Ideal Weight: Standard Formulas & Healthy Ranges

Q: What is the standard weight for my height?

Quick Broca formula: men = height(cm) − 105, women = height − 110, with ±10% acceptable. Better: the BMI range 18.5–23.9 × height². For 175cm: 56.6–73.2kg. Any weight inside the band with a healthy waist (<90cm men / <85cm women) counts as a good weight.

Q: Which ideal-weight formula is most accurate?

None is "accurate" — they are population averages. Broca is simplest and works well for average builds in China. Devine was designed for drug dosing. The BMI band is the most defensible because it is a range, not a point. Treat all formulas as a starting zone, then adjust for frame size and muscle.

Q: How does body frame size change my ideal weight?

Measure your wrist: men 19cm / women >17cm = large frame (aim high). A large-framed 175cm man can healthily weigh 73–78kg while a small-framed one is best at 58–63kg — a 15kg spread at the same height.

Formula

Ideal weight

Note

Devine

65.9 kg

Most cited clinically

Robinson

65.2 kg

Devine refinement

Miller

66.0 kg

Taller-friendly

Hamwi

66.7 kg

Dietitian classic

BMI healthy range

53.5-69.1 kg

CN guideline 18.5-23.9

Key Takeaways

Broca formula: men = height(cm) − 105; women = height − 110; ±10% is the acceptable range

BMI range method: 18.5–23.9 × height²(m²) gives the full healthy band — 175cm → 56.6–73.2kg

Devine formula: men = 50 + 2.3×(inches over 5ft); women = 45.5 + 2.3×(inches over 5ft)

No single number: frame size, muscle mass and age shift the right target — the range is the answer

Core answer: "Ideal weight" formulas cluster around BMI 21–22: Devine (men) = 50 kg + 2.3 kg per inch over 5 ft; Robinson = 52 + 1.9/in; Miller = 56.2 + 1.41/in. For 175 cm (5'9") men: Devine 70.7, Robinson 69.1, Miller 68.3 kg — all ≈ BMI 22–23. Women: Devine = 45.5 + 2.3/in. Treat these as a reference zone (±10%), not a verdict — frame size, muscle, and sport matter more than the second decimal.

The four classic formulas (height over 5 feet = 152.4 cm)

Formula	Men	Women
Devine (1974)	50 + 2.3×in	45.5 + 2.3×in
Robinson (1983)	52 + 1.9×in	49 + 1.7×in
Miller (1983)	56.2 + 1.41×in	53.1 + 1.36×in
Hamwi (1964)	48 + 2.7×in	45.5 + 2.2×in

China's common quick formula: 身高(cm) − 105 = standard kg (men), − 107.5 (women). 175 cm man → 70 kg ✓ (lands right in the Devine cluster).

Comparison at common heights

Height	Devine M	China −105	BMI-22 target
160 cm	57.2 kg	55 kg	56.3 kg
170 cm	66.5 kg	65 kg	63.6 kg
175 cm	70.7 kg	70 kg	67.4 kg
180 cm	75.2 kg	75 kg	71.3 kg

All formulas agree within ±3 kg — pick the middle as your reference, then adjust ±10% for frame.

Adjusting for frame size

Wrist test: wrap thumb+middle finger around your wrist (for height 158–172 cm adults). Fingers overlap → small frame (−10%); just touch → medium; gap → large frame (+10%). A 175 cm large-framed man's realistic zone: 70 + 10% ≈ 63–77 kg.

Worked examples

Example 1 — Setting a goal. 168 cm woman, medium frame: Devine 45.5 + 2.3×(168−152.4)/2.54 ≈ 45.5 + 14.1 ≈ 59.6? Careful: inches over 5 ft = (168−152.4)/2.54 = 6.14 in → 45.5 + 14.1 = 59.6 kg. China quick: 168 − 107.5 = 60.5 kg. BMI-22: 62 kg. Reference zone ≈ 58–62 kg.

Example 2 — The muscular exception. A 175 cm strength athlete at 82 kg, body fat 12%: every formula says "overweight"; body composition says excellent. Ideal-weight formulas assume average muscle — athletes should use body-fat targets (men 10–20%, women 18–28%) instead.

Example 3 — Realistic rate. Current 78 kg, target 68 kg: at a 300–500 kcal/day deficit, expect 0.3–0.5 kg/week → 5–8 months. Plans promising 10 kg/month sell water and muscle loss.

Common mistakes and myths

Single-number worship — all formulas output a ZONE ±10%; obsessing over 70.0 vs 70.7 kg is numerology.
Ignoring body composition — two people at 75 kg can be 15% or 30% fat; the mirror and the tape measure outrank the scale.
Applying adult formulas to teens — growth charts (percentiles) govern under-18; Devine was built for adults.
"Ideal = healthy" always — metabolically healthy obesity and skinny-fat normal weight both exist; waist circumference (< 90 cm men, < 85 cm women in China) adds the missing signal.
Crash-diet anchoring — hitting the number by losing muscle lowers metabolism and guarantees rebound; protein + resistance training protect the goal you actually want.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard weight for my height?

Quick Broca formula: men = height(cm) − 105, women = height − 110, with ±10% acceptable. Better: the BMI range 18.5–23.9 × height². For 175cm: 56.6–73.2kg. Any weight inside the band with a healthy waist (<90cm men / <85cm women) counts as a good weight.

Which ideal-weight formula is most accurate?

None is "accurate" — they are population averages. Broca is simplest and works well for average builds in China. Devine was designed for drug dosing. The BMI band is the most defensible because it is a range, not a point. Treat all formulas as a starting zone, then adjust for frame size and muscle.

How does body frame size change my ideal weight?

Measure your wrist: men <16.5cm / women <15cm = small frame (aim low in the range); men >19cm / women >17cm = large frame (aim high). A large-framed 175cm man can healthily weigh 73–78kg while a small-framed one is best at 58–63kg — a 15kg spread at the same height.

Is the standard different for athletes?

Yes. Muscle is ~18% denser than fat, so trained individuals sit above formula weights with excellent health markers. A 175cm lifter at 78kg with 14% body fat is healthier than a sedentary 65kg person at 25% body fat. For athletes, body-fat % (men 10–18%, women 18–25%) is the real standard.

Does ideal weight change with age?

After 40, most people lose 0.5–1% muscle per year (sarcopenia), so the same weight means more fat. For adults 65+, studies link slightly higher BMI (22–26.9) with lower mortality — reserves help survive illness. Do not chase your 20-year-old weight in your 60s; chase strength and waist circumference instead.

I am inside the range but still look soft — why?

That is "normal weight obesity" (skinny fat): acceptable BMI with high body-fat % and low muscle. Common in sedentary people who diet without training. Fix it with resistance training 2–3×/week plus 1.2g/kg protein — recomposing at the same weight, not losing more weight.