Ideal Weight Range by Height

Is there one ideal weight for your height?

“How much should I weigh?” has no single answer that fits everyone. This calculator applies the adult BMI reference to your height to show a range. It does not replace an individual goal: muscle mass, health, weight history and sustainable habits also matter.

How the weight range is calculated

Lower reference = 18.5 × height²; upper reference = 24.9 × height². Height is in metres.

At 170 cm, the result is approximately 53.5–72.0 kg. Entering your current weight is optional; it adds your current BMI to the result. The tool does not turn that number into an instruction to lose a certain amount or a deadline. The BMI guide explains the index in more detail.

Why do formulas for women and men disagree?

Devine, Robinson, Miller and Hamwi use height and sex to produce single weight estimates. They arose from different contexts, so their outputs can differ for the same person. This tool shows them for comparison and does not label their average the most accurate ideal weight.

The historical comparisons are displayed from 152.4 cm, or 5 feet, upwards. For shorter heights, the tool shows the BMI-based range rather than extending these formulas downwards as if they established a precise target. The main reference range uses the same adult BMI boundaries for women and men; the sex selection changes the comparison equations.

Body frame, wrist size and muscle mass

Calling yourself small-framed or large-framed does not automatically justify subtracting or adding 10% to an estimated weight. Bone structure and muscle mass cannot be captured by one correction factor. For people who strength train, a body-fat estimate and fat-free mass index answer different questions from body weight alone.

Fat-free mass and body surface area are also different concepts. Body surface area has specific clinical uses; it is not a way to set a personal weight-loss target. This page is not a medication-dosing or treatment calculator.

Does ideal weight change with age?

Body composition, physical function and health priorities can change with age. That does not mean a fixed amount should be added to everyone’s weight at 30, 40 or 60. The tool does not apply a universal “ideal BMI of 23–29.9” to people over 65. Unintentional weight loss or changes in strength may deserve more attention than a reference table alone.

These adult ranges are not targets for pregnancy, children or prescribed medical nutrition plans. The NHS BMI resources distinguish adult and child assessment, while NICE guidance discusses interpreting BMI in the person’s circumstances.

What if your weight is outside the range?

Check the measurements and consider whether any weight change was intentional. If a nutrition plan is needed, it should account for your routine, activity and health history. The daily calorie calculator can estimate starting energy needs; it does not mean you should use severe restrictions to fit a table quickly.