Ideal Weight by Height — Charts, Formulas and What They Actually Mean

Multiple formula comparison for men and women, with height/weight reference tables and practical context.

📖 5 min read  ·  Updated May 2025  ·  HealthWellness

There is no single ideal weight — it depends on height, frame size, age, sex and body composition. Multiple formulas give ranges, which is more honest than a single number.

Ideal Weight Ranges by Height (Women, Metric)

HeightBMI Range (18.5–24.9)Devine Formula
155 cm (5'1")44–60 kg49 kg
160 cm (5'3")47–64 kg50.5 kg
165 cm (5'5")50–68 kg52 kg
170 cm (5'7")54–72 kg54 kg
175 cm (5'9")57–76 kg56 kg

Ideal Weight Ranges by Height (Men, Metric)

HeightBMI Range (18.5–24.9)Devine Formula
165 cm (5'5")50–68 kg62 kg
170 cm (5'7")54–72 kg65 kg
175 cm (5'9")57–76 kg68 kg
180 cm (5'11")60–81 kg71 kg
185 cm (6'1")63–85 kg74 kg

Why the Range Matters More Than a Single Number

Within the same height, people naturally carry different amounts of muscle and bone. A lean, muscular person and a sedentary person of the same height can have identical BMIs with very different body compositions. The BMI range (18.5–24.9) spans roughly 20kg for most heights — use the full range, not just the midpoint.

Which Formula Is Most Accurate?

The BMI-based range (18.5–24.9) is the most validated against health outcomes. The Devine formula gives a single "target" number that was originally developed for drug dosing — not weight goals. Robinson and Hamwi formulas are variants with slightly different constants. All give estimates; none is a prescription.

Find your healthy weight range for your height.

Use the Ideal Weight Calculator →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a healthy weight for 5'7" (170 cm)?
For a 5'7" (170 cm) person: BMI healthy range corresponds to 54–72 kg (119–159 lbs). The exact ideal depends on sex, frame size and body composition. Men tend toward the upper end; women toward the lower end of this range.
What is the Devine ideal body weight formula?
For men: 50 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60). For women: 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60). A 5'10" man: 50 + 2.3 × 10 = 73 kg. Originally designed for clinical drug dosing; not a dietary target.
Does ideal weight change with age?
Slightly. After 40, muscle mass naturally declines and body fat increases even at the same weight. Some guidelines accept slightly higher BMI for older adults (up to 27) as protective against fractures and illness recovery. Maintaining weight through muscle (not fat) becomes more important.
Is 60 kg a healthy weight for a 5'4" woman?
60 kg at 5'4" (163 cm) gives a BMI of 22.5 — well within the healthy range of 18.5–24.9. This is considered a healthy weight.
What is overweight vs obese by BMI?
BMI 18.5–24.9 = healthy weight. 25–29.9 = overweight. 30–34.9 = obese class I. 35–39.9 = obese class II. 40+ = obese class III. For people of South Asian, East Asian or Southeast Asian descent, health risks begin at lower BMI values — approximately 23 for overweight.