Ideal weight at 5 ft 6 in, female
Ideal weight formulas estimate a weight range from height and sex. This page applies them to a woman who is 5 ft 6 in tall.
How it works
For males, Devine is 50 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch over 60. For females, it is 45.5 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch. Robinson and Miller use their own bases and steps. The page runs all three. For a woman at 5 ft 6 in the Devine base is 45.5 kg.
Worked example
Subtract 60 from the height. 5 ft 6 in gives 6 inches. Now use the female numbers. Devine: 45.5 + 2.3 × 6 = 59.3 kg. Robinson: 49 + 1.7 × 6 = 59.2 kg. Miller: 53.1 + 1.36 × 6 = 61.26 kg. In pounds that is 131 lb, 131 lb and 135 lb. The range is 131 to 135 lb.
Common questions
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. For a woman at 5 ft 6 in the gap between the lowest and highest is 4 lb.
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. For a woman at 5 ft 6 in the range of 131 to 135 lb is a starting point, not a limit.
Is 131 to 135 lb a target I must hit?
No. It is a starting reference for a woman at 5 ft 6 in. Your doctor can tell you what weight suits your own health. For a woman at 5 ft 6 in the range spans 4 lb.
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. For a woman at 5 ft 6 in the formulas add 6 inches above the 60 inch base.
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. For a woman at 5 ft 6 in a healthy BMI is 115 to 154 lb, against 131 to 135 lb here.