Ideal Weight Calculator

What "ideal weight" really means

There's no single perfect number — but a few formulas give a useful target range. This tool reports the classic Devine formula ideal body weight alongside the healthy-BMI range (BMI 18.5–24.9) for your height, so you can see both a single target and the band most clinicians use.

The Devine formula

Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg for every inch over 5 ft. Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft. It was originally designed for medication dosing, which is why it gives one figure rather than a range.

FAQ

Which number should I aim for?

Treat the healthy-BMI range as the goal and the Devine figure as a reference point inside it. Neither accounts for muscle mass or frame size, so a muscular athlete may sit above the range and still be lean. Not medical advice.

Does it work for men and women?

Yes. The Devine formula uses a different baseline for men and women, since men typically carry more lean mass, so select your sex for an accurate target. The healthy-BMI range, by contrast, depends only on height.

Why does the result differ from a simple BMI calculator?

A BMI calculator tells you whether your current weight is healthy for your height, while this tool works backward to show the weight range that would put you in the healthy band, plus a single Devine target. They are complementary: one judges where you are, the other shows where to aim.

Does ideal weight account for muscle, body fat, or frame size?

No. Both the Devine formula and BMI use only height and sex, so they can't tell muscle from fat. Athletes and people with larger frames may exceed the range while being perfectly healthy, which is why a clinician may also look at body composition. Not medical advice.

Is this calculator free, and is my data private?

Yes, it is completely free with no sign-up. Everything runs in your browser, so your height and weight are never uploaded, and it works on phones and desktops.