Ideal weight calculator by height
Choose female or male and enter your height: we'll show you the WHO healthy weight range and what the 4 most used formulas give. Further down you'll find the chart by height.
It's a reference, not a medical target. It doesn't replace a professional. It doesn't apply during pregnancy or to anyone under 18.
Take it to your plan. Mobbe uses your weight and height to build your routine and, with PRO, your meals to reach your goal.
Ideal weight for your height
The healthy range is the same for women and men. Each sex's column is the average of the 4 formulas.
| Height | Healthy range | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | 89 to 119 lb | 98 lb | 104 lb |
| 5 ft 0 in | 95 to 127 lb | 106 lb | 114 lb |
| 5 ft 2 in | 101 to 136 lb | 115 lb | 123 lb |
| 5 ft 4 in | 108 to 145 lb | 123 lb | 132 lb |
| 5 ft 6 in | 115 to 154 lb | 131 lb | 141 lb |
| 5 ft 8 in | 122 to 164 lb | 140 lb | 150 lb |
| 5 ft 10 in | 129 to 173 lb | 148 lb | 159 lb |
| 6 ft 0 in | 137 to 183 lb | 156 lb | 169 lb |
| 6 ft 2 in | 144 to 194 lb | 165 lb | 178 lb |
| 6 ft 4 in | 152 to 204 lb | 173 lb | 187 lb |
| 6 ft 6 in | 160 to 215 lb | 181 lb | 196 lb |
How ideal weight is calculated
The WHO range and the 4 classic formulas, with the worked example.
- Step 1
WHO healthy range
It's the weight that gives a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 at your height. At 1.78 m: 18.5 × 1.78² = 59 kg and 24.9 × 1.78² = 79 kg. At 5 ft 10 in, that's 129 to 173 lb.
weight = 18.5 to 24.9 × height (m)²WHO, 2000. - Step 2
The 4 classic formulas
They add kilos for every inch over 5 ft (1.52 m). A man with Devine at 1.78 m: 50 + 2.3 × 10.1 = 73 kg (161 lb at 5 ft 10 in).
devine = 50 (men) or 45.5 (women) + 2.3 × inches over 60Devine, 1974; Robinson, 1983; Miller, 1983; Hamwi, 1964. - Step 3
Why they differ
They were built to calculate drug doses, not as a health goal. That's why Mobbe shows the WHO range first.
Pai and Paloucek, 2000. - Step 4
How Mobbe uses it
Mobbe doesn't set you an ideal weight: with your goal it works out a safe weekly pace, and reviews adjust it with your real weight.
Helms, 2014; Garthe, 2011.
Sources
- World Health Organization. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation. WHO Technical Report Series 894. Geneva: WHO; 2000.
- Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intell Clin Pharm. 1974;8:650-655.
- Robinson JD, Lupkiewicz SM, Palenik L, Lopez LM, Ariet M. Determination of ideal body weight for drug dosage calculations. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1983;40(6):1016-1019.
- Miller DR, Carlson JD, Lloyd BJ, Berry BJ. Determining ideal body weight (and mass). Am J Hosp Pharm. 1983;40(10):1622-1625.
- Hamwi GJ. Therapy: changing dietary concepts. In: Danowski TS, ed. Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis and Treatment. Vol 1. New York: American Diabetes Association; 1964:73-78.
- Pai MP, Paloucek FP. The origin of the "ideal" body weight equations. Ann Pharmacother. 2000;34(9):1066-1069. doi:10.1345/aph.19381
- Helms ER, Aragon AA, Fitschen PJ. Evidence-based recommendations for natural bodybuilding contest preparation: nutrition and supplementation. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2014;11:20. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-11-20
- Garthe I, Raastad T, Refsnes PE, Koivisto A, Sundgot-Borgen J. Effect of two different weight-loss rates on body composition and strength and power-related performance in elite athletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2011;21(2):97-104. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.21.2.97
Frequently asked questions
What's the ideal weight for a woman?
It depends on height. At 5 ft 5 in, the healthy range is 111 to 149 lb and the formulas give 125 to 132 lb.
What's the ideal weight for a man?
At 5 ft 9 in, the healthy range is 125 to 168 lb and the formulas give 152 to 159 lb.
Which formula is the most accurate?
None of them measures your body: they only use height and sex. Devine is the most used in hospitals.
What if I lift weights?
With more muscle you can weigh more than the range with little fat. Tracking your waist and your strength is more useful.
What's the difference from BMI?
BMI measures where you are today. Ideal weight tells you which range to aim for at your height.
More calculators and routines
- Calorie calculatorYour maintenance and your target to lose, maintain or gain weight, compared with Mifflin-St Jeor and Harris-Benedict.Calculate →
- TDEE calculatorYour total daily energy expenditure, adding up rest, activity and training.Calculate →
- Macro calculatorGrams of protein, carbs, fat and fiber for your goal, within your calories.Calculate →
- Protein calculatorGrams of protein a day based on your weight and your goal, with a 50 to 100 kg table.Calculate →
- 1RM calculatorYour one-rep max with Epley and Brzycki, by RIR or RPE, and your training weights from 50 to 100%.Calculate →
- BMI calculatorYour body mass index, your WHO category and the healthy weight for your height.Calculate →
- Body fat calculatorYour body fat percentage from neck, waist and hip, and the healthy range for your age.Calculate →
- Water intake calculatorOunces, cups and liters of water a day based on your sex, your workouts and hot weather.Calculate →
Mobbe builds your plan with these numbers
Download Mobbe and answer a few questions: with your goal it works out a safe weekly pace, builds your routine and, with PRO, your meal plan.
