01
How the Ideal Weight Calculator by Pace & Prime Works
The ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime takes your gender, age, height and current weight, then runs your height through four well-known ideal body weight formulas. It shows each result separately, averages them, and compares your current weight with the healthy BMI range for your height.
4Formulas
18.5 - 24.9Healthy BMI
3Frame sizes
18+Adults only
You can also choose a small, medium or large frame, which moves the average down or up by 10%.
The ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime is for adults aged 18 and over. These formulas were built for adult bodies, so they do not apply to children or teenagers who are still growing.
Key point
Ideal weight is an estimate, not a verdict. The formulas look only at height and gender. They do not know your muscle mass, bone structure or health history, which is why this page gives you several numbers and a range instead of one "perfect" figure.
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Ideal Weight Formulas Explained
All four formulas use the same idea. Start from a base weight for a person who is 5 feet tall, then add a fixed number of kilograms for every inch above 5 feet.
The results below are in kilograms. The ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime converts them to pounds if you choose imperial units.
| Formula |
Men (kg) |
Women (kg) |
| Devine (1974) | 50 + 2.3 per inch | 45.5 + 2.3 per inch |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 + 1.9 per inch | 49 + 1.7 per inch |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 + 1.41 per inch | 53.1 + 1.36 per inch |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 + 2.7 per inch | 45.5 + 2.2 per inch |
"Per inch" means each inch of height over 5 feet.
1974
Devine
A height-based formula first used for drug dosing and now widely quoted for ideal weight.
1983
Robinson
A revision of Devine with a higher starting weight and a smaller increase per inch.
1983
Miller
Another 1983 revision that gives the highest numbers of the four for shorter heights.
1964
Hamwi
The oldest of the four, a rule of thumb still seen in clinical nutrition. It adds the most per inch for men (2.7 kg), so it climbs fastest as height increases.
Why average them?
The four results are usually close. For a 5'8" man they sit within about 5 lb of each other. That is why the ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime shows all four and averages them, instead of trusting any single equation.
Below 5 feet there are no extra inches to add, so the calculator uses the 5 foot base weight. Your healthy BMI range is still calculated from your exact height.
03
Ideal Weight Chart by Height
This chart shows the average of the four formulas for each height from 5'0" to 6'4", for a medium frame, in both pounds and kilograms. The last columns show the healthy BMI range for that height.
For example, the average for a 5'6" woman is 131 lb (59.6 kg), and her healthy BMI range runs from 115 to 154 lb (52.0 to 70.0 kg).
| Height |
Men (lb) |
Women (lb) |
Healthy BMI range (lb) |
Men (kg) |
Women (kg) |
Healthy BMI range (kg) |
| 5'0" | 114 | 106 | 95 to 127 | 51.6 | 48.3 | 43.0 to 57.8 |
| 5'1" | 118 | 111 | 98 to 132 | 53.6 | 50.2 | 44.4 to 59.8 |
| 5'2" | 123 | 115 | 101 to 136 | 55.7 | 52.1 | 45.9 to 61.8 |
| 5'3" | 127 | 119 | 104 to 141 | 57.8 | 53.9 | 47.4 to 63.8 |
| 5'4" | 132 | 123 | 108 to 145 | 59.9 | 55.8 | 48.9 to 65.8 |
| 5'5" | 137 | 127 | 111 to 150 | 61.9 | 57.7 | 50.4 to 67.9 |
| 5'6" | 141 | 131 | 115 to 154 | 64.0 | 59.6 | 52.0 to 70.0 |
| 5'7" | 146 | 136 | 118 to 159 | 66.1 | 61.5 | 53.6 to 72.1 |
| 5'8" | 150 | 140 | 122 to 164 | 68.2 | 63.4 | 55.2 to 74.3 |
| 5'9" | 155 | 144 | 125 to 169 | 70.2 | 65.3 | 56.8 to 76.5 |
| 5'10" | 159 | 148 | 129 to 174 | 72.3 | 67.2 | 58.5 to 78.7 |
| 5'11" | 164 | 152 | 133 to 179 | 74.4 | 69.1 | 60.2 to 81.0 |
| 6'0" | 169 | 156 | 136 to 184 | 76.5 | 71.0 | 61.9 to 83.3 |
| 6'1" | 173 | 161 | 140 to 189 | 78.6 | 72.8 | 63.6 to 85.6 |
| 6'2" | 178 | 165 | 144 to 194 | 80.6 | 74.7 | 65.4 to 88.0 |
| 6'3" | 182 | 169 | 148 to 199 | 82.7 | 76.6 | 67.1 to 90.4 |
| 6'4" | 187 | 173 | 152 to 205 | 84.8 | 78.5 | 68.9 to 92.8 |
Weights are rounded to the nearest pound and to 0.1 kg. The healthy BMI range uses BMI 18.5 to 24.9. Use the ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime above for exact figures, or for a small or large frame.
