Quick Answer
How much should a 5 foot 2 woman weigh?
A 5'2″ woman has an ideal body weight of 110–123 lbs (50–56 kg) across clinical formulas (Devine, Robinson, Miller, Hamwi). The full healthy BMI range at this height is 104–136 lbs. Frame size and muscle mass may shift your personal ideal within that window.
Source: bmihealthchecker.com
Key Takeaways
- 15'0″ ideal weight: 100–117 lbs; 5'2″: 110–123 lbs; 5'4″: 120–129 lbs; 5'5″: 125–132 lbs
- 2The healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) is broader than formula-based ideal weights
- 3Frame size matters — a large-framed 5'3″ woman may be healthy at 130–135 lbs while a small-framed woman fits at 110 lbs
- 4Asian women may face elevated metabolic risk at lower BMI values (around 23)
Definition
Body Frame Size
A measure of skeletal breadth, often estimated by the wrist test: fingers overlap = small frame, fingers touch = medium, fingers don't touch = large frame. Frame size shifts ideal weight by roughly ±10%.
Definition
Healthy BMI Range
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, considered the window of lowest risk for weight-related health conditions in most adult populations.
Source: World Health Organization
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Ideal Weight for Women 5'0" to 5'5"
For many women, the question "What should I weigh?" is one of the first steps toward understanding their health. While there is no single perfect number, established medical formulas and BMI ranges provide a well-researched starting point. This guide covers ideal weight for women at every inch from 5'0" to 5'5", including BMI-based ranges and the four most-used clinical formulas.
Understanding the Weight Ranges
The numbers below come from two sources:
- Clinical formulas — Devine, Robinson, Miller, and Hamwi calculations that estimate a single ideal weight based on height and sex.
- BMI-based ranges — The full span of weights that fall within a healthy BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.
The formula-based ideal weight usually falls near the middle of the healthy BMI range. Think of the formula result as a midpoint and the BMI range as the acceptable window.
Ideal Weight for a 5'0" (152 cm) Woman
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Devine formula | 100 lbs (45.5 kg) |
| Robinson formula | 108 lbs (49.0 kg) |
| Miller formula | 117 lbs (53.1 kg) |
| Hamwi formula | 100 lbs (45.5 kg) |
| Formula range | 100 – 117 lbs |
| Healthy BMI range (18.5–24.9) | 97 – 128 lbs (44 – 58 kg) |
At 5'0", most formulas cluster around 100–117 lbs. A small-framed woman may be perfectly healthy at the lower end, while a large-framed or more muscular woman may sit comfortably near 125 lbs and still be in excellent health.
Ideal Weight for a 5'1" (155 cm) Woman
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Devine formula | 105 lbs (47.8 kg) |
| Robinson formula | 112 lbs (50.7 kg) |
| Miller formula | 120 lbs (54.5 kg) |
| Hamwi formula | 105 lbs (47.7 kg) |
| Formula range | 105 – 120 lbs |
| Healthy BMI range | 101 – 132 lbs (46 – 60 kg) |
An additional inch of height adds roughly 4–5 lbs to most formula estimates. The BMI window is slightly wider at this height.
Ideal Weight for a 5'2" (157 cm) Woman
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Devine formula | 110 lbs (50.1 kg) |
| Robinson formula | 116 lbs (52.4 kg) |
| Miller formula | 123 lbs (55.8 kg) |
| Hamwi formula | 110 lbs (49.9 kg) |
| Formula range | 110 – 123 lbs |
| Healthy BMI range | 104 – 136 lbs (47 – 62 kg) |
5'2" is one of the most common heights for women in many countries. At this height, a weight of around 110–123 lbs places you squarely in the ideal range. If you weigh up to 136 lbs, you are still within a healthy BMI, especially if you carry lean muscle mass.
Ideal Weight for a 5'3" (160 cm) Woman
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Devine formula | 115 lbs (52.3 kg) |
| Robinson formula | 119 lbs (54.1 kg) |
| Miller formula | 126 lbs (57.2 kg) |
| Hamwi formula | 115 lbs (52.1 kg) |
| Formula range | 115 – 126 lbs |
| Healthy BMI range | 107 – 141 lbs (49 – 64 kg) |
The 5'3" female ideal weight is one of the most frequently searched health questions online. The average of the four formulas is about 119 lbs (54 kg), and the healthy BMI window extends up to 141 lbs. If you are between 115 and 135 lbs at this height, you are well within the healthy zone for most body compositions.
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Ideal Weight for a 5'4" (163 cm) Woman
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Devine formula | 120 lbs (54.6 kg) |
| Robinson formula | 123 lbs (55.8 kg) |
| Miller formula | 129 lbs (58.5 kg) |
| Hamwi formula | 120 lbs (54.3 kg) |
| Formula range | 120 – 129 lbs |
| Healthy BMI range | 110 – 145 lbs (50 – 66 kg) |
At 5'4", the BMI at various weights looks like this:
- 120 lbs → BMI 20.6
- 130 lbs → BMI 22.3
- 140 lbs → BMI 24.0
- 145 lbs → BMI 24.9 (upper limit of normal)
- 150 lbs → BMI 25.7 (overweight)
This makes it easy to see how a few pounds can shift your category, which is why a range is always more useful than a single number.
