Ideal Weight Calculator
Estimates your healthy weight based on your age, gender and height, by 5 formulas and recommended BMI.
Refer to the text below the calculator for more information about the ideal weight concept and the formulas used.
Ideal weight is a concept that defines one’s healthy level of body weight. Whilst there are several formulas available, all of these are estimates that can be used on generic populations, based on variables such as gender, height or age.
Whilst these formulas help us understand what would be a healthy weight target, IBW determinations are often used clinically for prescribing drug dosages or for health loss plans.
Peterson’s formula (2016)
Ideal Weight (kg) = 2.2 x BMItarget + 3.5 x BMItarget x (Height (m) - 1.5 m)
Ideal Weight (lb) = (5 x BMItarget ) + (BMItarget / 5)) x (Height (in) - 60 in)
R. Miller’s formula (1983)
Ideal Weight (men) = 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet
Ideal Weight (women) =53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet
J.D. Robinson’s equation (1983)
Ideal Weight (men) = 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet
Ideal Weight (women) = 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
J. Devine’s equation (1974)
Ideal Weight (men) = 50.0 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
Ideal Weight (women) = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
J. Hamwi’s formula (1964)
Ideal Weight (men) = 48.0 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
Ideal Weight (women) = 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet
IBW estimation based on the BMI healthy range
IBW min = 18.5 x BMI
IBW max = 25 x BMI
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Steps on how to print your input & results:
1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.
2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.
Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.
Ideal body weight (IBW) formulas
Ideal weight is a concept that defines one’s healthy level of body weight. Whilst there are several formulas available, all of these are estimates that can be used on generic populations, based on variables such as gender, height or age.
Peterson’s formula (2016)
The latest published ideal weight formula is that of Peterson et al. whose accuracy was evaluated through theoretical and empirical means.
Ideal Weight (kg) = 2.2 x BMItarget + 3.5 x BMItarget x (Height (m) - 1.5 m)
Ideal Weight (lb) = (5 x BMItarget ) + (BMItarget / 5)) x (Height (in) - 60 in)
R. Miller’s formula (1983)
Ideal Weight (men) = 56.2 kg + 1.41 kg per inch over 5 feet
Ideal Weight (women) =53.1 kg + 1.36 kg per inch over 5 feet
J.D. Robinson’s equation (1983)
Ideal Weight (men) = 52 kg + 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet
Ideal Weight (women) = 49 kg + 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
J. Devine’s equation (1974)
Ideal Weight (men) = 50.0 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
Ideal Weight (women) = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet
J. Hamwi’s formula (1964)
Ideal Weight (men) = 48.0 kg + 2.7 kg per inch over 5 feet
Ideal Weight (women) = 45.5 kg + 2.2 kg per inch over 5 feet
IBW estimation based on the BMI healthy range
IBW min = 18.5 x BMI
IBW max = 25 x BMI
Importance of ideal weight
Whilst these formulas help us understand what would be a healthy weight target, IBW determinations are often used clinically for prescribing drug dosages or for health loss plans.
It is important to remember that there is not an exact figure of what is the ideal weight of each individual and these formulas offer a ballpark figure we can use as target, however, this is not to say that small deviations (which remain under the healthy BMI range) are unacceptable.
Some people are able to maintain a consistent weight throughout adulthood whilst others may go through numerous diets and strict programs to regain a healthy weight after they’ve lost it. Pregnant women also undergo physiological weight changes during pregnancy. Additionally, body composition is also a factor that may influence the healthy weight status, with people of the same weight having possible different body fat percentages.
There are three main weight gain factors you should become aware of:
- Genetic inheritance – some people have a genetic predisposition to gain weight in comparison to others that have similar diet, physical activity level and lifestyle;
- Diet – unhealthy and unbalanced diets cause weight gain;
- Physical activity level – physical activity means calories burned, so by keeping a balanced level between daily calories intake and the calories burned during the day you can maintain a proper body weight.
References
Pai MP, Paloucek FP. The origin of the ideal body weight equations. Ann Pharmacother. 2000; 34(9):1066-9.
Walpole SC, Prieto-Merino D, Edwards P, Cleland J, Stevens G, Roberts I et al. The weight of nations: an estimation of adult human biomass. BMC Public Health (BMC Public Health. 2012; 12:439.
Peterson CM, Thomas DM, Blackburn GL, Heymsfield SB. Universal equation for estimating ideal body weight and body weight at any BMI. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016; 1 03(5):1197-203.
Specialty: Fitness
Abbreviation: IBW
Article By: Denise Nedea
Published On: July 7, 2020 · 12:00 AM
Last Checked: July 7, 2020
Next Review: July 7, 2025