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Worked Example: 5'8" Male
A man who is 5'8" is 8 inches over 5 feet. Here is each male formula applied to that height, the same way the ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime does it.
Devine
50 + (2.3 × 8) = 68.4 kg
150.8 lb
Robinson
52 + (1.9 × 8) = 67.2 kg
148.2 lb
Miller
56.2 + (1.41 × 8) = 67.48 kg
148.8 lb
Hamwi
48 + (2.7 × 8) = 69.6 kg
153.4 lb
Average (about 68.2 kg)
150.3 lb
Healthy BMI range
122 to 164 lb
A large frame would lift the average to about 165 lb.
Now suppose he weighs 190 lb. His BMI is 28.9, which is in the overweight range.
Current weight190 lb
BMI28.9
Above top of rangeabout 26 lb
Remember
The ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime shows the amount to reach the top of the healthy range, not the distance to the average.
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Ideal Weight vs BMI
BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. A BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 is considered the healthy range.
UnderweightBelow 18.5
Healthy18.5 to 24.9
Overweight25 to 29.9
Obese30 or more
The two methods answer slightly different questions.
Ideal weight formulas
Give you a single reference number for your height and gender.
BMI range
Gives you a band. Any weight inside it counts as healthy for your height.
Both use height only. Neither one measures body fat, muscle or where you carry your weight.
How the ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime sets your target
Your target is measured against the healthy BMI range, not the average, because a band is more realistic than one number. Inside it, you are within the healthy range. Above it, you get the amount to reach the top of the range. Below it, you get a note to speak with a doctor, not a diet target.
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Why Athletes and Lifters May Weigh More
Muscle is denser than fat, so a lean, muscular person can weigh more than a formula predicts and still be healthy.
Height5'10"
Weight195 lb
BMIabout 28
LabelOverweight
A lifter with these numbers is labelled overweight, even with low body fat. In that case the scale and the formulas are not telling the full story.
The frame size option in the ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime helps a little, but it is a rule of thumb, not a measurement. If you train regularly, check your body fat percentage as well. Our body composition calculator estimates how much of your weight is fat and how much is lean mass, which is a better guide than the scale alone.
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How to Use Your Result
Treat your result from the ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime as a starting point and a reference range, not a strict goal. Here is what to do next.
Within range
Maintain and build
Your focus can be maintaining your weight and building fitness. Work out how much you should eat with our calories calculator.
Above range
Aim for the top of the range
Aim for steady, gradual progress toward the top of the range, not the average. Set calories, plan meals, then log your food with the tools below.
Below range
Speak with a doctor
Please speak with a doctor before changing your diet or training. Being under the healthy range can have medical causes, and a diet target is not the right response.
Pro tip
Check in every few weeks, not every day. Weight moves up and down with water, food and sleep, so the trend over time matters more than any single reading.
The ideal weight calculator by Pace & Prime and the information on this page are for general education only. They are not medical advice. Ideal weight formulas and BMI are estimates based on height and gender, and they do not account for muscle mass, age, ethnicity or medical conditions. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian before making major changes to your diet or exercise routine.
