Quick Answer
A healthy weight for your height is usually taken as a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. For someone 170 cm tall that is about 53.5–72.0 kg. Indian and other Asian guidelines use a lower upper limit (BMI 22.9), giving about 53.5–66.2 kg. Classic ideal-body-weight formulas give a single number: for a 170 cm man the Devine formula gives about 65.9 kg; for a 160 cm woman it gives about 52.4 kg.
What is an Ideal Weight Calculator?
An ideal weight calculator (आदर्श वज़न कैलकुलेटर) tells you how much a person of your height can healthily weigh. There is no single perfect number — people differ in frame size, muscle and body shape — so this tool gives you a healthy weight range based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) used by doctors worldwide, a separate Asian / Indian range with a lower upper limit, and the results of four classic ideal-body-weight formulas used in medicine.
Add your current weight and the calculator also shows your BMI and roughly how much you would need to lose or gain to reach the healthy range. It works in centimetres or feet and inches, and nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Key Features
- Healthy range for BMI 18.5–24.9.
- Asian / Indian range for BMI 18.5–22.9.
- Four formulas: Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi, plus their average.
- Current BMI and kilograms to lose or gain.
- Height in cm or ft-in.
- Free and private.
How to Use It
- Choose male or female.
- Enter your height in centimetres, or switch to feet and inches.
- Optionally enter your current weight.
- Read the healthy range, the Asian range, the formula results and your BMI.
How the Healthy Range is Calculated
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². Turning that around, the weight for a target BMI is BMI × height². For a height of 1.70 m:
- Lower limit: 18.5 × 1.70² = 53.5 kg
- Upper limit (WHO): 24.9 × 1.70² = 72.0 kg
- Upper limit (Asian): 22.9 × 1.70² = 66.2 kg
The range is the same for men and women, because BMI does not depend on sex.
Healthy Weight Chart by Height
| Height | Healthy range (BMI 18.5–24.9) | Asian range (BMI 18.5–22.9) | Devine — men | Devine — women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm (4′11″) | 41.6–56.0 kg | 41.6–51.5 kg | 47.8 kg* | 43.3 kg* |
| 155 cm (5′1″) | 44.4–59.8 kg | 44.4–55.0 kg | 52.4 kg | 47.9 kg |
| 160 cm (5′3″) | 47.4–63.7 kg | 47.4–58.6 kg | 56.9 kg | 52.4 kg |
| 165 cm (5′5″) | 50.4–67.8 kg | 50.4–62.3 kg | 61.4 kg | 56.9 kg |
| 170 cm (5′7″) | 53.5–72.0 kg | 53.5–66.2 kg | 65.9 kg | 61.4 kg |
| 175 cm (5′9″) | 56.7–76.3 kg | 56.7–70.1 kg | 70.5 kg | 66.0 kg |
| 180 cm (5′11″) | 59.9–80.7 kg | 59.9–74.2 kg | 75.0 kg | 70.5 kg |
| 185 cm (6′1″) | 63.3–85.2 kg | 63.3–78.4 kg | 79.5 kg | 75.0 kg |
*Below 5 ft (152.4 cm) the Devine formula extrapolates and is less reliable. Feet-and-inch equivalents are rounded.
The Four Classic Formulas
Each formula starts from a base weight at 5 feet and adds a fixed amount for every inch above that. In the formulas below, x is your height in inches minus 60.
| Formula (year) | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Devine (1974) | 50 + 2.3x kg | 45.5 + 2.3x kg |
| Robinson (1983) | 52 + 1.9x kg | 49 + 1.7x kg |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 + 1.41x kg | 53.1 + 1.36x kg |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 + 2.7x kg | 45.5 + 2.2x kg |
Example — man, 170 cm: 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches, so x = 6.93. Devine 65.9 kg, Robinson 65.2 kg, Miller 66.0 kg, Hamwi 66.7 kg; average 65.9 kg — comfortably inside the healthy range.
Example — woman, 160 cm: Devine 52.4 kg, Robinson 54.1 kg, Miller 57.2 kg, Hamwi 52.1 kg.
These formulas were developed mainly to estimate medicine doses, not to define how a person should look. That is why most health guidance today prefers the BMI range — and why you should not chase a single formula number.
Why the Asian / Indian Range is Lower
Studies have found that people of South Asian origin tend to carry more body fat, especially around the abdomen, at the same BMI as people of European origin, and develop type 2 diabetes and heart disease at lower BMIs. For this reason, Indian clinical guidelines classify adults as overweight from a BMI of 23 and obese from 25, compared with 25 and 30 in the WHO international scale. If you are of South Asian origin, the Asian range is the more cautious target. Our BMI Calculator shows both classifications.
When Weight Ranges Mislead
- Muscular people can be above the range while lean and healthy.
- Older adults lose muscle with age, so a "normal" weight can still hide high body fat.
- Frame size varies — people with a broad build often sit towards the top of the range.
- Pregnancy changes healthy weight completely; follow your doctor's advice.
For a fuller picture, check your waist size and body fat percentage with our Body Fat Calculator.
