How to Calculate Ideal Body Weight: A Worked Example
A step-by-step worked example using the Devine formula, with a comparison across all four standard ideal body weight formulas.
Each ideal body weight formula follows the same basic shape — a base weight at 5 feet, plus a fixed amount for every inch taller — with different specific numbers per formula.
The Devine formula
Women: 45.5 + 2.3 × (height in inches − 60)
Worked example: 5'6" (66 in), female, medium frame
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| Devine | 59.3 kg (130.7 lbs) |
| Robinson | 59.2 kg (130.5 lbs) |
| Miller | 61.3 kg (135.1 lbs) |
| Hamwi | 58.7 kg (129.4 lbs) |
| Average | ≈59.6 kg (131.4 lbs) |
| Full range | 129.4–135.1 lbs |
Run your own height, sex, and frame size through the Ideal Body Weight Calculator to see the same four-formula comparison for your numbers.