitan Life-era heuristic). Medium-frame values are the 3-formula average (Devine/Robinson/Lorentz); small = -10%, large = +10%. Estimate frame size from wrist circumference - the thresholds below differ by sex and, for women, by height. Orientative only - pair with waist measurement and labs and consult a clinician.
| Height & sex | Frame (wrist) | Small frame | Medium frame | Large frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men 170 cm (5'7") | M: <16.5 / 16.5-19 / >19 cm | 59 kg (130 lb) | 65 kg (144 lb) | 72 kg (159 lb) |
| Men 175 cm (5'9") | M: <16.5 / 16.5-19 / >19 cm | 62 kg (138 lb) | 69 kg (153 lb) | 76 kg (168 lb) |
| Men 180 cm (5'11") | M: <16.5 / 16.5-19 / >19 cm | 66 kg (146 lb) | 73 kg (162 lb) | 81 kg (178 lb) |
| Men 185 cm (6'1") | M: <16.5 / 16.5-19 / >19 cm | 70 kg (154 lb) | 77 kg (171 lb) | 85 kg (188 lb) |
| Women 160 cm (5'3") | F: <15.2 / 15.2-15.9 / >15.9 cm | 49 kg (108 lb) | 54 kg (119 lb) | 60 kg (132 lb) |
| Women 165 cm (5'5") | F: <15.2 / 15.2-15.9 / >15.9 cm | 52 kg (115 lb) | 58 kg (128 lb) | 64 kg (141 lb) |
| Women 170 cm (5'7") | F: <15.9 / 15.9-16.5 / >16.5 cm | 55 kg (121 lb) | 61 kg (135 lb) | 68 kg (150 lb) |
How it works
The 3 Main Formulas
Devine (1974) — most used in medicine
Created by Dr. B.J. Devine to calculate antibiotic doses. It's the reference in clinical pharmacology.
Men:
Ideal weight (kg) = 50 + 2.3 × ((height_cm − 152.4) / 2.54)Women:
Ideal weight (kg) = 45.5 + 2.3 × ((height_cm − 152.4) / 2.54)(Subtracting 152.4 cm / 2.54 converts height into 'inches over 5 feet.')
Robinson (1983) — modern refinement
A revision of Devine with more recent data, slightly more conservative.
Men:
Ideal weight = 52 + 1.9 × ((height − 152.4) / 2.54)Women:
Ideal weight = 49 + 1.7 × ((height − 152.4) / 2.54)Lorentz — popular in Europe and Latin America
Very popular in European and Hispanic-American clinical practice for being simple and direct in centimeters.
Men:
Ideal weight = (height − 100) − (height − 150) / 4Women:
Ideal weight = (height − 100) − (height − 150) / 2.5Average Ideal Weight Table (kg)
| Height | Men (avg.) | Women (avg.) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | — | 45–47 |
| 155 cm | 50–53 | 47–50 |
| 160 cm | 54–57 | 50–53 |
| 165 cm | 58–61 | 53–58 |
| 170 cm | 62–66 | 57–62 |
| 175 cm | 67–71 | 61–66 |
| 180 cm | 72–76 | 65–70 |
| 185 cm | 77–81 | — |
| 190 cm | 82–86 | — |
Healthy BMI Range (WHO)
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is the weight/height² ratio. The WHO classifies:
| BMI | Category |
|---|---|
| < 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal weight |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 – 34.9 | Obesity grade I |
| 35.0 – 39.9 | Obesity grade II |
| ≥ 40.0 | Obesity grade III (morbid) |
Healthy Range Formula
Min weight = 18.5 × height_m²
Max weight = 24.9 × height_m²Limitations of Weight and BMI
Weight Does NOT Reflect Body Composition
A 180 cm, 95 kg bodybuilder has BMI 29.3 (overweight per WHO) but might have 8% body fat, high muscle mass, and excellent metabolic health. A sedentary 165 cm, 60 kg person has BMI 22 (normal) but may have 32% fat and metabolic syndrome.
Cases Where BMI Fails
Recommended Complementary Measurements
1. Waist circumference (crucial for cardiovascular risk):
- Men: < 94 cm low, 94–102 cm moderate, > 102 cm high.
- Women: < 80 cm low, 80–88 cm moderate, > 88 cm high.
2. Body fat % (US Navy, bioimpedance, DEXA).
3. Waist/hip ratio: men <0.95, women <0.85.
4. Lab work: glucose, lipid profile, HbA1c, fatty liver.
5. Blood pressure.
Common Mistakes
1. Obsessing over a number: ±3 kg around ideal weight is normal and depends on hydration, glycogen, menstrual cycle.
2. Using only BMI: gives false positives/negatives in athletes, elderly, children.
3. Weighing at different times daily: weight varies 1–2 kg throughout the day. Weigh yourself fasting, same scale.
4. Ignoring waist: two people with the same BMI can have very different metabolic risk based on visceral fat.
Example: 165 cm woman
45.5 + 2.3 × ((165 − 152) / 2.54) = 45.5 + 2.3 × 5.12 = 57.3 kg.49 + 1.7 × 5.12 = 57.7 kg.(165 − 100) − (165 − 150) / 2.5 = 65 − 6 = 59 kg.(57.3 + 57.7 + 59) / 3 ≈ 58 kg.18.5 × 1.65² = 50.4 kg (min); 24.9 × 1.65² = 67.8 kg (max).Frequently asked questions
Which of the 3 formulas is correct?
How much should I weigh if I'm 1.70 m (5'7")?
Does BMI work for athletes?
How do I know my bone structure?
Why aren't there exact formulas for children?
Can I be above the WHO range and be healthy?
At what age should I worry about weight?
What's a healthy weight loss rate?
Sources & references
Methodology & trust
Calculadora de salud revisada por el equipo editorial de Hacé Cuentas, contrastada con CDC — About Adult BMI, según nuestra política editorial y metodología.
Última revisión: June 17, 2026. Los parámetros se verifican periódicamente con las fuentes citadas.
Calculations run 100% in your browser. We do not store or transmit your data.
Indicative results. For critical decisions, consult a professional.
Rodríguez, M. (2026). Ideal Weight Calculator by Height and Sex. Hacé Cuentas. https://hacecuentas.com/ideal-weight-calculator
Contenido bajo licencia CC-BY 4.0 — reutilizable citando la fuente con enlace a Hacé Cuentas.