Body Surface Area Calculator
Calculate your body surface area (BSA) using multiple medical formulas.
A Body Surface Area (BSA) calculator estimates the total surface area of the human body, which is critical in medicine for calculating drug dosages, especially chemotherapy, and assessing metabolic rates.
Examples
170 lbs, 5'9"
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is body surface area important?
What is a normal BSA for adults?
Quick Tips
- •The Du Bois formula is the most widely used in clinical practice and is a safe default choice.
- •For pediatric patients, the Haycock formula tends to be more accurate than Du Bois.
- •Always confirm drug dosing calculations with a healthcare professional.
A Body Surface Area (BSA) calculator estimates the total surface area of the human body, which is critical in medicine for calculating drug dosages, especially chemotherapy, and assessing metabolic rates.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your weight and height. The calculator estimates your body surface area (BSA) using five established formulas: Du Bois, Mosteller, Haycock, Boyd, and Gehan-George. BSA is commonly used in medicine for drug dosing.
Understanding the Formula
Du Bois: BSA = 0.007184 x W^0.425 x H^0.725. Mosteller: BSA = sqrt((H x W) / 3600). Haycock: BSA = 0.024265 x W^0.5378 x H^0.3964. All results are in square meters (m²).
Examples
170 lbs, 5'9"
Weight: 77 kg, Height: 175 cm. Du Bois BSA = 0.007184 x 77^0.425 x 175^0.725 = 1.93 m².
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is body surface area important?
BSA is used in clinical medicine to calculate drug dosages (especially chemotherapy), determine cardiac output, and assess metabolic rate. It provides a better measure of metabolic mass than body weight alone.
What is a normal BSA for adults?
Average BSA for adult males is about 1.9 m² and for adult females about 1.6 m². The typical range for adults is 1.5-2.2 m².
Assumptions & Limitations
- All BSA formulas are empirical approximations — no single formula is perfectly accurate for all body types.
- Results may be less reliable at extreme body sizes (very low or very high weight).