Healthy Weight Ranges by Height

Updated July 2026 · Sources: CDC, WHO, Robinson (1983), Miller (1983), Devine (1974), Hamwi (1964)

BMI-Based Healthy Weight Ranges

The simplest and most widely used method is to calculate the weight range that corresponds to a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 for your height. This is the standard used by the CDC and WHO for adults 20 years and older.

Healthy Weight Ranges by Height (Adults)

Height	Height (cm)	Min Weight (lbs)	Max Weight (lbs)	Min Weight (kg)	Max Weight (kg)
4'10" (147 cm)	147	91	122	41	55
5'0" (152 cm)	152	97	131	44	59
5'2" (157 cm)	157	104	140	47	64
5'4" (163 cm)	163	110	148	50	67
5'6" (168 cm)	168	118	158	54	72
5'8" (173 cm)	173	125	168	57	76
5'10" (178 cm)	178	129	174	59	79
6'0" (183 cm)	183	140	188	64	85
6'2" (188 cm)	188	148	199	67	90
6'4" (193 cm)	193	156	210	71	95

Ranges calculated using BMI 18.5 (minimum) and 24.9 (maximum). These are population-level guidelines; individual optimal weight varies based on body composition, muscle mass, frame size, age, and health status. For children and teens, use CDC growth charts with BMI-for-age percentiles instead.

Ideal Body Weight Formulas

Before BMI became the standard in the 1980s, physicians used "ideal body weight" (IBW) formulas to estimate a healthy weight for a given height. These formulas were developed for different purposes—some for drug dosing, some for clinical assessment, some for insurance tables. They are still used today in medical settings, particularly for calculating medication dosages and nutritional requirements.

All four formulas use a base weight for 5 feet (60 inches) and add a fixed amount per inch above 5 feet. They differ in their base weight and per-inch increment, reflecting different assumptions about healthy body composition.

1. Robinson Formula (1983)

Developed by J.D. Robinson by analyzing data from the 1959 Metropolitan Life Insurance tables. It is one of the most widely used IBW formulas in clinical practice, particularly for drug dosing calculations.

2. Miller Formula (1983)

Developed by D.R. Miller as an update to the Robinson formula, using more recent data. It produces slightly higher weights than Robinson, reflecting changes in average body size over the 24 years between the Metropolitan Life tables and the 1980s.

3. Devine Formula (1974)

Developed by B.J. Devine for use in calculating medication dosages, particularly for patients with renal impairment. It is the most commonly used formula in hospital and clinical settings for drug dosing and nutritional assessment. The Devine formula was actually intended to estimate lean body weight rather than total body weight, but it is widely used as an IBW proxy.

4. Hamwi Formula (1964)

The oldest and simplest formula, developed by G.J. Hamwi for quick clinical estimation. It is still taught in many medical and nursing programs because it is easy to memorize and calculate mentally. The Hamwi formula tends to produce the lowest weights of the four formulas.

Formula Comparison by Height

Here is how the four formulas compare for a range of heights, plus the BMI-based range for reference:

Men

Height	Robinson	Miller	Devine	Hamwi	BMI Range (18.5-24.9)
5'4" (163 cm)	111 lbs	112 lbs	116 lbs	121 lbs	110-148 lbs
5'6" (168 cm)	115 lbs	115 lbs	121 lbs	126 lbs	118-158 lbs
5'8" (173 cm)	119 lbs	118 lbs	125 lbs	132 lbs	125-168 lbs
5'10" (178 cm)	156 lbs	155 lbs	161 lbs	165 lbs	129-174 lbs
6'0" (183 cm)	160 lbs	159 lbs	166 lbs	171 lbs	140-188 lbs
6'2" (188 cm)	164 lbs	162 lbs	170 lbs	177 lbs	148-199 lbs
6'4" (193 cm)	168 lbs	165 lbs	175 lbs	182 lbs	156-210 lbs

Women

Height	Robinson	Miller	Devine	Hamwi	BMI Range (18.5-24.9)
5'0" (152 cm)	101 lbs	101 lbs	100 lbs	100 lbs	97-131 lbs
5'2" (157 cm)	105 lbs	104 lbs	105 lbs	105 lbs	104-140 lbs
5'4" (163 cm)	108 lbs	108 lbs	110 lbs	110 lbs	110-148 lbs
5'6" (168 cm)	112 lbs	111 lbs	115 lbs	115 lbs	118-158 lbs
5'8" (173 cm)	116 lbs	114 lbs	119 lbs	119 lbs	125-168 lbs
5'10" (178 cm)	119 lbs	117 lbs	124 lbs	124 lbs	129-174 lbs
6'0" (183 cm)	123 lbs	121 lbs	129 lbs	129 lbs	140-188 lbs

All weights rounded to nearest pound. BMI range is the full healthy range (18.5-24.9). The ideal body weight formulas produce a single target weight rather than a range, and they tend to fall in the lower half of the BMI range. Note that the Devine and Hamwi formulas for women are identical—both use 45.5 kg base + 2.3 kg/inch.

Which Formula Should You Use?

