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Body Surface Area (BSA) Calculator

Calculate your body surface area accurately to support medical dosing, nutrition planning, and preventive health assessment.

Body Surface Area (BSA) Calculator

Body Surface Area (BSA) is a critical physiological measurement used in medicine, nutrition, and research. It provides a more precise estimate of metabolic mass than body weight alone, making it essential for calculating drug dosages, fluid requirements, and nutritional needs.

Our Body Surface Area calculator allows you to quickly compute BSA using height and weight with clinically validated formulas. Understanding your BSA ensures accurate dosing, effective treatment planning, and better health outcomes in both clinical and preventive health settings.

📐 Body Surface Area Calculator

Calculate your BSA using the scientifically validated Du Bois formula

Estimated BSA: -- m²
📏

Your Measurements

Enter your height and weight to calculate your body surface area using the Du Bois formula.

Your Body Surface Area

--
square meters (m²)

BSA (m²)

--
square meters

BSA (ft²)

--
square feet

Comparison

--
vs average adult

📋 What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Clinical Applications

BSA is used in medicine for:

  • Chemotherapy dosing: Many cancer drugs are dosed based on BSA to maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity
  • Cardiac index: Relating heart performance to body size
  • Renal function: Indexing glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
  • Burn assessment: Estimating total body surface area affected by burns
  • Metabolic rate: BSA is a more accurate indicator of metabolism than body weight alone

The Du Bois Formula

Developed in 1916 by Eugene Floyd Du Bois and Delafield Du Bois, this formula remains the most widely used method for calculating BSA:

BSA (m²) = 0.007184 × weight0.425 × height0.725

Where weight is in kilograms and height is in centimeters

Reference Values

  • Average adult (70 kg): ~1.73 m² (18.6 ft²)
  • Typical range for adults: 1.5 - 2.0 m²
  • Children: Varies significantly with age and growth
⚠️ Important Disclaimer: This calculator uses the Du Bois formula, published in 1916 and validated over more than a century of clinical use. BSA calculations are estimates and can vary between different formulas by up to 0.5 m² for the same individual. This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. BSA calculations for medical purposes (such as chemotherapy dosing, fluid resuscitation in burns, or medication adjustments) should only be performed by qualified healthcare professionals using standardized institutional protocols. Never use this calculator to determine medication dosages. Always consult with healthcare professionals for any medical decisions.

Scientific Sources: Du Bois D, Du Bois EF. "A formula to estimate the approximate surface area if height and weight be known." Archives of Internal Medicine. 1916;17(6):863-871. | Mosteller RD. "Simplified calculation of body-surface area." New England Journal of Medicine. 1987;317:1098. | StatPearls: Body Surface Area. NCBI Bookshelf. Updated 2025. | Wang Y, Moss J, Thisted R. "Predictors of body surface area." Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. 1992;4(1):4-10.

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Understanding Body Surface Area

BSA is most commonly estimated using formulas such as the Mosteller, Du Bois, or Haycock equations, which combine height (cm) and weight (kg) to provide an approximate surface area in square meters (m²). The Mosteller formula is widely used due to its simplicity and accuracy:

BSA (m²) = √([Height(cm) × Weight(kg)] ÷ 3600)

For example, a person who is 170 cm tall and weighs 70 kg would have:
BSA = √([170 × 70] ÷ 3600) ≈ 1.8 m²

BSA is critical in clinical medicine, particularly for calculating chemotherapy doses, renal function estimates, and cardiac index. In preventive health and nutrition, BSA is used to estimate caloric needs, drug metabolism, and heat exchange in the body.

Regularly calculating BSA ensures precise adjustments for medications and treatments, reduces the risk of dosing errors, and supports accurate physiological assessments in both clinical and health optimization contexts.

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    FAQ

    Understanding this calculator can raise questions. Here you’ll find clear, evidence-based answers to help you interpret your results and understand the science behind it.

    Many medications, particularly chemotherapy drugs, are dosed based on BSA to account for metabolic differences between individuals of varying size. Accurate BSA ensures therapeutic efficacy while minimizing toxicity.

    Yes. Common formulas include Mosteller, Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan & George. Mosteller is preferred for simplicity and clinical use, but other formulas may be used in research or specialized settings.

    Yes. BSA changes with variations in weight and height (particularly in children or during growth). Accurate and updated measurements are important for ongoing medical care and treatment planning.

    No. BMI estimates body fat based on weight relative to height, while BSA estimates total body surface area. BSA is more relevant for physiological processes such as drug metabolism, fluid balance, and heat exchange.

    The Body Surface Area calculator provides a fast and accurate method to estimate BSA using standard height and weight measurements. Proper BSA calculation is essential for clinical dosing, nutritional planning, and preventive health monitoring.

    Understanding your BSA enhances precision in medical care, supports optimal treatment outcomes, and contributes to long-term health management by aligning physiological assessments with individual body characteristics.