Ideal weight calculator
Find the healthy weight range for your height from BMI thresholds, plus the weight that corresponds to a BMI of 22 — the middle of the healthy band.
BMI-based reference range, not a personal medical target.
How this calculator works
“Ideal weight” has no single scientific definition. The practical answer is a range: for most adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 corresponds to a healthy weight for a given height, and the risk curve is flat-to-lowest in the middle of that band. This calculator shows both ends of the range and the weight at BMI 22 as a target point.
Older formulas — Robinson, Devine, Hamwi, Miller — were designed for prescribing drug doses and produce single numbers that can look oddly precise. They assume a frame and body composition that may not match yours. A range based on BMI plus waist circumference and body-fat percentage is a more honest guide. Athletes should expect to sit above the BMI range with low body fat, and people with low muscle mass can be inside the range while carrying too much fat.
The formula
Healthy weight range = 18.5 × height² to 24.9 × height² (metres, kilograms). Target = 22 × height², near the middle of the healthy band. Convert with 1 kg = 2.205 lb, 1 in = 2.54 cm.
low = 18.5 · height_m²
target = 22.0 · height_m²
high = 24.9 · height_m²For example, at 1.78 m the healthy range is about 59–79 kg (129–174 lb) and the BMI 22 target is about 69.7 kg.
Worked example
At 5 ft 10 in (178 cm in metric mode), a BMI of 22 corresponds to about 153.3 lb. The healthy range for that height runs from 128.9 lb to 173.5 lb.
Common mistakes
- Chasing the lowest number in the range. Being at the bottom of the healthy BMI band is not automatically better; muscle mass and body composition matter more.
- Comparing with outdated ideal-weight formulas. Robinson, Devine and Hamwi were built for dosing, not wellness, and ignore body composition.
- Ignoring waist circumference. Two people at the same weight can have very different risk depending on where the fat is stored.
Frequently asked questions
What is my ideal weight?
Use the healthy BMI range for your height as the primary guide, then adjust with body-fat percentage and waist circumference. There is no single exact ideal number.
Should athletes use BMI?
BMI can mislabel muscular athletes as overweight. For athletes, body-fat percentage and performance metrics are far more useful than weight for height.
Does ideal weight change with age?
The healthy BMI band is the same for all adults, but some research suggests slightly higher body weight is protective in older age. Discuss individual targets with a clinician rather than relying on a single formula.
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