An ideal weight chart by height and age starts with one simple range: a healthy weight for most adults is the weight that gives a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, which works out to 108 to 145 pounds at 5’4″ and 129 to 173 pounds at 5’10”. The formulas people call “ideal body weight” give single numbers that land inside that range at every height in the table below, but they are rough estimates built from old insurance data, not personal targets. This guide gives you the full chart, compares the formulas, and explains how age changes what the number means.
The CDC defines a healthy weight for adults 20 and older as a BMI of 18.5 to less than 25, and states that the categories apply regardless of age, sex, or race. The CDC also calls BMI a screening measure that should be considered with other factors, which is why the later sections cover waist size, muscle, and older adults.
Jump to: Healthy Weight Chart | Ideal Body Weight Formulas | Formulas Compared | By Age | Limits | Find Your Range | Over 65 | Reaching Your Range | FAQ
Ideal Weight Chart by Height
The chart below shows the healthy weight range for each height from 4’10” to 6’4″, calculated from the BMI formula (weight in pounds = BMI x height in inches squared / 703). The low end is the lightest weight that reaches a BMI of 18.5, and the high end is the heaviest weight that stays under a BMI of 25. It is the same chart for men and women, because BMI categories do not differ by sex.
| Height | Healthy weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) | In kilograms |
|---|---|---|
| 4’10” | 89 to 119 lb | 40 to 54 kg |
| 4’11” | 92 to 123 lb | 42 to 56 kg |
| 5’0″ | 95 to 127 lb | 43 to 58 kg |
| 5’1″ | 98 to 131 lb | 44 to 59 kg |
| 5’2″ | 102 to 136 lb | 46 to 62 kg |
| 5’3″ | 105 to 140 lb | 48 to 64 kg |
| 5’4″ | 108 to 145 lb | 49 to 66 kg |
| 5’5″ | 112 to 149 lb | 51 to 68 kg |
| 5’6″ | 115 to 154 lb | 52 to 70 kg |
| 5’7″ | 119 to 158 lb | 54 to 72 kg |
| 5’8″ | 122 to 163 lb | 55 to 74 kg |
| 5’9″ | 126 to 168 lb | 57 to 76 kg |
| 5’10” | 129 to 173 lb | 59 to 78 kg |
| 5’11” | 133 to 178 lb | 60 to 81 kg |
| 6’0″ | 137 to 183 lb | 62 to 83 kg |
| 6’1″ | 141 to 188 lb | 64 to 85 kg |
| 6’2″ | 145 to 193 lb | 66 to 88 kg |
| 6’3″ | 149 to 199 lb | 68 to 90 kg |
| 6’4″ | 152 to 204 lb | 69 to 93 kg |
The range is wide on purpose. At 5’6″ it spans about 40 pounds, and anywhere inside it counts as healthy by BMI. Where you belong in the range depends on your frame, your muscle, and your health, which no height chart can see. The normal BMI chart by age and sex shows the same categories with BMI numbers and what changes for children and for adults over 65.
Ideal Body Weight Formulas for Men and Women
Doctors and pharmacists use ideal body weight formulas mostly to dose medicine, but they also circulate as “ideal weight” calculators. A commentary in the NIH-hosted PubMed Central lists the best known ones. Each starts from a base weight at 5 feet (60 inches) and adds a set amount for every inch above it.
- Devine (1974). Men: 50 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet. Women: 45.5 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch over 5 feet.
- Robinson. Men: 52 kg plus 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet. Women: 49 kg plus 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet.
- Hamwi (1964). Men: 106 pounds plus 6 pounds per inch over 5 feet. Women: 100 pounds plus 5 pounds per inch over 5 feet.
The table applies each formula from 5’0″ to 6’4″, rounded to the nearest pound. Read each cell as men first, then women.
| Height | Devine (men / women), lb | Robinson (men / women), lb | Hamwi (men / women), lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5’0″ | 110 / 100 | 115 / 108 | 106 / 100 |
| 5’1″ | 115 / 105 | 119 / 112 | 112 / 105 |
| 5’2″ | 120 / 110 | 123 / 116 | 118 / 110 |
| 5’3″ | 125 / 116 | 127 / 119 | 124 / 115 |
| 5’4″ | 131 / 121 | 131 / 123 | 130 / 120 |
| 5’5″ | 136 / 126 | 136 / 127 | 136 / 125 |
| 5’6″ | 141 / 131 | 140 / 131 | 142 / 130 |
| 5’7″ | 146 / 136 | 144 / 134 | 148 / 135 |
| 5’8″ | 151 / 141 | 148 / 138 | 154 / 140 |
| 5’9″ | 156 / 146 | 152 / 142 | 160 / 145 |
| 5’10” | 161 / 151 | 157 / 146 | 166 / 150 |
| 5’11” | 166 / 156 | 161 / 149 | 172 / 155 |
| 6’0″ | 171 / 161 | 165 / 153 | 178 / 160 |
| 6’1″ | 176 / 166 | 169 / 157 | 184 / 165 |
| 6’2″ | 181 / 171 | 173 / 160 | 190 / 170 |
| 6’3″ | 186 / 176 | 177 / 164 | 196 / 175 |
| 6’4″ | 191 / 181 | 182 / 168 | 202 / 180 |
How the Formulas Compare With the BMI Range
For a woman at 5’4″, the BMI range is 108 to 145 pounds, while Devine gives 121, Robinson 123, and Hamwi 120 pounds. For a man at 5’10”, the BMI range is 129 to 173 pounds, while Devine gives 161, Robinson 157, and Hamwi 166 pounds. Every formula result in the table above falls inside the BMI range at its height, but the formulas disagree with each other by several pounds.
