There is no single ideal weight for a given height — there is a healthy range. Different validated methods give slightly different estimates, and body frame size, muscle mass, age, and ethnicity all influence what weight is optimal for you specifically.
This calculator combines multiple evidence-based methods to give you a realistic, personalised healthy weight range rather than an arbitrary single number.
The 5 Ideal Weight Formulas Compared
Hamwi (1964): widely used in clinical settings. Robinson (1983): derived from Metropolitan Life Insurance tables. Miller (1983): based on a large population study. Devine (1974): originally developed for medication dosing. BMI range: WHO standard 18.5–24.9. Each gives slightly different values — using all 5 gives a more robust range than any single formula.
Frame Size and Ideal Weight
Body frame size reflects bone structure and skeletal density, which affects how much mass is appropriate at a given height. Small-framed people have lighter, narrower bones and typically should weigh 5–10% less than medium-framed individuals of the same height. Large-framed people can healthily carry 5–10% more. Frame size is assessed from wrist circumference or elbow breadth.
Why There's No Perfect Weight
The concept of a single ideal body weight is oversimplified. Two people of identical height and weight can have vastly different body compositions, health status, and fitness levels. Fitness markers (aerobic capacity, strength, blood markers) are more powerful health predictors than body weight alone. Use weight as one of several health indicators, not the primary measure.
Body Composition vs Body Weight
A muscular person may weigh above the BMI-based healthy range while having excellent body composition and health markers. Conversely, a 'normal weight' person with low muscle mass and high central fat (TOFI — Thin Outside Fat Inside) may have worse metabolic health than someone classified as overweight. Waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage provide better health insight than weight alone.
💡 Expert Tips
- ✓Focus on the middle of your healthy range (around BMI 22–23) rather than trying to hit the absolute lowest end — the very low end of normal BMI is not associated with better health outcomes.
- ✓Track waist circumference alongside weight — waist reduction (even without scale movement) indicates meaningful visceral fat loss.
- ✓Muscle weighs more than fat by volume — building strength can increase scale weight while dramatically improving body composition and health markers.
- ✓Your healthiest weight is sustainable long-term — a weight you can maintain while eating adequate protein, training regularly, and living normally.
- ✓Regular check-ins (weekly weigh-in, monthly measurements) are more useful than daily scale obsession.
📊 Healthy Weight Range by Height (BMI 18.5–24.9)
| Height | Min Weight | Max Weight | Midpoint | Frame adj. range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 155 cm | 44 kg | 60 kg | 52 kg | 47–63 kg |
| 160 cm | 47 kg | 64 kg | 56 kg | 50–67 kg |
| 165 cm | 51 kg | 68 kg | 60 kg | 54–71 kg |
| 170 cm | 54 kg | 72 kg | 63 kg | 57–76 kg |
| 175 cm | 57 kg | 77 kg | 67 kg | 60–80 kg |
| 180 cm | 60 kg | 81 kg | 71 kg | 63–85 kg |
| 185 cm | 63 kg | 86 kg | 75 kg | 67–90 kg |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the healthiest weight for my height?+
Is the BMI range the most accurate way to find ideal weight?+
Should I aim for the lower end of my healthy weight range?+
How do I know my frame size?+
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