What is the most accurate ideal weight formula?

Devine (1974) is the clinical standard, especially for medication dosing. Robinson and Miller often sit closer to modern BMI mid-range. No IBW formula accounts for muscle mass. Use the average of four formulas as a range, not a single target.

Does frame size affect ideal body weight?

Yes. A common rule is −10% for a small frame and +10% for a large frame. Frame can be estimated from height ÷ wrist circumference. Clinical IBW and ABW for drug dosing typically use unadjusted Devine, without frame.

Does age affect ideal body weight?

Classic IBW formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi) do not use age — only height and sex. Weight often rises slightly with age, and older adults may be healthier at a modestly higher BMI, but that is a BMI/health discussion, not part of IBW math.

Is ideal body weight the same as BMI?

No. IBW answers how much you might weigh for your height using clinical formulas. BMI classifies your current weight relative to height (kg/m²). A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is the WHO adult healthy range. Use IBW for a target number; use BMI to categorize the weight you have now.

Ideal Body Weight Calculator

Calculate your ideal body weight (IBW) with Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi. Add your actual weight to get adjusted body weight (ABW) — the same pairing as clinical IBW/ABW tools.

Ideal body weight is estimated from height and sex. A 5′10″ man is about 73 kg (161 lb) by Devine; a 5′4″ woman about 55 kg (121 lb). Adjusted body weight is IBW + 0.4 × (actual − IBW) when you weigh more than IBW.

Devine (1974) is the clinical default for IBW/ABW. Robinson (1983), Miller (1983), and Hamwi (1964) shown for comparison. Educational estimate — not a prescription or dosing order.

Calculate IBW and ABW

Sex

Units

Height

ft in

Actual body weight (for ABW)

Needed for adjusted body weight and % of IBW. Leave blank for IBW only.

Frame size (optional)

Wrist circumference (optional — estimates frame)

Measure around the wrist just distal to the styloid (bony bump). Height ÷ wrist estimates small / medium / large frame.

How to Calculate Ideal Body Weight

An ideal body weight calculator uses height and sex. The Devine formula is the default in medicine (especially drug dosing). Convert height to inches, subtract 60 (5 feet), then add the increment:

Men: IBW = 50 kg + 2.3 kg × (height in inches − 60)
Women: IBW = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg × (height in inches − 60)

Worked example. A 5′10″ (178 cm) man: 50 + 2.3 × 10 = 73 kg (161 lb). If he weighs 100 kg, adjusted body weight = 73 + 0.4 × (100 − 73) = 83.8 kg.

A 5′4″ (163 cm) woman: 45.5 + 2.3 × 4 = 54.7 kg (121 lb). That is the number most “ideal body weight calculator female” tools return with Devine.

IBW Formulas Compared

All four formulas share the same shape (base weight at 5 feet + kg per extra inch). They differ in the constants — which is why this calculator shows all of them, not one “magic” number.

Formula	Men	Women	Typical use
Devine (1974)	50 + 2.3 × in over 5′	45.5 + 2.3 × in over 5′	Clinical IBW / ABW, drug dosing
Robinson (1983)	52 + 1.9 × in over 5′	49 + 1.7 × in over 5′	Often closer to BMI mid-range
Miller (1983)	56.2 + 1.41 × in over 5′	53.1 + 1.36 × in over 5′	Highest of the four; larger builds
Hamwi (1964)	48 + 2.7 × in over 5′	45.5 + 2.2 × in over 5′	Older bedside estimate

For people shorter than 5 feet, the same increment is subtracted per inch under 60″. Devine was not validated for very short adults or children — treat those results as a rough extension only.

Adjusted Body Weight (ABW)

Adjusted body weight (also called corrected body weight) estimates the extra metabolically active tissue above IBW. It is the reason MDCalc and hospital tools pair IBW with ABW on one page.

ABW = IBW + 0.4 × (actual body weight − IBW)

This calculator uses unadjusted Devine IBW for ABW, which matches common clinical practice. ABW is most relevant when actual weight is about 125% of IBW or higher (often BMI ≥ 30). If you weigh less than IBW, use actual weight — do not “adjust” downward with this formula.

ABW is used for some medication and nutrition calculations. It is not a goal weight. Confirm any dosing with a pharmacist or clinician. For calorie targets after you know IBW, use the TDEE calculator (Mifflin–St Jeor) rather than mixing both tools into one page.

Ideal Body Weight Chart (Devine)

Devine IBW by height for men and women. Values in kg (lb). This is the same math as the calculator — useful if you want a quick “ideal weight for height” lookup.