Reaching a Healthy Weight
If you are above the range, a gradual approach works best: a modest calorie deficit, more daily movement, strength training and enough protein. A loss of about 0.25–1 kg a week is generally considered safe for adults. Our BMR Calculator and Calorie Calculator help you set a sensible calorie target.
If you are below the range, focus on nutrient-dense meals, regular eating and strength training to build muscle, and speak to a doctor if you are losing weight without trying — unexplained weight loss should always be checked.
Worked Example With a Current Weight
Suppose a 35-year-old Indian man is 5 ft 8 in (172.7 cm) and weighs 80 kg. His BMI is 80 ÷ 1.727² ≈ 26.8. By the WHO scale that is overweight (25–29.9); by the Indian scale it is obese (25 and above). His healthy range is about 55.2–74.3 kg, so the calculator suggests losing about 5.7 kg to reach the top of it. If he follows the more cautious Asian range (up to about 68.3 kg), the target is around 11–12 kg lower. A sensible plan would be to aim for the first 5–6 kg over two to three months, check his waist measurement, and then decide on the next step with his doctor — rather than chasing the lowest number straight away.
Frame Size: Small, Medium or Large
Some charts adjust ideal weight for frame size, often judged by wrist circumference or elbow breadth. People with a small frame may be healthiest towards the lower end of the range, and those with a large frame towards the upper end. A quick home check: wrap your thumb and middle finger around the opposite wrist. If they overlap, your frame is probably small; if they just touch, medium; if they do not meet, large. It is a rough guide, but it explains why two healthy people of the same height can weigh several kilograms apart.
Measuring Height and Weight Accurately
- Measure height without shoes, standing straight against a wall.
- Weigh yourself in the morning, after using the toilet and before eating.
- Use the same scale each time and look at the weekly average rather than daily swings, which are mostly water.
Common Mistakes
- Treating one formula as "the" ideal weight.
- Ignoring the Asian range if you are of South Asian origin.
- Using the formulas for children — they are only for adults.
- Crash dieting to hit a number quickly.
- Forgetting to recheck — recalculate after big changes in weight or activity, and remember the range is a guide, not a verdict.
Quick Glossary
- BMI: weight in kg divided by height in metres squared.
- Ideal body weight (IBW): a formula estimate, often used for medicine doses.
- Healthy weight range: weights giving BMI 18.5–24.9 (Asian 18.5–22.9).
- Frame size: the size of your skeleton, often judged by wrist size.
Why Use This Ideal Weight Calculator?
It combines the internationally used BMI range, the Indian/Asian range and four classic medical formulas in one place, explains what each means and shows how far you are from a healthy range. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs entirely in your browser, so your height and weight stay private.
Ideal Weight Calculator — Key Facts
| Healthy BMI range | 18.5–24.9 (WHO) |
|---|---|
| Asian / Indian range | 18.5–22.9 |
| 170 cm | 53.5–72.0 kg (Asian 53.5–66.2 kg) |
| Devine (men) | 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft |
| Devine (women) | 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft |
| Best used as | A range, not one perfect number |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal weight for my height?
Most health organisations use a range rather than one number: the weight that gives a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. For 160 cm that is about 47.4–63.7 kg; for 170 cm about 53.5–72.0 kg; for 180 cm about 59.9–80.7 kg.
Why is there a separate Asian range?
Research shows that people of South Asian origin tend to have more body fat and a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease at the same BMI. Indian guidelines therefore treat BMI 23 and above as overweight, so the healthy upper limit becomes 22.9.
What is the Devine formula?
Created in 1974 to estimate drug doses, it gives ideal body weight as 50 kg (men) or 45.5 kg (women) plus 2.3 kg for every inch above 5 feet. It is still widely used in medicine.
Which ideal weight formula is best?
None is perfect. Devine is the most commonly used clinically; Robinson and Miller were later refinements; Hamwi is a quick rule of thumb. The BMI range is generally the better guide for health, and the formulas are best seen as reference points.
What is the ideal weight for a 5 ft 4 in woman?
5 ft 4 in is about 162.6 cm. The healthy BMI range is about 48.9–65.8 kg (Asian upper limit about 60.5 kg), and the Devine formula gives about 54.7 kg.
What is the ideal weight for a 5 ft 8 in man?
5 ft 8 in is about 172.7 cm. The healthy BMI range is about 55.2–74.3 kg (Asian upper limit about 68.3 kg), and the Devine formula gives about 68.4 kg.
Does muscle change my ideal weight?
Yes. Muscle is dense, so a muscular person can weigh more than the range and still be lean and healthy. Body fat percentage and waist size are better measures for such people.
Do the formulas work for short people?
The classic formulas were designed for people 5 feet (152.4 cm) and taller. Below that they extrapolate downward and become unreliable, so rely on the BMI range instead.
Does ideal weight change with age?
The BMI range is the same for adults, but older adults may be advised to stay towards the middle or slightly higher, since being underweight carries its own risks. Ask your doctor.
Is this suitable for children?
No. Children and teenagers are assessed with age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles, not adult ranges.
How fast should I move towards my ideal weight?
Gradual change of about 0.25–1 kg a week is generally considered safe and sustainable for adults who need to lose weight. Faster loss should be medically supervised.
Is my data stored?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser.
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