Ideal Weight by Height Chart
Reference Chart · US Standard
Ideal Weight & Body Measurements
by Height
A complete, science-backed chart for adult men and women — from 4′9″ to 6′5″ — covering healthy weight ranges, reference body measurements, and age-adjusted targets. Tap any height to see your numbers.
Find your height
Tap a height below to load the full breakdown — weight range, body measurements, and age-adjusted targets update instantly.
Select height (ft′in″)
5′5″ · 165 cm
65 in · 1.65 mMen · Adult
— lbs
Healthy range: — lbs · — kg
Women · Adult
— lbs
Healthy range: — lbs · — kg
The single "ideal" figure shown is the average of the four US clinical formulas (Devine, Hamwi, Robinson, Miller). The healthy range uses the CDC/WHO BMI window of 18.5–24.9 — the evidence-based target for adults.
Men · Reference
Women · Reference
Measurements are healthy reference proportions from height ratios common in fitness and clinical literature, not absolute goals. Frame, ethnicity, and body composition shift these meaningfully. Waist-to-height ratio under 0.5 is the single most consistent health marker.
| Age Group | BMI Target | Men (lbs) | Women (lbs) |
|---|
Based on Andres et al. (1985) age-adjusted BMI — large epidemiological data showed lowest all-cause mortality rises by about 1 BMI unit per decade after 35. Figures are healthy windows, not strict targets.
Your BMI, calculated
Enter your real height and weight to see where you fall against the standard CDC range and how far from the ideal mid-point you are.
Quick calculator
Your BMI
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Healthy weight at your height: —
How "ideal weight" is calculated
Four US clinical formulas plus the BMI population standard — each tells a slightly different story.
The BMI approach
Body Mass Index is the standard used by the CDC, NIH, and WHO. It defines a healthy adult window as BMI 18.5–24.9. This range comes from large mortality studies and is the most evidence-based "normal weight" definition available — but it doesn't distinguish muscle from fat, and it slightly under-classifies risk in Asian populations and over-classifies it in athletes.
Formula (US units): BMI = (lbs ÷ in²) × 703
For a 5′5″ adult, the healthy window spans roughly 111–149 lbs — a 38-pound range that intentionally accounts for frame size and body composition.
The clinical formulas
- Devine (1974)
Men: 50 kg + 2.3 kg × (in over 5 ft)Women: 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg × (in over 5 ft)
Originally for drug dosing — now the most-cited "ideal weight" formula in US medicine. - Hamwi (1964)
Men: 48 + 2.7 kg × (in over 5 ft)Women: 45.5 + 2.2 kg × (in over 5 ft) - Robinson (1983)
Men: 52 + 1.9 kg × (in over 5 ft)Women: 49 + 1.7 kg × (in over 5 ft) - Miller (1983)
Men: 56.2 + 1.41 kg × (in over 5 ft)Women: 53.1 + 1.36 kg × (in over 5 ft)
Reading body measurements
The three-measurement system has limits — but the ratios it produces are some of the strongest health markers we have.
For women
Reference proportions for a healthy adult woman scale with height: bust ≈ 0.55 × height, waist ≈ 0.40 × height, hip ≈ 0.575 × height (all in inches). For a 5′5″ woman, that's roughly 36-26-37.
The single number that matters most clinically is waist circumference. The US National Institutes of Health flags risk above 35 inches for women, regardless of height. Waist-to-hip ratio under 0.85 and waist-to-height ratio under 0.5 are stronger predictors of cardiovascular and metabolic risk than BMI alone.
For men
Healthy reference proportions: chest ≈ 0.62 × height, waist ≈ 0.45 × height, hip ≈ 0.55 × height. For a 5′10″ man, that's about 43-31-39.
The classic "V-taper" silhouette has a chest-to-waist ratio of 1.4 to 1.6 — research shows observers consistently rate this range as the most physically attractive across cultures. The clinical risk threshold for men is a waist over 40 inches, and a waist-to-height ratio above 0.5.
Six things the chart can't see
Every chart is a starting point. These shift the right number for you — sometimes by 10 pounds in either direction.
Frame size
Measure your wrist: small (under 6½″), medium (6½–7½″), large (over 7½″) for women; under 5½″ / 5½–6½″ / over 6½″ for men. Large frames add 10% to ideal; small subtract 10%.
Muscle mass
Muscle is 18% denser than fat. An athletic 5′10″ man at 195 lbs and 12% body fat lands in BMI "overweight" but is metabolically far healthier than a sedentary man at 175 lbs with 28% fat.
Age
The BMI associated with lowest mortality rises by roughly 1 unit per decade after 35. A "healthy" weight at 65 is genuinely heavier than at 25 — the chart above adjusts for this.
Ethnicity
The WHO recommends lower BMI thresholds (23 overweight, 27.5 obese) for South and East Asian populations. Black populations carry less visceral fat at the same BMI. One chart cannot cover this.
Body composition
A DEXA scan or even a tape-measure body fat estimate tells you far more than the scale. Aim for 10–20% body fat (men) or 18–28% (women) before chasing a specific weight number.
How you feel
The strongest signal is the cheapest: energy, sleep, mood, recovery, mobility. A weight that lets you feel and perform well, sustained for years, is almost always healthier than a number.
Disclaimer. This chart is educational reference content, not medical advice. Ideal weight and body measurements vary substantially based on individual factors a chart cannot account for. Consult a physician or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your weight, nutrition, or exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most cited US clinical formula is Devine (1974): 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft for men, 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft for women. The BMI healthy range (18.5–24.9) is the standard population reference used by CDC and WHO. Hamwi, Robinson, and Miller formulas give similar values within a few pounds. The chart averages all four for a single "ideal" figure.
No single number fits every body. Frame size, muscle mass, age, ethnicity, and bone density shift the healthy range. Use the chart as a starting reference, then look at body composition, waist-to-height ratio, and how you feel — those are stronger health signals than a single target number.
Reference proportions track height: bust ≈ 0.55 × height, waist ≈ 0.40 × height, hip ≈ 0.575 × height (inches). A waist-to-hip ratio under 0.85 and waist-to-height ratio under 0.5 are stronger health indicators than absolute measurements — the US NIH flags waist over 35 inches as a metabolic risk threshold regardless of height.
Chest ≈ 0.62 × height, waist ≈ 0.45 × height, hip ≈ 0.55 × height. The V-taper silhouette has chest-to-waist 1.4–1.6. The NIH risk threshold is waist over 40 inches; the most consistent single marker is waist-to-height ratio under 0.5.
Yes. The Andres et al. (1985) analysis — and subsequent meta-analyses — show that the BMI associated with lowest all-cause mortality rises by about 1 unit per decade after age 35. A healthy weight at 65 is genuinely heavier than at 25. The Age Variations tab above reflects this shift.