Ideal body weight (Devine): men = 50 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 ft; women = 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 ft. For a 5′4″ woman that is 54.7 kg (8 st 9 lb); for a 5′10″ man, 73.0 kg (11 st 7 lb). IBW is mainly used for medicine dosing; the NHS uses the BMI range for healthy weight.
Ideal Body Weight (IBW) Calculator
Ideal body weight formulas
Devine (women): IBW = 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60)
Miller: men 56.2 + 1.41 × in · women 53.1 + 1.36 × in
Hamwi: men 48 + 2.7 × in · women 45.5 + 2.2 × in
“in” = inches over 5 feet. Results in kilograms.
IBW charts for women and men
| Height | NHS healthy range | Devine | Robinson | Miller | Formula average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4′10″ (147 cm) | 40.2 – 54.0 kg 6 st 5 lb – 8 st 7 lb | 40.9 kg | 45.6 kg | 50.4 kg | 44.5 kg 7 st 0 lb |
| 4′11″ (150 cm) | 41.5 – 55.9 kg 6 st 8 lb – 8 st 11 lb | 43.2 kg | 47.3 kg | 51.7 kg | 46.4 kg 7 st 4 lb |
| 5′0″ (152 cm) | 43.0 – 57.8 kg 6 st 11 lb – 9 st 1 lb | 45.5 kg | 49.0 kg | 53.1 kg | 48.3 kg 7 st 8 lb |
| 5′1″ (155 cm) | 44.4 – 59.8 kg 7 st 0 lb – 9 st 6 lb | 47.8 kg | 50.7 kg | 54.5 kg | 50.2 kg 7 st 13 lb |
| 5′2″ (157 cm) | 45.9 – 61.8 kg 7 st 3 lb – 9 st 10 lb | 50.1 kg | 52.4 kg | 55.8 kg | 52.1 kg 8 st 3 lb |
| 5′3″ (160 cm) | 47.4 – 63.8 kg 7 st 6 lb – 10 st 1 lb | 52.4 kg | 54.1 kg | 57.2 kg | 53.9 kg 8 st 7 lb |
| 5′4″ (163 cm) | 48.9 – 65.8 kg 7 st 10 lb – 10 st 5 lb | 54.7 kg | 55.8 kg | 58.5 kg | 55.8 kg 8 st 11 lb |
| 5′5″ (165 cm) | 50.4 – 67.9 kg 7 st 13 lb – 10 st 10 lb | 57.0 kg | 57.5 kg | 59.9 kg | 57.7 kg 9 st 1 lb |
| 5′6″ (168 cm) | 52.0 – 70.0 kg 8 st 3 lb – 11 st 0 lb | 59.3 kg | 59.2 kg | 61.3 kg | 59.6 kg 9 st 5 lb |
| 5′7″ (170 cm) | 53.6 – 72.1 kg 8 st 6 lb – 11 st 5 lb | 61.6 kg | 60.9 kg | 62.6 kg | 61.5 kg 9 st 10 lb |
| 5′8″ (173 cm) | 55.2 – 74.3 kg 8 st 10 lb – 11 st 10 lb | 63.9 kg | 62.6 kg | 64.0 kg | 63.4 kg 10 st 0 lb |
| 5′9″ (175 cm) | 56.8 – 76.5 kg 8 st 13 lb – 12 st 1 lb | 66.2 kg | 64.3 kg | 65.3 kg | 65.3 kg 10 st 4 lb |
| 5′10″ (178 cm) | 58.5 – 78.7 kg 9 st 3 lb – 12 st 6 lb | 68.5 kg | 66.0 kg | 66.7 kg | 67.2 kg 10 st 8 lb |
| 5′11″ (180 cm) | 60.2 – 81.0 kg 9 st 7 lb – 12 st 11 lb | 70.8 kg | 67.7 kg | 68.1 kg | 69.1 kg 10 st 12 lb |
| 6′0″ (183 cm) | 61.9 – 83.3 kg 9 st 10 lb – 13 st 2 lb | 73.1 kg | 69.4 kg | 69.4 kg | 71.0 kg 11 st 2 lb |
| Height | NHS healthy range | Devine | Robinson | Miller | Formula average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5′2″ (157 cm) | 45.9 – 61.8 kg 7 st 3 lb – 9 st 10 lb | 54.6 kg | 55.8 kg | 59.0 kg | 55.7 kg 8 st 11 lb |
| 5′3″ (160 cm) | 47.4 – 63.8 kg 7 st 6 lb – 10 st 1 lb | 56.9 kg | 57.7 kg | 60.4 kg | 57.8 kg 9 st 1 lb |
| 5′4″ (163 cm) | 48.9 – 65.8 kg 7 st 10 lb – 10 st 5 lb | 59.2 kg | 59.6 kg | 61.8 kg | 59.9 kg 9 st 6 lb |
| 5′5″ (165 cm) | 50.4 – 67.9 kg 7 st 13 lb – 10 st 10 lb | 61.5 kg | 61.5 kg | 63.2 kg | 61.9 kg 9 st 11 lb |
| 5′6″ (168 cm) | 52.0 – 70.0 kg 8 st 3 lb – 11 st 0 lb | 63.8 kg | 63.4 kg | 64.7 kg | 64.0 kg 10 st 1 lb |
| 5′7″ (170 cm) | 53.6 – 72.1 kg 8 st 6 lb – 11 st 5 lb | 66.1 kg | 65.3 kg | 66.1 kg | 66.1 kg 10 st 6 lb |
