How to use this ideal weight calculator
Select the sex term used by the equations, choose metric or US height input, and enter an adult height of at least 5 feet (152.4 cm). Review the three estimates in kilograms and pounds. Differences between them are meaningful evidence that 'ideal weight' is not a directly measurable universal value. Do not use the range as a treatment goal without professional context.
How the calculation works
Each equation begins with a base weight at 5 feet and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that height. Devine was introduced for medication dosing, while later equations changed the constants. None uses age, body composition, frame size, disability, ethnicity, fitness, or personal history.
Clinical reviews have found that ideal-body-weight formulas can disagree with each other and with BMI-derived ranges. A range of estimates is more honest than a single authoritative-looking number. Modern medication dosing, nutrition, and weight management may use different measurements, adjusted weights, or clinician-specific protocols.
Formulas
Devine
Robinson
Miller
Worked examples
Male equation terms at 5 ft 10 in
Ten inches above 5 feet gives Devine 73.0 kg, Robinson 71.0 kg, and Miller 70.3 kg. The spread shows that formula choice changes the answer.
Female equation terms at 5 ft 6 in
Six inches above 5 feet gives Devine 59.3 kg, Robinson 59.2 kg, and Miller 61.3 kg. These are historical reference estimates, not a required target.
Common uses
Compare historical equations
Place Devine, Robinson, and Miller results side by side to see how different constants change the estimate. The range helps expose uncertainty hidden by single-number calculators.
Review a referenced method
Reproduce a height-based value cited in older literature or documentation after confirming which equation and sex term were specified. Similar names do not make the formulas interchangeable.
Discuss model limitations
Use the comparison to ask which measurement is appropriate for a clinical or nutrition purpose. Do not substitute a generic web result for a protocol that specifies actual, adjusted, lean, or another dosing weight.
Accuracy and limitations
The calculator uses the constants reproduced in the cited clinical review and applies them only at heights of 5 feet or more. Kilogram values are converted to pounds using the exact international conversion.
These equations return reference estimates, not measured health outcomes. Their agreement can be coincidental, and their disagreement is not solved by averaging them into a supposedly precise personal target.
Sources and methodology
NumUtility uses the following primary or authoritative references for this calculator. Sources explain the method; they do not turn the result into personal medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one scientifically ideal weight?
No. Health cannot be reduced to one height-based number. These equations are historical reference methods and omit many individual factors.
Why does the calculator show three results?
The equations use different constants and therefore disagree. Showing all three makes that model uncertainty visible.
Can I use this for medication dosing?
Do not select a dosing weight from this page. Medication protocols may specify actual, ideal, lean, or adjusted weight and require professional calculation.
Why is height below 5 feet rejected?
The compared equations were structured around a base at 5 feet and are not reliably generalized below that height.
Are my health measurements stored?
No. Calculations run in your browser. NumUtility does not receive or save the values you enter in these tools.