Ideal Body Weight Calculator

Ideal Body Weight Calculator for Nutrition. The historical name ideal body weight does not mean a personally ideal, healthy or desired weight. The number is a formula-derived reference distinct from actual, adjusted and lean body weight.

For shared guidance on choosing a tool and documenting results, read the clinical calculator workflow.

How this calculator works

The Devine reference is 50 kg for the male coefficient or 45.5 kg for the female coefficient, plus 2.3 kg per inch above 60 inches. The height conversion uses exactly 2.54 cm per inch.

When to use this calculator

Check a reference-weight calculation when a specific protocol explicitly requests Devine weight. Identify that protocol before substituting the result into another equation or a drug prescription.

Inputs used

  • Adult height at least 152.4 cm
  • Published sex coefficient

Clinical interpretation

The historical name ideal body weight does not mean a personally ideal, healthy or desired weight. The number is a formula-derived reference distinct from actual, adjusted and lean body weight.

Worked example

At 70 inches, the male result is 50 + 2.3 x 10 = 73 kg and the female result is 68.5 kg. A height below 60 inches is rejected here instead of displaying the previous misleading zero-kilogram result.

Limitations and safety notes

This implementation does not extrapolate below the original five-foot reference. Body composition, ethnicity, age-related changes and the dosing evidence for a particular medicine are not resolved by the formula.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this number for every drug?

No. Use the body-size measure and dose limits specified by the medicine and relevant clinical protocol.

References

  • https://doi.org/10.1177/106002807400801104
  • https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6782117/

Editorial review and citation methodology

Maintained by the Quick Medical Calculator Editorial Team. Content record date: September 9, 2026. A content date is not evidence of independent clinical review. Individual clinical sign-off is not recorded on this page.

  • Prefer original validation studies for scoring systems and prediction tools.
  • Use current specialty society guidance, transplant allocation policy, public health guidance, or regulator resources when they govern clinical use.
  • Include limitations and safety notes when a calculator is population-specific, context-dependent, or unsuitable as a standalone decision tool.

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