| 5′8″ (173 cm) | 55.2 – 74.3 kg 8 st 10 lb – 11 st 10 lb | 68.4 kg | 67.2 kg | 67.5 kg | 68.2 kg 10 st 10 lb |
| 5′9″ (175 cm) | 56.8 – 76.5 kg 8 st 13 lb – 12 st 1 lb | 70.7 kg | 69.1 kg | 68.9 kg | 70.2 kg 11 st 1 lb |
| 5′10″ (178 cm) | 58.5 – 78.7 kg 9 st 3 lb – 12 st 6 lb | 73.0 kg | 71.0 kg | 70.3 kg | 72.3 kg 11 st 5 lb |
| 5′11″ (180 cm) | 60.2 – 81.0 kg 9 st 7 lb – 12 st 11 lb | 75.3 kg | 72.9 kg | 71.7 kg | 74.4 kg 11 st 10 lb |
| 6′0″ (183 cm) | 61.9 – 83.3 kg 9 st 10 lb – 13 st 2 lb | 77.6 kg | 74.8 kg | 73.1 kg | 76.5 kg 12 st 1 lb |
| 6′1″ (185 cm) | 63.6 – 85.6 kg 10 st 0 lb – 13 st 7 lb | 79.9 kg | 76.7 kg | 74.5 kg | 78.6 kg 12 st 5 lb |
| 6′2″ (188 cm) | 65.4 – 88.0 kg 10 st 4 lb – 13 st 12 lb | 82.2 kg | 78.6 kg | 75.9 kg | 80.6 kg 12 st 10 lb |
| 6′3″ (190 cm) | 67.1 – 90.4 kg 10 st 8 lb – 14 st 3 lb | 84.5 kg | 80.5 kg | 77.3 kg | 82.7 kg 13 st 0 lb |
| 6′4″ (193 cm) | 68.9 – 92.8 kg 10 st 12 lb – 14 st 9 lb | 86.8 kg | 82.4 kg | 78.8 kg | 84.8 kg 13 st 5 lb |
| 6′5″ (196 cm) | 70.8 – 95.2 kg 11 st 2 lb – 15 st 0 lb | 89.1 kg | 84.3 kg | 80.2 kg | 86.9 kg 13 st 10 lb |
| 6′6″ (198 cm) | 72.6 – 97.7 kg 11 st 6 lb – 15 st 5 lb | 91.4 kg | 86.2 kg | 81.6 kg | 88.9 kg 14 st 0 lb |
How IBW is used in medicine
Ideal body weight was developed to help calculate doses of medicines that do not spread into fat tissue in the same way as into muscle. It is still used for:
- dosing some antibiotics (for example aminoglycosides such as gentamicin)
- setting ventilator tidal volumes in intensive care
- some kidney function estimates (creatinine clearance)
- working out adjusted body weight for people well above their IBW
Medicine doses must always be set by a qualified clinician using local protocols. This calculator is for information only.
IBW vs the NHS healthy weight range
IBW gives one number; the NHS gives a range. The Devine IBW usually sits in the middle or lower half of the healthy BMI range for average heights, but it can fall below the healthy range for short women and be quite high for tall men. For a personal goal, the healthy weight range is more flexible and better supported by health research.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Devine formula?
The Devine formula estimates ideal body weight as 50 kg (men) or 45.5 kg (women) plus 2.3 kg for every inch of height over 5 feet.
Which ideal body weight formula is most accurate?
None is “accurate” for an individual – they are estimates. Devine is the most widely used in hospitals; Robinson and Miller give slightly different values.
Can I use IBW if I am under 5 feet?
The formulas were not designed for people under 5 ft, and they subtract weight below 60 inches, which can give very low numbers. Use the BMI-based range instead.
Related tools and guides
About this page
How this tool works
IBW formulas: Devine (1974), Robinson (1983), Miller (1983), Hamwi (1964). Each uses height in inches above 60 inches (5 ft). The NHS healthy range is calculated from BMI 18.5–24.9.
Sources
Medical disclaimer: this tool gives an estimate for adults and is not a diagnosis or medical advice. bmicalculatornhs.net is independent and not affiliated with the NHS. Speak to your GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional about your own health. Full disclaimer.