There is no single “perfect” weight — but there is a healthy range
Type your height into any “ideal weight” search and you will get a dozen different answers, each claiming authority. The truth is kinder and more useful: healthy weight is a range, not a number. The standard medical ranges come from decades of research linking weight to long-term health — and they deliberately span several kilos to account for different frames, muscle mass, and builds.
This calculator uses the widely accepted healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) applied to your height to give you your personal healthy weight band. It is a screening guide, not a prescription — athletes, very muscular women, and women with certain medical conditions will reasonably sit outside it.
Enter your height below to see your healthy weight range — and read on for what the number means, and what matters more than the number.
Healthy weight ranges by height
Your healthy range, based on a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. Find your height to see where the healthy band sits for you.
| Height | Healthy weight range | In pounds |
|---|---|---|
| 5’0″ (152 cm) | 43 – 58 kg | 95 – 128 lb |
| 5’2″ (157 cm) | 46 – 61 kg | 101 – 135 lb |
| 5’4″ (163 cm) | 49 – 66 kg | 108 – 146 lb |
| 5’6″ (168 cm) | 52 – 70 kg | 115 – 154 lb |
| 5’8″ (173 cm) | 55 – 75 kg | 121 – 165 lb |
| 5’10” (178 cm) | 59 – 79 kg | 130 – 174 lb |
Why a range beats a target weight
Fixating on a single number — 60 kilos, 130 pounds — sets you up for frustration, because healthy bodies naturally fluctuate by a kilo or two with water, hormones, and meals. A range gives you room to live: anywhere inside it is fine, and the middle of it is a comfortable place to aim if you like having a target.
Frame size shifts the picture too. Two women of the same height can both be perfectly healthy at different weights if one has a small frame and the other a large one — which is why our body frame size calculator pairs so well with this one. Muscle adds further nuance: a woman who strength-trains may sit at the top of her range, or just above it, while being leaner and healthier than a sedentary woman at the bottom.
What matters more than the range
The range is a starting point, not the whole health story. Where you carry weight matters more than how much: a waist measurement under 80 cm (31.5 inches) for women is a stronger health signal than the scale. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, how you move, how you sleep, and how you feel day to day all outrank any single weight number.
After 50, the goalposts shift gently. Modest weight stability matters more than chasing the bottom of the range — and preserving muscle through strength training and enough protein matters more than the number on the scale. If your weight is stable, your waist is healthy, and your check-ups are good, you are doing better than any chart can measure.
This calculator is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have concerns about your weight, an eating disorder history, or a medical condition, please speak to your doctor.