Calculate your ideal body weight using four established medical formulas and compare with the healthy BMI weight range.
All formulas compute ideal weight based on height and sex. "Inches over 60" refers to total height in inches minus 60 (i.e., inches above 5 feet). The average shown is the mean of the four formula results.
| Formula | Ideal Weight (kg) | Ideal Weight (lb) |
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Ideal weight formulas were originally derived from insurance and actuarial data in the mid-20th century, not from direct health outcome studies. They provide a rough benchmark and are widely used in clinical settings for dosing medications, but they should not be interpreted as strict targets. Body composition, muscle mass, bone density, and ethnic background all influence what a healthy weight looks like for a given individual. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice.
The Devine formula, published by Dr. B.J. Devine in 1974, was originally created to calculate drug doses for obese patients where weight-based dosing needed a lean body weight reference. It became widely adopted in pharmacy and medicine for calculating doses of drugs like aminoglycosides, digoxin, and others where excess adipose tissue would otherwise lead to overdosing. Despite being designed for clinical use rather than general fitness, it remains one of the most cited ideal body weight formulas.
Both BMI and ideal weight formulas have significant limitations. BMI does not account for muscle mass, body composition, age, or sex — a highly muscular athlete may have a high BMI but be very healthy. Ideal weight formulas similarly ignore body composition. The healthy BMI weight range shown in this calculator (based on a BMI of 18.5–24.9) gives a broader target range that may be more useful in practice. For the most accurate assessment of health, consider body fat percentage, waist circumference, and metabolic health markers in addition to weight.