Ideal Weight for Height
Your ideal weight starts with your height. Taller people weigh more, not because they are fatter but because they have more body to carry — more bone, more muscle, more of everything. The ideal weight for height calculator above works out your target from your height and sex, using four classic formulas and the healthy BMI range.
This page gives you the full chart: ideal weight for every height from 150 to 190 cm, for men and women, with the healthy weight range alongside. Find your row, and you will know your target zone in seconds.
Ideal Weight Chart by Height
The table below shows the four-formula average ideal weight for men and women at each height. The average combines the Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi formulas, which is the same calculation the tool above performs.
| Height | Men — ideal weight | Women — ideal weight |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) | 49.6 kg | 46.5 kg |
| 155 cm (5 ft 1 in) | 53.7 kg | 50.2 kg |
| 160 cm (5 ft 3 in) | 57.8 kg | 53.9 kg |
| 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) | 61.9 kg | 57.7 kg |
| 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | 65.9 kg | 61.4 kg |
| 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | 70.0 kg | 65.1 kg |
| 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | 74.1 kg | 68.8 kg |
| 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | 78.2 kg | 72.5 kg |
| 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | 82.3 kg | 76.3 kg |
Each 5 cm of height adds roughly 4 kg to the ideal weight for both sexes. The gap between men and women is steady at about 4 kg at every height, reflecting average differences in muscle mass and frame. If your height falls between two rows, the calculator above gives your exact figure — or split the difference between the rows, which is accurate to within half a kilogram.
Healthy Weight Range by Height
Ideal weight is a single number, but healthy weight is a range — the weights that give a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. The table below shows that range for each height, and it is the more useful of the two, because build, muscle and age all shift where you should sit inside it.
| Height | Healthy weight range | Middle of the range |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 41.6 – 56.0 kg | 48.8 kg |
| 155 cm | 44.4 – 59.8 kg | 52.1 kg |
| 160 cm | 47.4 – 63.7 kg | 55.6 kg |
| 165 cm | 50.4 – 67.8 kg | 59.1 kg |
| 170 cm | 53.5 – 72.0 kg | 62.8 kg |
| 175 cm | 56.7 – 76.3 kg | 66.5 kg |
| 180 cm | 59.9 – 80.7 kg | 70.3 kg |
| 185 cm | 63.3 – 85.2 kg | 74.3 kg |
| 190 cm | 66.8 – 89.9 kg | 78.4 kg |
Check the 175 cm row: at 1.75 m, the low end is 18.5 × 1.75² = 56.7 kg and the high end is 24.9 × 1.75² = 76.3 kg. The middle is 66.5 kg — close to the four-formula average of 70.0 kg for men and 65.1 kg for women, which is a good sign that the two methods agree. The range is wide on purpose: a muscular person belongs near the top, a lightly built person near the bottom, and both are healthy.
Worked Example: A Man at 180 cm
A man who is 180 cm tall is 70.9 inches, which is 10.9 inches over five feet. His four formulas give: Devine 50 + 2.3 × 10.9 = 75.0 kg; Robinson 52 + 1.9 × 10.9 = 72.6 kg; Miller 56.2 + 1.41 × 10.9 = 71.5 kg; Hamwi 48 + 2.7 × 10.9 = 77.3 kg. The average is 74.1 kg. His healthy BMI range is 59.9 to 80.7 kg. So his ideal weight is about 74 kg, inside a healthy range of 59.9 to 80.7 kg. Enter 180 cm in the ideal weight calculator above and it shows the same figures, plus the option to add your current weight and see the gap.
Worked Example: A Woman at 170 cm
A woman who is 170 cm tall is 66.9 inches, which is 6.9 inches over five feet. Her four formulas give: Devine 45.5 + 2.3 × 6.9 = 61.4 kg; Robinson 49 + 1.7 × 6.9 = 60.8 kg; Miller 53.1 + 1.36 × 6.9 = 62.5 kg; Hamwi 45.5 + 2.2 × 6.9 = 60.7 kg. The average is 61.4 kg. Her healthy BMI range is 53.5 to 72.0 kg. So her ideal weight is about 61 kg, inside a healthy range of 53.5 to 72.0 kg.
How Height Affects Ideal Weight
Height affects ideal weight in two ways. First, the formulas add a fixed amount per inch above five feet — about 2 kg per inch for men and 1.7 to 2.3 kg per inch for women, depending on the formula. Second, the BMI range widens as height rises, because the range is calculated from height squared: at 150 cm the range spans 14.4 kg, while at 190 cm it spans 23.1 kg. Tall people have a wider healthy zone, which makes sense — there is more room for variation in build at greater heights.
