Ideal weight at 5 ft 8 in, female
Enter your height and sex to see three classic estimates of a healthy weight. The example below is a woman at 5 ft 8 in.
How it works
Each formula takes a base weight for your sex at 60 inches. It then adds a fixed amount per inch above 60. The three formulas use different numbers. The page shows all three and the range between them. For a woman at 5 ft 8 in the height over 60 is 8 inches.
Worked example
A woman at 5 ft 8 in is 8 inches over 60. Multiply 8 by each step and add the base. Devine gives 45.5 + 2.3 × 8 = 63.9 kg. Robinson gives 49 + 1.7 × 8 = 62.6 kg. Miller gives 53.1 + 1.36 × 8 = 63.98 kg. In pounds that is 141 lb, 138 lb and 141 lb. The range is 138 to 141 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. For a woman at 5 ft 8 in a healthy BMI is 122 to 164 lb, against 138 to 141 lb here.
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. For a woman at 5 ft 8 in the three results are 141 lb, 138 lb and 141 lb.
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 8 in the gap between the lowest and highest is 3 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 8 in the range of 138 to 141 lb is a starting point, not a limit.
Is 138 to 141 lb a target I must hit?
No. It is a starting reference for a woman at 5 ft 8 in. Your doctor can tell you what weight suits your own health. For a woman at 5 ft 8 in the range spans 3 lb.