Ideal Body Weight Calculator
Example: Height: 178 cm · Sex: 1
| Devine ideal weight | 73.18 |
| Healthy range low (BMI 18.5) | 58.62 |
| Healthy range high (BMI 24.9) | 78.89 |
Worked example
For a man 178 cm tall, the Devine formula starts at 50 kg and adds 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet. That is (178 - 152.4) / 2.54 = 10.1 inches over, so 50 + 2.3 x 10.1 = about 73.2 kg. A normal BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 at that height spans roughly 58.6 to 78.9 kg, so the Devine figure sits comfortably in the middle of the healthy band.
Frequently asked questions
Is there really one ideal weight for my height?
No single number is right for everyone. The Devine formula is a clinical reference, and the healthy BMI range is a band, not a point. Muscle mass, frame size, and body composition all shift what is healthy for you, which is why this tool shows a range alongside the single estimate.
Why does the formula only use height and sex?
The Devine equation was built to be quick and reproducible for medical use, so it deliberately relies only on height and sex. That simplicity is also its limitation: it cannot see your muscle or fat, so a very lean, muscular person may healthily weigh more than it suggests.
How does this differ from a BMI calculator?
BMI takes your actual weight and height and returns a category. This tool works the other direction, giving you a target weight from height alone plus the weight range a healthy BMI would permit. Use them together: the range here tells you what actual weights would land in the normal BMI zone.
Should athletes rely on ideal body weight?
Athletes and heavily muscled people should be cautious, because extra muscle can push them above these figures while remaining very healthy. For them, body-composition measures like body-fat percentage are far more meaningful than a height-based ideal.