Ideal weight by height · four classic formulas

Ideal weight for a 5'9" (175 cm) man

Quick answer

At 5'9" (175 cm), the four classic ideal weight formulas give 152 to 159 lb (68.9 to 72.3 kg) for a man. The weight range for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 at this height is 125 to 169 lb.

Lowest of four, Miller: 152lb; 68.9 kg
Highest of four, Hamwi: 159lb; 72.3 kg
Spread between formulas: 7lb; 3.4 kg
BMI 18.5 to 24.9: 125 to 169lb; 56.8 to 76.5 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 9 in, shows the arithmetic, and sets the answers beside the heights around it, 5'6" to 6'0". Treat the numbers as reference points to talk over with a professional, not as a goal.

The four formulas at 5'9"

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 5'9" that is 9 inches above 5 ft.

Ideal weight for a man at 5'9" (175 cm), by formula
Formula	Arithmetic (kg)	Result	In pounds	Against BMI 18.5 to 24.9
Robinson (1983)	52 + 1.9 × 9	69.1 kg	152 lb	Inside the range
Miller (1983)	56.2 + 1.41 × 9	68.9 kg	152 lb	Inside the range
Devine (1974)	50 + 2.3 × 9	70.7 kg	156 lb	Inside the range
Hamwi (1964)	48 + 2.7 × 9	72.3 kg	159 lb	Inside the range

How the formulas change around 5'9"

At 5'9" the four formulas give 152 to 159 lb for a man. The lines show how each formula changes from 5'6" to 6'0"; the shaded band is the weight range for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.

Ideal weight for nearby heights, male

Ideal weight in pounds for a man, 5'6" to 6'0"
Height	Robinson	Miller	Devine	Hamwi	All four
5'6"	140	143	141	142	140 to 143 lb
5'7"	144	146	146	147	144 to 147 lb
5'8"	148	149	151	153	148 to 153 lb
5'9" (this page)	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
6'0"	165	161	171	177	161 to 177 lb

What is specific to 5'9"

At 5 ft 9 in the formulas sit 9 inches above their 5 ft starting point. Hamwi (1964) gives the most at 159 lb (48 + 2.7 × 9 = 72.3 kg) and Miller (1983) the least at 152 lb (56.2 + 1.41 × 9 = 68.9 kg), a gap of 7 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 125 to 169 lb: Robinson and Miller and Devine and Hamwi are inside it. The BMI range is 44 lb wide at 5'9", against 7 lb for the four formulas together, so it leaves more room.

One inch shorter, at 5'8", the four formulas give 148 to 153 lb; one inch taller, at 5'10", 155 to 165 lb. For a woman at the same 5'9", the same formulas give 142 to 146 lb, because each formula has its own base weight and per-inch step for each sex (see the 5'9" 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 5'9" 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 5'9" man?

The four classic formulas give 152 to 159 lb (68.9 to 72.3 kg) at 5'9": Robinson 152 lb, Miller 152 lb, Devine 156 lb, Hamwi 159 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 5'9"?

Each starts from a different base weight at 5 ft and adds a different amount per inch. At 5'9" that is 9 in above 5 ft, and the formulas end 7 lb apart, from Miller at 152 lb to Hamwi at 159 lb.

What weight range does a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 give at 5'9"?

125 to 169 lb (56.8 to 76.5 kg) at 175 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.