Based on the healthy BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9, a person who is 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) tall has an ideal weight of about 50 to 68 kg (111 to 150 lbs), and someone 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) falls around 58 to 79 kg (129 to 174 lbs). The BMI-based range is the same for men and women, though sex-specific formulas give men a slightly higher target at the same height.
"How much should I weigh for my height?" does not have one right answer, but it has a useful range. Below is the full height and weight chart in both kg and lbs, separate ideal-weight figures for men and women, how age fits in, and the waist-to-height ratio that often matters more than the number on the scale.
Quick answer
Your healthy weight is the range that puts your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 for your height. Find your height in the chart below to read it off in kg and lbs. Then sanity-check it with your waist-to-height ratio: keep your waist under half your height.
Key takeaways
- The healthy weight range comes from the WHO healthy BMI band of 18.5 to 24.9 and applies equally to men and women at any given height.
- At 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) the range is about 50 to 68 kg (111 to 150 lbs); at 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) it is about 58 to 79 kg (129 to 174 lbs).
- Sex-specific formulas give men a target roughly 4.5 kg higher than women at the same height, but the difference is small in practice.
- For adults the range does not change with age, although body composition shifts as muscle falls and fat rises.
- Waist-to-height ratio under 0.5 (waist less than half your height) is a stronger health signal than weight alone.
For a figure that accounts for your sex and frame, use our Ideal Weight Calculator.
Height and weight chart (men and women)
These ranges use a BMI of 18.5 (lower end of healthy) to 24.9 (upper end of healthy) and apply to both sexes. The chart leads with kg for metric readers and shows lbs alongside.
| Height | Healthy weight (kg) | Healthy weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 4'10" (147 cm) | 40 - 54 kg | 89 - 119 lbs |
| 4'11" (150 cm) | 42 - 56 kg | 92 - 123 lbs |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 43 - 58 kg | 95 - 128 lbs |
| 5'1" (155 cm) | 45 - 60 kg | 98 - 132 lbs |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 46 - 62 kg | 101 - 136 lbs |
| 5'3" (160 cm) | 47 - 64 kg | 104 - 141 lbs |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 49 - 66 kg | 108 - 145 lbs |
| 5'5" (165 cm) | 50 - 68 kg | 111 - 150 lbs |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 52 - 70 kg | 115 - 154 lbs |
| 5'7" (170 cm) | 54 - 72 kg | 118 - 159 lbs |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 55 - 74 kg | 122 - 164 lbs |
| 5'9" (175 cm) | 57 - 77 kg | 125 - 169 lbs |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 58 - 79 kg | 129 - 174 lbs |
| 5'11" (180 cm) | 60 - 81 kg | 133 - 179 lbs |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 62 - 83 kg | 136 - 184 lbs |
| 6'1" (185 cm) | 64 - 86 kg | 140 - 189 lbs |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 65 - 88 kg | 144 - 194 lbs |
| 6'3" (191 cm) | 67 - 90 kg | 148 - 199 lbs |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 69 - 93 kg | 152 - 205 lbs |
Based on BMI 18.5 to 24.9. For adults 18 and over. The shaded rows are the most-searched heights. Not intended for use during pregnancy.
Ideal weight for men and women by height
The chart above gives one range for both sexes because BMI does not differ by sex. Several formulas do give separate targets. The most referenced is the Devine formula, which sets a single reference weight: 50 kg for a man (45.5 kg for a woman) at 5 feet, plus 2.3 kg for every inch above that.
| Height | Men (ideal weight) | Women (ideal weight) |
|---|---|---|
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 50 kg (110 lbs) | 45 kg (100 lbs) |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | 55 kg (120 lbs) | 50 kg (110 lbs) |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 59 kg (130 lbs) | 55 kg (121 lbs) |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | 64 kg (141 lbs) | 59 kg (131 lbs) |
| 5'7" (170 cm) | 66 kg (146 lbs) | 62 kg (136 lbs) |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 68 kg (151 lbs) | 64 kg (141 lbs) |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | 73 kg (161 lbs) | 69 kg (151 lbs) |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 78 kg (171 lbs) | 73 kg (161 lbs) |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | 82 kg (181 lbs) | 78 kg (171 lbs) |
Devine formula reference weights. These are single numbers, not ranges, and were designed for clinical dosing rather than fitness goals. Treat them as a rough reference, not a target to hit exactly.
Notice the men's and women's figures sit only about 4.5 kg apart at any height, and both land inside the healthy BMI range from the first chart. For everyday goal setting, the BMI range is more forgiving and realistic because it is a band rather than a single number. The Devine figures are most useful as a quick reference point.
Does ideal weight change with age?
This is one of the most common searches, so it is worth being clear: for adults, the healthy weight range for a given height does not change with age. The BMI band of 18.5 to 24.9 applies to everyone 18 and over, whether you are 25 or 65.
What does change with age is body composition. Muscle mass tends to decline from your 40s onward while fat increases, so an older adult can sit at a perfectly normal weight while carrying more fat than they did at the same weight in their 20s. That is why, as you get older, waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage become more informative than the scale.
