The female formulas
This page starts with the female setting, so you see the women's versions of four classic formulas. Each one starts with a weight for a woman who is 5 feet (152 cm) tall and adds a set amount for each extra inch (2.54 cm):
- Devine (1974): 45.5 kg plus 2.3 kg per inch
- Robinson (1983): 49 kg plus 1.7 kg per inch
- Miller (1983): 53.1 kg plus 1.36 kg per inch
- Hamwi (1964): 45.5 kg plus 2.2 kg per inch
For a woman who is 5 ft 5 in (165 cm), they range from about 125 to 132 lb (56.5 to 59.9 kg). The healthy BMI range for the same height is much wider: about 111 to 150 lb (50.4 to 67.9 kg).
These formulas were built to help doctors dose medicines. They are not a target you have to hit. They also aren't meant for women under 5 feet tall.
Ideal weight by age
Many women search for an ideal weight by age. The honest answer is that the formulas and the adult BMI cut-offs don't change with age. The CDC applies the same BMI categories to all adults 20 and older.
Age still matters for your health, though. A 2014 review of adults 65 and older found that a BMI in the overweight range was not linked to a higher risk of death, while a BMI under 23 was. For older women, keeping muscle and strength often matters more than reaching a lower number.
A better way to use this number
- Use the healthy range as a broad guide, not a single goal.
- Check your waist too. Our waist-to-height ratio calculator takes about a minute.
- Talk to your doctor about a weight that suits your health.
Learn more in our guide to ideal weight for height, or go back to the main ideal weight calculator.