Ideal Weight Calculator BMI 22 + 4 medical formulas
BMI 22 reference + Devine / Robinson / Miller / Hamwi + healthy weight range.
[ AdSense ]
⚠️ Ideal weight is a height-based regression and doesn't distinguish muscle from fat. It's inaccurate for athletes and 'skinny fat' (normal weight but high body fat). For accurate evaluation, consider BMI + body fat percentage + waist circumference. Pregnant women and adolescents (under 19) should use separate standards.
Ideal Weight Formula Comparison
| Formula | Men | Women | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMI 22 | 22 × height(m)² | Generic / WHO normal range midpoint | |
| Devine 1974 | 50 + 2.3 × (inches − 60) | 45.5 + 2.3 × (inches − 60) | Medication dosing (medical standard) |
| Robinson 1983 | 52 + 1.9 × (inches − 60) | 49 + 1.7 × (inches − 60) | Conservative refinement of Devine |
| Miller 1983 | 56.2 + 1.41 × (inches − 60) | 53.1 + 1.36 × (inches − 60) | Generic use, more generous |
| Hamwi 1964 | 48 + 2.7 × (inches − 60) | 45.5 + 2.2 × (inches − 60) | Oldest, most generous |
All four medical formulas use 5 ft (152.4 cm) baseline + per-inch addition. Below 152 cm, only BMI 22 is shown to avoid unrealistic values.
BMI 22 Reference by Height
| Height | BMI 22 weight | Healthy range (18.5–24.9) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm (4'11") | 49.5 kg | 41.6 – 56.0 kg |
| 155 cm (5'1") | 52.9 kg | 44.4 – 59.8 kg |
| 160 cm (5'3") | 56.3 kg | 47.4 – 63.7 kg |
| 165 cm (5'5") | 59.9 kg | 50.4 – 67.8 kg |
| 170 cm (5'7") | 63.6 kg | 53.5 – 71.9 kg |
| 175 cm (5'9") | 67.4 kg | 56.7 – 76.2 kg |
| 180 cm (5'11") | 71.3 kg | 59.9 – 80.7 kg |
| 185 cm (6'1") | 75.3 kg | 63.3 – 85.2 kg |
Each 5 cm step changes BMI 22 weight by ≈ 3.5 kg. Healthy range is BMI 18.5–24.9 (WHO).
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ideal weight,' 'standard weight,' and 'healthy weight'?
These terms are used almost interchangeably but differ in origin. 'Healthy weight'
typically refers to the BMI 18.5–24.9 range (WHO). 'Ideal Body Weight (IBW)' was
originally derived for medication dosing in U.S. medicine (Devine 1974). This calculator
displays both: BMI 22 as the simple reference and four medical formulas for comparison.
Why use BMI 22 as the primary reference?
BMI 22 sits in the middle of the WHO normal range (18.5–24.9) and is associated with the
lowest mortality risk in many epidemiological studies. It's widely used as a target for ideal
weight in clinical and dietetic practice.
How do the Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi formulas differ?
Devine 1974 is the U.S. medical standard for medication dosing.
Robinson 1983 is a more conservative refinement of Devine.
Miller 1983 returns higher values (about +3 kg on average).
Hamwi 1964 is the oldest and most generous (about +5 kg on average).
All four use 5 ft (152 cm) baseline + per-inch addition. Differences are small for shorter
people and larger for taller people.
If I weigh more than my ideal, am I automatically obese?
No. Ideal weight is a height-based regression that doesn't distinguish muscle from fat.
Athletes can have BMI 25+ with low body fat and good health, and 'skinny fat' (normal BMI
+ body fat 30%+) is missed. For accurate evaluation, look at BMI + body fat percentage +
waist circumference (abdominal obesity threshold ≈ 102 cm men / 88 cm women, NIH/NHLBI).
Is the calculator accurate below 152 cm?
The Devine and similar formulas all start from a baseline of 5 ft (152.4 cm) = 60 inches.
Below that, they can return negative or unrealistic values. This calculator skips the four
medical formulas under 152 cm and shows only BMI 22.
For very short adults or children, use BMI 22 or pediatric growth charts (CDC / WHO).
Is the same standard applicable during pregnancy?
No. Recommended weight gain depends on pre-pregnancy BMI (IOM 2009):
underweight (<18.5) 12.5–18 kg, normal (18.5–24.9) 11.5–16 kg,
overweight (25–29.9) 7–11.5 kg, obese (30+) 5–9 kg.
This calculator targets non-pregnant adults — pregnant women should consult their OB/GYN.
References
Last reviewed: 2026-05-10
- WHO BMI standard — World Health Organization, Global Database on Body Mass Index
- Devine 1974 — Devine BJ. "Gentamicin therapy." Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy 1974;8:650-655
- Robinson 1983 — Robinson JD et al. "Determination of ideal body weight." Am J Hosp Pharm 1983;40(6):1016-9
- Miller 1983 — Miller DR et al. "Determination of ideal body weight." Am J Hosp Pharm 1983;40(11):1815-6
- Hamwi 1964 — Hamwi GJ. "Therapy: changing dietary concepts." In: Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis and Treatment. American Diabetes Association, 1964
- Pregnancy weight gain — Institute of Medicine (US) and National Research Council. Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines. Washington (DC): National Academies Press, 2009