Each formula was developed for a different purpose and population. Here is how to choose:

Formula	Best For	Tendency	Limitations
BMI Range (18.5-24.9)	General population screening, broad health assessment	Wide range, accounts for body size variation	Does not account for muscle mass, frame size, or body composition
Robinson	Drug dosing, clinical nutrition assessment	Lower end of healthy range	Based on 1959 insurance data, may underestimate for modern populations
Miller	Updated clinical estimation, general health target	Similar to Robinson, slightly higher	Still based on population averages, not individual composition
Devine	Medication dosing (especially renal drugs), hospital settings	Mid-range, widely used clinically	Originally designed for lean body weight estimation, not total weight
Hamwi	Quick mental calculation, nursing education	Highest of the four formulas	Least validated, oldest data, may overestimate for some

Our recommendation: Use the BMI range as your primary guide because it provides a range rather than a single number, which is more realistic for individual variation. Use the Devine formula as a secondary reference point if you want a single target weight. The Devine formula is the most clinically validated and widely used in medical practice. The average of all four formulas plus the midpoint of the BMI range gives you a robust target zone.

Setting Realistic Weight Goals

Regardless of which formula you use, the most important factor is setting a goal that is realistic, sustainable, and health-focused rather than appearance-focused. Here is the evidence-based framework:

1. The 5-10% Rule

Research consistently shows that losing 5-10% of your current body weight produces significant health benefits even if you remain above your "ideal" weight:

• 5% weight loss improves blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol
• 7% weight loss (as shown in the Diabetes Prevention Program) reduces type 2 diabetes risk by 58%
• 10% weight loss improves sleep apnea, joint pain, and fertility
• These benefits occur regardless of whether you reach your "ideal" weight

Example: If you weigh 220 lbs, a 5% loss is 11 lbs (to 209 lbs), and a 10% loss is 22 lbs (to 198 lbs). Both produce meaningful health improvements. Do not fixate on reaching 160 lbs if 198 lbs is a sustainable, healthy weight for you.

2. The 0.5-1% Weekly Loss Rate

The most sustainable and muscle-preserving rate of weight loss is 0.5-1% of your body weight per week. For a 200-lb person, that is 1-2 lbs per week. For a 300-lb person, that is 1.5-3 lbs per week. Faster loss increases muscle loss, metabolic slowdown, hunger, and rebound risk.

3. Process Goals Over Outcome Goals

Outcome goals ("lose 30 lbs") are motivating but can be discouraging when progress stalls. Process goals ("eat protein at every meal," "walk 8,000 steps daily," "strength train 3x/week") are within your control and build habits that produce sustainable results.

4. Frame Size Matters

People with larger bone structures (wrist circumference >7.25" for men, >6.5" for women) naturally carry more weight at the same height. A large-framed person at BMI 25 may be healthier than a small-framed person at BMI 22. The BMI range accounts for some of this variation, but individual frame size can shift your optimal weight by 10-20 lbs.

5. Age Adjustments

Research suggests that slightly higher BMI (25-27) may be optimal for adults over 65, as it reduces frailty and osteoporosis-related fracture risk. The "ideal" weight for a 70-year-old may be 10-15 lbs higher than for a 30-year-old of the same height. Do not apply 30-year-old standards to older adults.

Weight Goal Timeline Calculator

Here is how long it takes to reach common weight goals at a sustainable 0.5-1% weekly loss rate:

Starting Weight	5% Goal	10% Goal	15% Goal	20% Goal	Time to 10% (weeks)
150 lbs	142.5 lbs	135 lbs	127.5 lbs	120 lbs	10-20 weeks
180 lbs	171 lbs	162 lbs	153 lbs	144 lbs	10-20 weeks
200 lbs	190 lbs	180 lbs	170 lbs	160 lbs	10-20 weeks
220 lbs	209 lbs	198 lbs	187 lbs	176 lbs	10-20 weeks
250 lbs	237.5 lbs	225 lbs	212.5 lbs	200 lbs	10-20 weeks
300 lbs	285 lbs	270 lbs	255 lbs	240 lbs	10-20 weeks

Time to 10% loss assumes 0.5-1% weekly loss rate. Actual time varies based on adherence, metabolic adaptation, activity level, and individual biology. The first 2-4 weeks often show faster loss (water weight) before stabilizing to the true fat loss rate.

When to Stop Losing Weight

Not everyone needs to lose weight, and not everyone should aim for the lowest end of their BMI range. Consider stopping weight loss when:

• You have reached a 5-10% loss and your health markers (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, sleep quality, energy) have improved significantly.
• You are within the BMI 18.5-24.9 range and feel energetic, strong, and satisfied with your eating.
• You are losing strength in the gym, feeling chronically fatigued, or experiencing hair loss, irregular periods, or persistent hunger.
• You are obsessing over the scale, avoiding social events, or developing disordered eating patterns.
• You are over 65 and a BMI of 25-27 may actually be healthier than 18.5-22.

The goal is not a number on the scale—it is sustainable health, energy, strength, and quality of life. The healthiest weight is the one you can maintain without misery.