Ideal weight by height · four classic formulas

Ideal weight for a 5'3" (160 cm) woman

Quick answer

At 5'3" (160 cm), the four classic ideal weight formulas give 115 to 126 lb (52.1 to 57.2 kg) for a woman. The weight range for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 at this height is 104 to 141 lb.

Lowest of four, Hamwi: 115lb; 52.1 kg
Highest of four, Miller: 126lb; 57.2 kg
Spread between formulas: 11lb; 5.1 kg
BMI 18.5 to 24.9: 104 to 141lb; 47.4 to 63.8 kg

Four formulas estimate an “ideal” body weight from height and sex alone. This page works them out for a woman who is 5 ft 3 in, shows the arithmetic, and sets the answers beside the heights around it, 5'0" to 5'6". Treat the numbers as reference points to talk over with a professional, not as a goal.

The four formulas at 5'3"

Each formula is a base weight at 5 ft plus a fixed amount for every inch above it, a little differently for women and men. At 5'3" that is 3 inches above 5 ft.

Ideal weight for a woman at 5'3" (160 cm), by formula
Formula	Arithmetic (kg)	Result	In pounds	Against BMI 18.5 to 24.9
Robinson (1983)	49 + 1.7 × 3	54.1 kg	119 lb	Inside the range
Miller (1983)	53.1 + 1.36 × 3	57.2 kg	126 lb	Inside the range
Devine (1974)	45.5 + 2.3 × 3	52.4 kg	116 lb	Inside the range
Hamwi (1964)	45.5 + 2.2 × 3	52.1 kg	115 lb	Inside the range

How the formulas change around 5'3"

At 5'3" the four formulas give 115 to 126 lb for a woman. The lines show how each formula changes from 5'0" to 5'6"; the shaded band is the weight range for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.

Ideal weight for nearby heights, female

Ideal weight in pounds for a woman, 5'0" to 5'6"
Height	Robinson	Miller	Devine	Hamwi	All four
5'0"	108	117	100	100	100 to 117 lb
5'1"	112	120	105	105	105 to 120 lb
5'2"	116	123	110	110	110 to 123 lb
5'3" (this page)	119	126	116	115	115 to 126 lb
5'4"	123	129	121	120	120 to 129 lb
5'5"	127	132	126	125	125 to 132 lb
5'6"	131	135	131	129	129 to 135 lb

What is specific to 5'3"

At 5 ft 3 in the formulas sit 3 inches above their 5 ft starting point. Miller (1983) gives the most at 126 lb (53.1 + 1.36 × 3 = 57.2 kg) and Hamwi (1964) the least at 115 lb (45.5 + 2.2 × 3 = 52.1 kg), a gap of 11 lb. For a woman, each extra inch adds between 3 and 5.1 lb across the four, which is why the gap changes with height.

Against the weight range for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, which at this height is 104 to 141 lb: Robinson and Miller and Devine and Hamwi are inside it. The BMI range is 37 lb wide at 5'3", against 11 lb for the four formulas together, so it leaves more room.

One inch shorter, at 5'2", the four formulas give 110 to 123 lb; one inch taller, at 5'4", 120 to 129 lb. For a man at the same 5'3", the same formulas give 124 to 133 lb, because each formula has its own base weight and per-inch step for each sex (see the 5'3" male page).

Ideal body weight formulas were first developed to help clinicians dose medication, not to say how anyone should look. They use height and sex only, so they cannot see your muscle, bone structure, age or health, and a woman of 5'3" can be well outside them for good reasons.

Where the formulas come from

The Robinson (1983), Miller (1983), Devine (1974) and Hamwi (1964) formulas are the ones in our ideal weight calculator, which also takes any height. The weight range for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is weight = BMI × height² for those two BMI values. Full citations are on the sources page, and the arithmetic is explained on how we calculate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ideal weight for a 5'3" woman?

The four classic formulas give 115 to 126 lb (52.1 to 57.2 kg) at 5'3": Robinson 119 lb, Miller 126 lb, Devine 116 lb, Hamwi 115 lb. They are estimates from height and sex alone, so they are a starting point for a conversation, not a goal.

Why do the formulas give different answers at 5'3"?

Each starts from a different base weight at 5 ft and adds a different amount per inch. At 5'3" that is 3 in above 5 ft, and the formulas end 11 lb apart, from Hamwi at 115 lb to Miller at 126 lb.

What weight range does a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 give at 5'3"?

104 to 141 lb (47.4 to 63.8 kg) at 160 cm. BMI ignores muscle and frame, so it is a screening number, not a diagnosis.

Should I aim for the number on this page?

Not on the strength of a formula. They were written to help dose medication and know nothing about your muscle, frame, age or health. A doctor or registered dietitian can tell you what weight is right for you.

From a number to a daily plan

CalorTracker turns a weight you and your doctor settle on into calorie and macro targets, and logs meals from a photo, your voice or text. Free to start.

Start free on the web

These figures come from formulas that use height and sex only. They are not a medical target and not advice about what you should weigh. Muscle, frame, age, pregnancy and health conditions all matter. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about a weight that is right for you.