Ideal weight calculators
This hub holds the ideal weight calculators. Pages below cover each height for males and females and two frame sizes. Enter your height and sex in the calculator below to see your ideal weight range. The worked example further down shows the steps with real numbers.
How it works
Every method starts from a base weight at 60 inches and adds kilograms for each extra inch. The bases and the steps differ by sex and by formula. You get three estimates and a range.
Worked example
Say a woman is 5 ft 6.5 in tall. Height over 60 is 6.5 inches. The three results are 45.5 + 2.3 × 6.5 = 60.45 kg, 49 + 1.7 × 6.5 = 60.05 kg and 53.1 + 1.36 × 6.5 = 61.94 kg. In pounds they are 133 lb, 132 lb and 137 lb. The lowest and highest give a range of 132 to 137 lb.
Common questions
How does this compare with BMI?
A healthy BMI range also gives a weight range for your height. The two often overlap but they are not the same, because BMI ignores sex while these formulas use it. Enter your own height in the calculator above to see your result.
Which ideal weight formula is best?
None is better than the others. They were built for different purposes. Showing all three as a range is more honest than picking one. Enter your own height in the calculator above to see your result.
Why do the formulas give different answers?
Each uses its own base weight and its own amount per inch. The gap grows as height moves away from 5 feet. Enter your own height in the calculator above to see your result.
Do these formulas account for muscle or frame size?
No. They use only height and sex. Someone with a large frame or a lot of muscle can be healthy well above the range. Enter your own height in the calculator above to see your result.
What if I am under 5 feet tall?
The formulas were written for heights of 5 feet and over. Below that the calculator uses the base weight. Treat the result as rough. Enter your own height in the calculator above to see your result.