Ideal weight by height · four classic formulas
Ideal weight for a 5'8" (173 cm) man
Quick answer
At 5'8" (173 cm), the four classic ideal weight formulas give 148 to 153 lb (67.2 to 69.6 kg) for a man. The weight range for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 at this height is 122 to 164 lb.
- Lowest of four, Robinson
- 148lb
- 67.2 kg
- Highest of four, Hamwi
- 153lb
- 69.6 kg
- Spread between formulas
- 5lb
- 2.4 kg
- BMI 18.5 to 24.9
- 122 to 164lb
- 55.2 to 74.3 kg
Four formulas estimate an “ideal” body weight from height and sex alone. This page works them out for a man who is 5 ft 8 in, shows the arithmetic, and sets the answers beside the heights around it, 5'5" to 5'11". Treat the numbers as reference points to talk over with a professional, not as a goal.
The four formulas at 5'8"
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 5'8" that is 8 inches above 5 ft.
| Formula | Arithmetic (kg) | Result | In pounds | Against BMI 18.5 to 24.9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson (1983) | 52 + 1.9 × 8 | 67.2 kg | 148 lb | Inside the range |
| Miller (1983) | 56.2 + 1.41 × 8 | 67.5 kg | 149 lb | Inside the range |
| Devine (1974) | 50 + 2.3 × 8 | 68.4 kg | 151 lb | Inside the range |
| Hamwi (1964) | 48 + 2.7 × 8 | 69.6 kg | 153 lb | Inside the range |
How the formulas change around 5'8"
Ideal weight for nearby heights, male
| Height | Robinson | Miller | Devine | Hamwi | All four |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5'5" | 136 | 140 | 136 | 136 | 136 to 140 lb |
| 5'6" | 140 | 143 | 141 | 142 | 140 to 143 lb |
| 5'7" | 144 | 146 | 146 | 147 | 144 to 147 lb |
| 5'8" (this page) | 148 | 149 | 151 | 153 | 148 to 153 lb |
| 5'9" | 152 | 152 | 156 | 159 | 152 to 159 lb |
| 5'10" | 157 | 155 | 161 | 165 | 155 to 165 lb |
| 5'11" | 161 | 158 | 166 | 171 | 158 to 171 lb |
What is specific to 5'8"
At 5 ft 8 in the formulas sit 8 inches above their 5 ft starting point. Hamwi (1964) gives the most at 153 lb (48 + 2.7 × 8 = 69.6 kg) and Robinson (1983) the least at 148 lb (52 + 1.9 × 8 = 67.2 kg), a gap of 5 lb. For a man, each extra inch adds between 3.1 and 6 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 122 to 164 lb: Robinson and Miller and Devine and Hamwi are inside it. The BMI range is 42 lb wide at 5'8", against 5 lb for the four formulas together, so it leaves more room.
One inch shorter, at 5'7", the four formulas give 144 to 147 lb; one inch taller, at 5'9", 152 to 159 lb. For a woman at the same 5'8", the same formulas give 138 to 141 lb, because each formula has its own base weight and per-inch step for each sex (see the 5'8" female 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 man of 5'8" 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 5'8" man?
Why do the formulas give different answers at 5'8"?
What weight range does a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 give at 5'8"?
Should I aim for the number on this page?
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 webThese 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.