Short Heights: Below 155 cm
If you are under five feet tall, the formulas are extrapolated beyond what their authors validated, and the numbers become rough guidance. The calculator warns you about this. At these heights, the BMI range is the better guide, and your doctor’s judgement matters more than any formula.
Tall Heights: Above 185 cm
Very tall people face the opposite problem: the formulas can understate ideal weight, because they assume a linear relationship between height and weight while bodies scale more like volume. A 195 cm man with a broad frame can be perfectly healthy at a weight above the formula average. Check your body fat percentage — if it is in the Fitness band, your weight is fine whatever the formula says.
Where You Should Sit in Your Range
- Muscular and active: aim for the upper half of your range. Muscle is heavy, and a muscular person at the top of the range is usually healthier than a sedentary person at the bottom.
- Lightly built: the lower half is natural for you. Do not force yourself to the middle if your build is small-framed.
- Over 60: the upper half is often better. A little extra weight protects against frailty and bone loss in older age.
- With a family history of diabetes or heart disease: the lower half of the range is the safer place to sit.
- After weight loss: anywhere inside the range is a win. Holding the range matters more than hitting the exact average.
From Your Ideal Weight to a Plan
Once you know your target, the next step is the plan. If you are above your range, find your daily calories with the calorie calculator and subtract 500 for a steady loss of about 0.5 kg a week. If you are inside your range, eat at maintenance and train twice a week. If you are below your range, add calorie-dense foods and strength training, and talk to a doctor if the low weight is unintentional. Your BMI and your body fat percentage tell you whether the weight you carry is the right kind.
Related tools: your weight category from the BMI calculator, your composition from the body fat calculator, and your daily target from the calorie calculator. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute explains how weight and height relate to health risk.
Quick Reference
Keep the reference figures below handy while you plan.
| Person | Ideal weight (average) | Healthy BMI range |
|---|---|---|
| Man, 175 cm | 70.0 kg | 56.7 – 76.3 kg |
| Woman, 165 cm | 57.7 kg | 50.4 – 67.8 kg |
| Man, 180 cm | 74.1 kg | 59.9 – 80.7 kg |
| Woman, 170 cm | 61.4 kg | 53.5 – 72.0 kg |
What to remember
- Ideal weight is a range, not a single number — the healthy BMI range spans nearly 20 kg for most adults.
- The four formulas disagree by 3 to 5 kg, so averaging them gives a better target than any one alone.
- Muscular people belong near the top of their range; lightly built people near the bottom.
- The formulas are less reliable for very short or very tall people.
- Check your body fat percentage as well — it tells you what your weight is made of.
Your checklist
- Enter your height and sex in the calculator above.
- Read the four formula results and their average.
- Note your healthy BMI range alongside the average.
- Add your current weight to see the gap to the average.
- Decide where in the range you belong, using your build and body fat.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating one formula as the truth — they disagree by design.
- Using feet as a decimal: 5 feet 9 inches is 69 inches, not 5.9 feet.
- Forgetting to subtract 60 — the per-inch amount applies only above five feet.
- Ignoring the BMI range, which is the more honest target.
- Applying the formulas to children, who need growth charts instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal weight for my height?
Find your height in the chart above. A man at 175 cm has an ideal weight of about 70.0 kg, and a woman at 165 cm about 57.7 kg. The calculator above gives your exact figure for any height, plus your healthy BMI range.
What is the ideal weight for 5 ft 7 in?
For a man at 170 cm, about 65.9 kg. For a woman at 170 cm, about 61.4 kg. The healthy BMI range at that height is 53.5 to 72.0 kg for both sexes.
What is the ideal weight for 5 ft 3 in?
For a man at 160 cm, about 57.8 kg. For a woman at 160 cm, about 53.9 kg. The healthy range at that height is 47.4 to 63.7 kg.
Why is ideal weight different for men and women?
Men carry more muscle on average at the same height, and muscle is heavier than fat. The formulas reflect that: the male base weights are 50 to 56 kg against 45.5 to 53 kg for women, a gap of about 4 kg at every height.
Is the top of the healthy range still healthy?
Yes. The healthy BMI range runs from 18.5 to 24.9, and anywhere inside it is linked with the lowest health risks. Muscular people often sit near the top, lightly built people near the bottom, and both are fine.
What if I am taller than the chart?
The calculator above works for any height, but above 185 cm the formulas are less reliable because they assume weight rises linearly with height while bodies scale more like volume. Check your body fat percentage as well — if it is in the Fitness band, your weight is fine.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for general information only and is not medical advice. Ideal weight formulas are population averages and do not account for build, muscle mass, age or health conditions. Consult a doctor about your weight, especially if you are underweight or have a medical condition.