Ideal Body Weight Calculator (Devine)
This estimates a reference body weight for your height using the Devine formula. It is a population reference used in dosing, not a personal weight goal.
Source: Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intell Clin Pharm 1974;8:650-655 (origin of the ideal body weight formula).
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The Devine formula
- Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet
- Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet
Worked example
A man who is 5'10" is 10 inches over 5 feet: 50 + (2.3 × 10) = 73 kg (161 lb). A woman of the same height: 45.5 + 23 = 68.5 kg (151 lb).
The formula was built for adults 5 feet and taller. Below that height it gives values that are not meaningful.
Ideal body weight chart
| Height | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 50.0 kg (110 lb) | 45.5 kg (100 lb) |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 54.6 kg (120 lb) | 50.1 kg (110 lb) |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 59.2 kg (131 lb) | 54.7 kg (121 lb) |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 63.8 kg (141 lb) | 59.3 kg (131 lb) |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 68.4 kg (151 lb) | 63.9 kg (141 lb) |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 73.0 kg (161 lb) | 68.5 kg (151 lb) |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 77.6 kg (171 lb) | 73.1 kg (161 lb) |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 82.2 kg (181 lb) | 77.7 kg (171 lb) |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 86.8 kg (191 lb) | 82.3 kg (181 lb) |
For weight relative to height, see the BMI calculator. For daily calorie needs, see the TDEE and BMR calculator.
FAQs
What is ideal body weight used for?
Ideal body weight is a population reference for height. It is used most often in medicine to calculate doses of certain drugs and ventilator settings, not as a personal weight goal.
Which formula does this use?
It uses the Devine formula, which starts from a base weight at 5 feet of height and adds 2.3 kg for each inch above that, with different base values for men and women.
Is ideal body weight the weight I should be?
Not necessarily. It does not account for build, muscle, or body composition. For everyday health, waist-to-height ratio and BMI are more useful starting points than a single ideal number.