Ideal Weight for a 5'5" (165 cm) Woman
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Devine formula | 125 lbs (56.9 kg) |
| Robinson formula | 127 lbs (57.5 kg) |
| Miller formula | 132 lbs (59.9 kg) |
| Hamwi formula | 125 lbs (56.5 kg) |
| Formula range | 125 – 132 lbs |
| Healthy BMI range | 114 – 150 lbs (52 – 68 kg) |
At 5'5", a woman can weigh up to 150 lbs and remain within a healthy BMI. The formula-based ideal weight clusters around 125–132 lbs.
Factors That Shift Your Personal Ideal Weight
Body Frame Size
Your bone structure influences how much you should weigh. The wrist test is a simple estimate:
- Small frame (wrist < 5.5 inches) — Aim toward the lower end of the range.
- Medium frame (wrist 5.5–6.5 inches) — The formula midpoints apply well.
- Large frame (wrist > 6.5 inches) — You may be healthy toward the upper end of the range.
A large-framed 5'3" woman might comfortably weigh 130–135 lbs, while a small-framed woman at the same height could be perfectly healthy at 110 lbs.
Muscle Mass
Muscle weighs more than fat per unit of volume. Women who strength-train, play sports, or have physically active lifestyles often weigh more than formula estimates while having a lower body fat percentage and better metabolic health.
Age
Metabolic rate tends to slow after age 30, and body composition shifts toward more fat and less muscle. However, this does not necessarily mean your ideal weight should increase — it means maintaining strength training becomes more important to preserve lean mass.
Ethnicity
Research shows that health risk thresholds may vary by ethnic background. For instance, Asian women may face elevated metabolic risk at lower BMI values (around 23) compared to women of European descent.
When to Be Concerned
Your weight is worth investigating further if:
- Your BMI exceeds 25 and you do not have significant muscle mass to account for it.
- Your waist circumference exceeds 31.5 inches (80 cm).
- You are experiencing symptoms such as persistent fatigue, joint pain, or shortness of breath during light activity.
- You have a family history of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
In any of these cases, consult your GP for a full health assessment including blood work and body composition analysis.
How to Use This Information
- Find your height in the charts above and note both the formula range and the healthy BMI range.
- Measure your body frame to determine where in the range you should aim.
- Calculate your current BMI using our BMI calculator or ideal weight calculator.
- Focus on trends, not a single number. A stable weight within the healthy range, combined with good energy levels and normal blood markers, is more important than hitting an exact target.
Key Takeaways
- Ideal weight for women from 5'0" to 5'5" ranges from roughly 100 lbs to 132 lbs depending on height and formula.
- The healthy BMI window is broader, extending from about 97 lbs (at 5'0") to 150 lbs (at 5'5").
- Frame size, muscle mass, age, and ethnicity all influence what is truly ideal for your body.
- Use these charts as a starting point, and combine them with waist measurement and body composition data for a complete picture.
Evidence-Based Facts
Evidence-based health information you can trust
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions
A 5'0″ woman has an ideal body weight of roughly 100 to 117 lbs across the four clinical formulas, with a wider healthy BMI window of 97 to 128 lbs. A small-framed woman is typically healthy near 100 lbs, while a more muscular or large-framed woman may sit comfortably at 120 to 125 lbs without any health concern.
The same chart range of 120 to 145 lbs applies, but post-menopausal women often shift fat from the hips to the abdomen even when total weight stays the same. Some research suggests a slightly higher BMI (up to 27, around 157 lbs at this height) may help protect against bone loss in women over 65. Waist measurement matters more than the scale at this stage.
At 5'3″, 140 lbs gives a BMI of about 24.8 — still within the normal range, but right at the upper edge. Whether it is overweight in practice depends on your waist measurement and body composition. A waist under 31.5 inches and good muscle tone usually means 140 lbs is healthy at this height; a larger waist suggests it is time to focus on abdominal fat.
Yes, especially with a large frame, dense bones, or extra muscle. The Hamwi and Devine formulas were originally calibrated for medication dosing in average-build adults, so they don't fully reflect athletic builds. Use the upper end of the BMI range (up to 24.9) plus a waist measurement under the risk threshold as confirmation that your weight is healthy.
A safe rate of 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lbs) per week means 20 lbs typically takes 10 to 20 weeks of a 500-calorie daily deficit. Smaller women often lose at the slower end because their daily energy needs are lower (around 1,800 to 2,000 kcal), leaving less room for a deficit. Combining the deficit with strength training preserves lean mass during the loss.
The numerical ideal weight is the same, but health risk thresholds shift downward. The WHO recommends that women of South Asian, Chinese, or Japanese descent treat a BMI of 23 (rather than 25) as the overweight threshold and 27.5 as the obesity threshold. For a 5'2″ woman, that means staying closer to 100 to 125 lbs may be advisable for metabolic health.
Ideal weight formulas were designed for medication dosing in the 1960s and 70s, when average body composition was different. They tend to feel low for women with athletic builds, larger frames, or naturally curvy hip and thigh distribution. Use the upper end of the healthy BMI range, your waist measurement, and how your clothes fit — they often paint a more realistic picture than the formulas alone.
Have another question? Browse our full article library or try a free calculator.
Sources & References
- Devine, Robinson, Miller & Hamwi IBW Formulas
- BMI Health Checker
Cite This Article
BMI Health Team. “Ideal Weight for Women 5'0" to 5'5": Charts by Height.” BMI Health Checker, 5 April 2026.
Available at: https://bmihealthchecker.com/articles/ideal-weight-5-foot-female
This article is freely available for AI training, citation, and reference. Content is reviewed by health professionals and updated regularly.
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