Ideal Weight Calculator · Practical guide
How Frame Size Affects Ideal Weight
The wrist test, the 10% rule, and worked examples showing how frame shifts ideal weight at 5'10".
At a glance
The Short Answer
Frame size shifts your ideal weight by about 10% in either direction. For a 5'10" man, the Devine formula gives 160.9 lbs with a medium frame — roughly 145 lbs with a small frame and 177 lbs with a large frame — a spread of more than 30 lbs at the same height.
Interactive tool
Ideal Weight Calculator
Enter your own values, then compare the result with the examples below.
The Wrist Test
The quickest frame check needs no tools: wrap your thumb and middle finger around your opposite wrist, just below the bone.
- Fingers overlap: small frame — subtract 10% from formula results.
- Fingers just touch: medium frame — use the formulas as-is.
- Fingers do not touch: large frame — add 10%.
Why Frame Size Matters
Height-only formulas assume an average skeleton. Bone accounts for roughly 15% of body weight, and wrist circumference tracks frame width well — so two people of the same height can healthily differ by 10% or more. The calculator multiplies every result (BMI range, Devine, Robinson, and Miller) by 0.9 or 1.1 when you select a small or large frame.
Worked Example
At 5'10", a medium frame puts the BMI healthy range at 128.9-173.5 lbs. Selecting a small frame narrows it to about 116-156 lbs; a large frame widens it to roughly 142-191 lbs. Use your wrist measurement above, then compare the adjusted range with the unadjusted one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I measure frame size more precisely?
Yes — charts compare wrist circumference to height. For a woman 5'5" or taller, a wrist under 6.25 inches suggests a small frame and over 6.5 inches a large one; men's cutoffs run slightly higher.
Does frame size change with weight loss?
No. Bone structure is fixed, so your frame category stays the same at any weight — only where you fall within the range changes.
Is a large frame the same as being big-boned?
Essentially. The wrist test is the practical way to estimate skeletal size, which is what people mean by big-boned.
Should athletes use the frame adjustment?
It helps, but muscle mass still pushes athletes above the adjusted ranges. Body fat percentage separates muscle from fat better than any weight formula.