Ideal weight calculator
Common reference weights for your height.
About this calculator
There is no single ideal weight, so this shows a range based on a healthy adult BMI, with the Devine formula as a second reference.
Muscle, build, age and health all affect what is right for you. A clinician can give advice for your situation.
How it works
Shows the weights equal to a BMI of 18.5 to 25, plus the Devine formula, which was first designed for medication dosing.
Worked example
- Units: Metric
- Sex: Female
- Height: 170 cm
Healthy BMI range: 53.5 kg to 72.2 kg
The story behind it
Where the idea came from: Dr. B. J. Devine, 1974.
The Devine formula wasn't created to set weight goals. It was published in 1974 to help clinicians work out doses of a drug called gentamicin, where dosing depends on body size. It later became a widely used shorthand for ideal weight. This calculator shows it alongside a healthy BMI range, because no single number suits everyone.
Why you can trust this calculator
- It runs in your browser. Nothing you type into it is sent anywhere.
- The method is explained on this page, so you can check it yourself.
- Free to use, with no sign-up.
- Results are estimates, not medical advice.
- Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll look into it.
After 15 years as a mathematics educator, I built CalculStore to give students, teachers, professionals and anyone working with numbers simple, reliable tools.
Meet the founder