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Ideal Weight Calculator

Find your healthy target weight based on height, sex, and body frame — using four established medical formulas.

Your Ideal Weight

Ideal weight (average)
— lb
Range: — to —
Medium frame

Where you sit in the healthy range

— Ideal range —

Weight at key BMI points

Based on WHO healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9). Frame size shifts the target range: small frame BMI 19–23, medium BMI 20–24.9, large BMI 21.5–26. The midpoint of your range is shown as your ideal weight.

Next steps

Calorie Deficit Calculator Find your daily calorie target to reach your ideal weight
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Weight Loss Timeline Calculator See exactly when you could reach your target weight
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BMI Calculator Check your Body Mass Index and healthy weight range
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BMR Calculator Calculate your basal metabolic rate — calories burned at rest
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Body Fat % Calculator Estimate your body fat percentage with measurements
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How is ideal weight calculated?

This calculator uses the WHO healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) as its foundation — the most widely validated standard for healthy weight in adults. Rather than a single number, it gives you a range based on your height and frame size.

Body frame size matters: people with larger bone structures naturally carry more weight at a healthy body composition. A large-framed person's ideal range extends slightly higher (BMI up to 26), while a small-framed person's sits lower (BMI 19–23).

No formula gives a perfect answer. Muscle mass, age, and fitness level all affect what a healthy weight looks like for you personally. Use this range as a guide alongside your BMI and body fat percentage.

What is ideal body weight?

Ideal body weight refers to a weight range associated with good health outcomes for a person of a given height and build. Rather than a single number, ideal weight is best understood as a range within which most people of similar characteristics tend to be healthy. This range accounts for natural variation in bone density, muscle mass, and body frame size that means two people of the same height can be equally healthy at different weights.

This calculator uses the WHO healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) adjusted for body frame size to calculate your ideal weight range. This is more reliable than the traditional Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, and Miller formulas, which were developed in the 1960s–80s for medication dosing and significantly underestimate healthy weights for taller individuals — producing values that would be dangerously underweight for many people.

Your ideal weight range is a useful goal-setting tool rather than a strict medical target. Reaching any weight within your healthy range is a meaningful achievement. Many people feel and perform best at a weight toward the upper end of their healthy range once they have built some muscle through regular exercise.

Frequently asked questions about ideal weight

How do I know my body frame size?

The easiest method: wrap your thumb and index finger around your wrist at the narrowest point. If they overlap, you have a small frame. If they just touch, you have a medium frame. If there is a gap, you have a large frame. You can also measure your wrist: for men, under 6.5" = small, 6.5–7.5" = medium, over 7.5" = large. For women: under 5.5" = small, 5.5–6.5" = medium, over 6.5" = large.

Is ideal weight different for men and women?

Women naturally carry more body fat than men due to hormonal and reproductive differences, but the BMI-based healthy weight range (18.5–24.9) applies to both sexes. The same height produces a different healthy weight range because the BMI formula accounts for the relationship between height and weight rather than sex directly. At 5'6" (168cm), the healthy weight range is the same for men and women using standard BMI cutoffs.

Should I aim for the lower or upper end of my ideal weight range?

For most people starting a weight loss journey, aiming for the upper end of the healthy range first is more realistic and sustainable. Once you reach that point, you can assess how you feel and decide whether to continue. People who exercise regularly and have significant muscle mass often feel and look their best at the upper end or even slightly above the standard healthy range.

How long will it take to reach my ideal weight?

This depends on how far you are from your goal and the size of your calorie deficit. At a sustainable pace of 1 lb (0.45 kg) per week, reaching a goal that is 20 lb away takes approximately 20 weeks. Use our weight loss timeline calculator for a personalised estimate with milestone dates.