Ideal and Goal Weight Calculator

Key takeaways

• The healthy-weight range for a height is the weight at a BMI of 18.5 to under 25, a band that spans tens of pounds.^[2]
• The classic "ideal body weight" formulas grew out of old height-weight tables and were used to dose drugs, not to set goals.^[1]
• A 5% loss, 10 pounds for a 200-pound person, can lower the risk of some chronic diseases.^[4]
• The NIH suggests losing 5 to 10% of starting weight over about six months as a safer pace.^[5]

In short: There is no single ideal weight for a height. This ideal weight calculator shows the healthy-weight range for your height (a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9) and, for comparison, four classic formulas that were built to dose medicines. For a personal goal, most experts suggest starting smaller: losing 5 to 10% of your current weight is where many health benefits begin.

Ideal and goal weight calculator

Units

US (lb, ft, in)Metric (kg, cm)

Sex (the equations use it)

FemaleMale

Height

ftin

Current weight (optional)lb

Optional, to show first goal steps.

Show my ranges

Fill in the fields and press the button to see your result.

Runs in your browser: what you type is not sent or stored.

Educational estimate, not medical advice. Talk with a healthcare professional before changing how you eat, move or take medicines.

How this works

The healthy-weight range is the weight at a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 for your height.

Four classic formulas are shown side by side. Each starts from a weight at 5 feet and adds a fixed amount per inch: Devine (1974) men 50 kg + 2.3 kg, women 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg; Robinson (1983) men 52 + 1.9, women 49 + 1.7; Miller (1983) men 56.2 + 1.41, women 53.1 + 1.36; Hamwi (1964) men 48 + 2.7, women 45.5 + 2.2.

Goal steps: losing 5 to 10% of your current weight is where many health benefits begin, so we show those first.

Limits

• The four formulas were created to dose medicines, not to set personal goals, and they ignore muscle, frame and age.
• They are not designed for heights under 5 feet.
• A healthy weight for you depends on your health, history and what you can sustain; a clinician can help set it.

Sources

1. CDC: Adult BMI categories
2. Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intell Clin Pharm 1974;8:650-655
3. Robinson JD et al. Determination of ideal body weight for drug dosage calculations. Am J Hosp Pharm 1983;40:1016-1019
4. Miller DR et al. Determining ideal body weight (and mass). Am J Hosp Pharm 1983;40:1622-1625
5. Hamwi GJ. Therapy: changing dietary concepts. In: Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis and Treatment, 1964
6. CDC: Losing weight (benefits of a 5-10% loss)

Why a range is more useful than one number

At 5 feet 6 inches, the healthy-BMI range runs from about 115 to 154 pounds, a spread of nearly 40 pounds. At 5 feet 10 inches it is about 129 to 174 pounds. That spread is real: people of the same height differ in frame, muscle and where they carry weight. A range lets you see a band where health risks tend to be lower, rather than chasing an exact figure that may not suit your body.

5 ft 6 in115 lb–154 lb

5 ft 10 in129 lb–174 lb

0 lb87 lb174 lb

Healthy-BMI weight range (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) at two heights

Item	Low	High
5 ft 6 in	115 lb	154 lb
5 ft 10 in	129 lb	174 lb

Arithmetic: BMI x height in inches squared / 703, rounded. The calculator shows the range for your own height.

Source: CDC Adult BMI Categories (healthy weight 18.5 to under 25) (checked on October 6, 2026)

The range comes from BMI, so it inherits BMI’s limits. It does not account for muscle, and the UK’s NICE guideline notes that people of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background develop health risks at lower BMIs, using 23 rather than 25 as the start of overweight. NICE also advises interpreting BMI with care in adults 65 and older. Our BMI calculator explains these limits in more detail.

Where the “ideal body weight” formulas come from

The Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas look scientific, but their history is humble. A review in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy traced them back to old height-weight tables, which were linked to mortality data and so became known as “desirable” or “ideal” weights. Pharmacists later used the Devine formula to calculate doses of certain drugs, and later formulas built from similar tables gave similar answers. That is why the four results in the calculator sit close together, and why none of them was ever meant to be a personal weight target.

Set your goal in steps

If your current weight is above the range, the gap can look discouraging. You do not have to close it to feel better or be healthier. The CDC notes that a 5% loss, 10 pounds for someone who weighs 200, can lower the risk of some chronic diseases, and that even modest loss can improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. The NIH suggests that losing 5 to 10% of your starting weight over about six months is a safer pace.

1. First goal: 5% of your current weight. The calculator shows it when you enter your weight; for someone who weighs 200 pounds, it is 190 pounds.
2. Hold it. Practice keeping that weight for a few weeks before the next step; maintaining is a skill of its own.
3. Next goal: 10% (180 pounds in the same example), then reassess with your clinician. For some people the healthy-BMI range is a sensible long-term aim; for others, a weight above it that they can keep, with good blood pressure, blood sugar and fitness, may be the more realistic aim.

To turn a goal into a plan, estimate your daily needs with the calorie calculator and see a realistic date range in the weight-loss timeline calculator. Our lose 20 pounds page shows what a medium goal can look like.

When your goal is below the range, or your weight already in it

If the weight you have in mind is under the healthy range for your height, please talk to a doctor first; a BMI under 18.5 is classed as underweight. If you are already in the range but want to look or feel different, changing body composition through strength training and body recomposition is often a better focus than the scale. And if thoughts about weight take up a lot of your day, our guide to body image may help.

Whatever goal you choose, write it down with a date to check in rather than a deadline, and track a few things besides weight: your waist, how your clothes fit, your energy and, at checkups, your blood pressure and blood sugar.

Getting support

A clinician can help you set a goal that fits your health history and the conditions you want to improve. If lifestyle changes alone have not been enough, our how to lose weight hub and Find My Options explain the approaches you could discuss, from structured programs to medical treatment.

Questions to ask a professional

• What weight range would be healthy and realistic for me?
• Which health numbers would improve if I lost 5 to 10% of my weight?
• Is there a reason my goal should differ from the standard range, such as my age, background or muscle?
• How can I keep the weight off once I reach my first goal?

Frequently asked questions

What is my ideal weight for my height?

There is no single ideal. A common reference is the healthy-weight range, the weight at a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 for your height. Where you fit within it depends on muscle, frame, age and health.

Which ideal body weight formula is most accurate?

None is accurate for setting a personal goal. They were derived from similar height-weight tables and were mainly used for drug dosing, which is why they give similar results.

What is a realistic first weight-loss goal?

Around 5% of your current weight. Benefits for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar often start there, and it is small enough to reach and maintain.

Is my goal weight too low?

If it is below a BMI of 18.5 for your height, talk to a doctor before aiming for it. A healthy goal also depends on your age, health history and what you can maintain.

References

1. Pai MP, Paloucek FP. The origin of the “ideal” body weight equations. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2000. doi:10.1345/aph.19381 · PMID 10981254 (accessed October 7, 2026) Review
2. Adult BMI Categories. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
3. Overweight and obesity management (NG246): identifying and assessing overweight, obesity and central adiposity. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2025. (accessed October 7, 2026) Guideline
4. Steps for Losing Weight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
5. Dieting & Gallstones. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page

Facts checked on October 6, 2026

Educational information, not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your own situation. In an emergency call 911.