A short letter in a peer-reviewed journal compared the formulas with Devine and found differences of up to 14% in males and 19% in females. At 160 cm the female estimates ranged from 52.38 kg (Devine) to 57.17 kg (Miller) to 60 kg (Broca), a spread of almost 8 kg, or about 17 pounds. That spread is a good reminder that none of them is “the” ideal weight.
Does Ideal Weight Change With Age?
The healthy weight range by height does not change after age 20. The CDC applies the same BMI categories to every adult, and the formulas above do not include age at all. What changes is how well height and weight describe your health.
| Group | What to use |
|---|---|
| Adults 20 and older | The same BMI categories apply regardless of age, sex, or race, so the healthy weight range by height does not change |
| Adults over 65 | Use the range as a starting point, then add waist size, muscle, and your doctor’s advice |
| Children and teens | Growth percentiles, not an adult chart. See the BMI chart for kids |
Muscle loss is the main reason age matters. The National Institute on Aging says healthy weight ranges for older adults are different than for other age groups, that the scale and online BMI calculators only tell part of the story, and that older adults at a normal weight may have more fat and less muscle than slightly overweight peers. It also notes that aging is associated with muscle loss at every weight. That is why the normal body fat percentage by age ranges rise with each decade even when weight stays the same.
Why No Chart Gives Your Exact Ideal Weight
The same PubMed Central commentary lists several problems with the formulas. They come from Metropolitan Life insurance data, and about 20% of the weight and height figures in the 1959 tables and about 10% in the 1983 tables were self-reported. Frame size was “defined, measured, and reported arbitrarily.” Many formulas look alike because they were built from the same tables, so they do not confirm each other. They assume weight rises in a straight line with height, and they ignore body width, trunk length, and muscle. The authors also note that the formulas do not produce a consistent BMI across heights.
Cleveland Clinic adds that BMI does not separate muscle from fat, so a muscular person can have a high BMI with low body fat, and that it does not account for family history, ethnicity, sex, or activity level. It also says excess belly fat carries more health risk than fat elsewhere. In practice, treat the chart as a first filter and check your waist next. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute flags a waist above 40 inches (102 cm) for men and above 35 inches (88 cm) for women as a sign of higher risk. The normal waist size chart for women and men lists those cutoffs alongside the lower ones used for Asian adults.
How to Find Your Own Healthy Weight Range
- Measure your height barefoot against a wall, and round to the nearest inch.
- Find your row in the healthy weight chart above to get your BMI-based range.
- Compare with a formula if you want a single reference point, keeping in mind it is an estimate.
- Check your waist. The normal waist-to-hip ratio chart shows how to measure and read it, and the waist to height ratio chart gives a waist limit for your height.
- Look at the rest of your health: blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, plus how your clothes fit and how you feel.
- Ask your doctor to set your target, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or are over 65.
Ideal Weight After 65
NIA warns that an elevated BMI in older adults can raise the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes, and that a low BMI is linked to osteoporosis, anemia, and slower recovery from illness or infection. In other words, both ends matter. NIA also says sudden, unintended weight loss can be a sign of a serious medical problem and recommends seeing a doctor if you or a loved one is losing weight rapidly without meaning to, and before trying to lose or gain weight. For older adults it suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, which can be spread across seven days. The 7-day healthy meal plan for seniors 65+ shows what a balanced week of eating can look like.
What to Do If You Are Outside Your Range
If you are above the range, aim for a first step, not the top of the chart. Losing 5% to 10% of your starting weight is a realistic first milestone, and how to set realistic weight loss goals explains how to pace it. How much of a calorie deficit you actually need breaks down the numbers, and a high-protein foods list helps you keep muscle while you lose fat. If you are below the range, talk to your doctor before trying to gain weight, since low weight can have a medical cause. Track progress with more than the scale, because non-scale victories such as waist size, strength, and energy often move first. For weigh-in timing, see how often you should really weigh yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ideal Weight by Height and Age
What is the ideal weight for a woman who is 5’4″?
The healthy BMI range at 5’4″ is 108 to 145 pounds. The formulas give 121 pounds (Devine), 123 (Robinson), and 120 (Hamwi), all inside that range. Any weight within the range is healthy by BMI, so use the formulas as reference points rather than targets.
What is the ideal weight for a man who is 5’10”?
The healthy BMI range at 5’10” is 129 to 173 pounds. The formulas give 161 pounds (Devine), 157 (Robinson), and 166 (Hamwi).
Does ideal weight change with age?
Not by the numbers. The CDC applies the same BMI categories to every adult, and the formulas do not include age. What changes is body composition: muscle declines with age, so the same weight can mean more fat and less muscle, which is why waist size and strength matter more as you get older.
Is ideal weight different for men and women?
The BMI-based healthy range is the same for both. The formulas give women lower numbers, for example a base 4.5 kg lower for Devine. Cleveland Clinic also notes that adult women may have more body fat than adult men, which BMI does not reflect because it uses the same calculation for both.
Which ideal body weight formula is the most accurate?
None has been shown to be best. They share the same insurance-table origins, and the authors of the NIH-hosted comparison do not say which one is most accurate. Pick the BMI range as your main guide and treat any formula as a rough check.
Should you aim for the ideal weight on the chart?
Aim for a weight you can maintain with good health markers, which may be anywhere in the range. If you are outside the range, a 5% to 10% loss or a doctor-guided gain is a better first goal than a single number.
The Bottom Line
The best answer to “what is the right weight for you” is a range, not a number: the weight at your height that gives a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. The formulas land inside that range but disagree with each other, and none of them knows your muscle, your frame, or your age. Use the chart to find your range, check your waist and your health numbers, and let your doctor set the target if anything is off.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your doctor before setting a weight goal.