Age-specific weight charts genuinely apply to children and teenagers, whose weight is assessed against age-and-sex growth percentiles rather than adult BMI. If you are looking up a healthy weight for a child, speak to a paediatrician or use a dedicated child growth chart, not the adult chart above.
A better number than weight: waist-to-height ratio
Weight tells you how heavy you are, but not where you carry fat, and fat around the abdomen carries the most health risk. A simple, well-evidenced check fixes that: the waist-to-height ratio.
The rule of thumb
Keep your waist under half your height
Divide your waist by your height in the same units. A ratio below 0.5 is linked to lower health risk for most adults. Example: at 170 cm tall, keep your waist under 85 cm; at 180 cm, under 90 cm.
UK health guidance from NICE now recommends using waist-to-height ratio alongside BMI for exactly this reason: it flags central fat that BMI and a height-weight chart can miss. It is especially useful for people whose weight looks fine on paper but who carry fat around the middle.
What the height and weight chart is based on
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is calculated from weight and height:
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m) squared
The World Health Organization classifies BMI 18.5 to 24.9 as the healthy range for adults. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 and above is obese ( WHO - Obesity and overweight ). To build the chart, we take the lowest and highest healthy BMI and multiply each by your height squared, which gives the bottom and top of your range.
These thresholds come from large population studies linking weight to health risk. They are a reasonable starting point for most adults, with real limitations we cover next.
Limitations of any height and weight chart
It cannot tell muscle from fat
Someone who weighs 85 kg with 15% body fat is in a very different position than someone at 85 kg with 32% body fat, yet the chart puts both in the same box. If you want to know what your weight is made of, our Body Fat Calculator is a better starting point, and our body fat percentage chart by age and gender gives reference ranges.
BMI was not designed for everyone
BMI overstates risk for muscular people (athletes often read as overweight) and can understate it for older adults who have lost muscle. Some populations, including South Asians, face higher health risk at lower BMI thresholds. For most moderately active adults it still works as a quick screen. For why it misleads, see why BMI is inaccurate.
It ignores fat distribution
Two people at the same weight and height can have very different health profiles depending on where they carry fat. That is the gap waist-to-height ratio fills.
What if you are outside the healthy range?
If your weight falls outside the range, that is useful information, not a verdict. Being slightly above it with good muscle, active habits, and healthy blood markers is very different from being above it with high body fat and no exercise. Likewise, being a little below while eating well and feeling strong is different from being underweight through undereating or illness.
Use the chart as one data point. Combine it with your waist-to-height ratio, body fat percentage, energy levels, and basic health markers from a check-up. Our BMI Calculator gives your current BMI and what it means, and our guide to a healthy BMI explains the categories in plain language.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal weight for my height?
A practical guide is the healthy BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9. For example, at 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) that is about 50 to 68 kg (111 to 150 lbs), and at 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) it is about 58 to 79 kg (129 to 174 lbs). Find your height in the chart above to read off your range.
What is the ideal weight for men by height?
Using the Devine formula, a man's reference ideal weight is about 59 kg at 5 feet 4 inches, 66 kg at 5 feet 7 inches, 73 kg at 5 feet 10 inches, and 78 kg at 6 feet. These are single reference points. For most men the healthy BMI range, which is a band rather than one number, is more useful for setting goals.
Is the height and weight chart different for men and women?
The BMI-based range is the same for both sexes at any height. Sex-specific formulas like Devine give women a target about 4.5 kg lower than men at the same height, because women on average carry less muscle. The difference is small and either approach works as a starting point. Our Ideal Weight Calculator takes sex into account for a personalised figure.
What is the ideal weight for 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm)?
The healthy range based on BMI is about 50 to 68 kg (111 to 150 lbs). The Devine reference ideal weight at this height is around 62 kg for a man and 57 kg for a woman.
Does ideal weight change with age?
For adults, no. The healthy BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 applies at every adult age. Body composition changes with age, with muscle falling and fat rising, so waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage become more telling over time. Age-based weight charts apply to children and teens, who are assessed with growth percentiles, not adult BMI.
What is a healthy waist-to-height ratio?
Keep your waist under half your height, which is a ratio below 0.5. For someone 170 cm tall that means a waist under about 85 cm. Health bodies including NICE now use this ratio alongside BMI because it reflects where you carry fat.
Can I be a healthy weight but still have too much fat?
Yes. Weight and BMI cannot distinguish fat from muscle or show fat location. A person can sit in the healthy range while carrying excess abdominal fat, sometimes called normal-weight obesity. Waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage catch what the scale misses.
How accurate is a height and weight chart?
It is a screening guide, not a precise individual measure. Because it is based on BMI, it does not account for muscle, bone density, age, or fat distribution, so muscular people can read as overweight while being lean. Use it as one signal alongside waist-to-height ratio and body fat percentage. For more, see BMI vs body fat percentage.