Height	cm	Men IBW	Women IBW
4′10″	147	45.4 kg (100 lb)	40.9 kg (90 lb)
4′11″	150	47.7 kg (105 lb)	43.2 kg (95 lb)
5′0″	152	50 kg (110 lb)	45.5 kg (100 lb)
5′1″	155	52.3 kg (115 lb)	47.8 kg (105 lb)
5′2″	157	54.6 kg (120 lb)	50.1 kg (110 lb)
5′3″	160	56.9 kg (125 lb)	52.4 kg (116 lb)
5′4″	163	59.2 kg (131 lb)	54.7 kg (121 lb)
5′5″	165	61.5 kg (136 lb)	57 kg (126 lb)
5′6″	168	63.8 kg (141 lb)	59.3 kg (131 lb)
5′7″	170	66.1 kg (146 lb)	61.6 kg (136 lb)
5′8″	173	68.4 kg (151 lb)	63.9 kg (141 lb)
5′9″	175	70.7 kg (156 lb)	66.2 kg (146 lb)
5′10″	178	73 kg (161 lb)	68.5 kg (151 lb)
5′11″	180	75.3 kg (166 lb)	70.8 kg (156 lb)
6′0″	183	77.6 kg (171 lb)	73.1 kg (161 lb)
6′1″	185	79.9 kg (176 lb)	75.4 kg (166 lb)
6′2″	188	82.2 kg (181 lb)	77.7 kg (171 lb)
6′3″	191	84.5 kg (186 lb)	80 kg (176 lb)
6′4″	193	86.8 kg (191 lb)	82.3 kg (181 lb)
6′5″	196	89.1 kg (196 lb)	84.6 kg (187 lb)
6′6″	198	91.4 kg (202 lb)	86.9 kg (192 lb)

Body Frame Size and Ideal Weight

Two people at the same height can differ by bone structure. A practical adjustment is −10% (small frame) or +10% (large frame) on the formula IBW. Frame from wrist:

r = height (cm) ÷ wrist circumference (cm)
Men: r > 10.4 small · 9.6–10.4 medium · r < 9.6 large
Women: r > 11.0 small · 10.1–11.0 medium · r < 10.1 large

Enter wrist in the calculator to auto-fill frame. Frame adjustment is for a personal estimate only — clinical IBW/ABW stay on unadjusted Devine.

Ideal Weight vs BMI

These answer different questions. IBW is a target kilogram number from height and sex. BMI is a category for the weight you have now (kg ÷ height in m²). WHO adult BMI 18.5–24.9 maps to a weight range for your height — shown in the results as context, not as IBW itself.

IBW formulas ignore muscle. A lifter can be above IBW and still lean; a sedentary person can sit on IBW with higher body fat. Pair this tool with a body fat calculator or lean body mass calculator if composition matters more than scale weight.

Age is not an input to Devine or Hamwi. Searches like “correct height and weight for age” mix growth charts (children) with adult IBW. This page is for adults. Pediatric ideal weight needs a clinician and age-specific charts.

How to Move Toward Your IBW

If you are above IBW and fat loss is the goal, a modest deficit (~500 kcal/day, about 0.5 kg/week) plus protein at 1.6–2.2 g per kg preserves muscle. If you are below IBW, a small surplus and strength training adds lean mass more safely than “eating anything.” IBW is a reference, not a required destination — especially if your waist-to-hip ratio and labs are already in a healthy range.

Key takeaways

IBW comes from height and sex. Devine is the clinical standard; this page also shows Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi.
ABW = IBW + 0.4 × (actual − IBW) when actual weight is above IBW — used in many dosing/nutrition contexts, not as a goal weight.
Frame size (±10%) and wrist ratio personalize the estimate; they are not applied to clinical Devine/ABW.
BMI categorizes current weight. IBW estimates a reference weight. Do not treat them as the same query.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my ideal body weight?+

Use height and sex. Devine: men 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet; women 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. Enter height above to also see Robinson, Miller, Hamwi, and ABW if you add actual weight.

What is my ideal body weight for my height?+

It depends on sex as well as height. A 5′10″ man is about 73 kg (161 lb) by Devine; a 5′4″ woman about 55 kg (121 lb). Use the chart or calculator — there is no one number for “everyone at this height.”

What is adjusted body weight?+

ABW = IBW + 0.4 × (actual − IBW) using Devine IBW. It estimates extra lean-ish mass above ideal when someone has substantial extra weight. If you are below IBW, use actual weight. Confirm medication math with a clinician.

Does age change ideal body weight?+

Not in these formulas. Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi ignore age. Weight and “healthy BMI” can shift with age, but that is separate from IBW. This calculator is for adults, not pediatric growth charts.

Is 5′2″ 120 pounds skinny?+

At 5′2″, Devine IBW is ~50 kg (110 lb) for women and ~55 kg (120 lb) for men. 120 lb is near male IBW and a little above female IBW, with BMI around 22 — typically not underweight. Muscle and waist matter more than the label “skinny.”

Is IBW the same as BMI?+

No. IBW is a reference weight from height and sex. BMI classifies the weight you have now. Use this page for “how much should I weigh?”; use the BMI calculator for “what category am I in?”

Which formula should I use for men vs women?+

Same four formulas; different constants. Devine is still the usual clinical pick for both. Women start from 45.5 kg at 5 feet (Devine) vs 50 kg for men. Pick female/male in the calculator — don’t use a unisex number.

Can I use IBW as my goal weight?+

Treat it as a range, not a verdict. Muscular people should sit above IBW. If fat loss is the aim, a weight loss calculator turns IBW into calories and a timeline better than this page alone.