A method, system, and computer usable program product for equation based retargeting of design layouts are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A set of desirable combination of values of a set of layout parameters of the design layout is determined. A desirable region that includes the set of the desirable combination of values is determined. An equation is computed to determine a retargeting value for a first combination of values of the set of layout parameters with respect to the desirable region. Instructions are generated to adjust a value in the first combination to generate a second combination of values of the set of layout parameters such that the second combination falls in the desirable region. A shape in the design layout is retargeted such that the retargeted shape uses the second combination of values of the set of layout parameters. The IC is manufactured using the retargeted shape.