Body Surface Area Calculator
Calculate your body surface area for medical dosing and physiological assessments
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How to Use the Body Surface Area (BSA) Calculator
Body Surface Area, or BSA, refers to the total exterior body surface area of a human body. This measure differs distinctly from body weight because body surface area serves as a more accurate reference point for many body calculations. This value can be used for calculating medications and burn injuries, among other uses. The Body Surface Area Calculator can be used in calculating your BSA through recognized medical equations depending on your height and weight. This tool will in no way replace medical expertise but will rather act as a standard guide accepted in the medical field.
How to Use
1. Select Your Gender
Gender selection is mentioned here because there might be very slight variations in some of the reference values/interpretations for males and females.
2. Enter Your Body Weight
Enter your existing weight in either kilograms or pounds. This is to help the BSA calculation accuracy.
3. Enter Your Height
Please give your height in either centimeters or in feet and inches. Height is a dominant factor in all BSA calculcations.
4. Calculate Your Body Surface Area
Click the "calculate" button to get your estimated value of BSA, usually measured in square meters (m²).
Key Formulas Used
The Mosteller formula is the most commonly used BSA equation due to its simplicity and reliable accuracy across adult populations.
This older formula was one of the first widely adopted BSA equations and is still referenced in some clinical literature.
The Haycock formula is often used for pediatric populations but may also be applied for comparison purposes.
Benefits
- More precise than weight alone for medical calculations
- Widely used in clinical and hospital settings
- Helpful for medication dosing references
- Supports physiological and metabolic assessments
- Simple inputs with reliable output
- Based on validated medical formulas
When & Where to Use
- Medication dosage estimation
- Chemotherapy dosing reference
- Burn severity assessment
- Cardiac and metabolic evaluations
- Clinical research calculations
- Educational and training purposes
Who Should Use This Calculator
The calculator will prove very helpful to adults who wish to have an approximate idea of their body surface area. Healthcare students, investigators, or people evaluating healthcare information can also find BSA useful while comparing other body measurements.
Related Calculators
What is this?
Body Surface Area (BSA) is a measurement of the total surface area of the human body. BSA is used in medical settings to calculate drug dosages, assess burn severity, determine cardiac index, and evaluate various physiological parameters.
How it works
This calculator uses the Mosteller formula for the main result: BSA = √[(Height(cm) × Weight(kg)) ÷ 3600].
Pro Tips
- Normal adult BSA typically ranges from 1.5 to 2.0 m²
- BSA is more accurate than weight alone for dosing medications
- Used in calculating cardiac output and metabolic rate
- Important in determining chemotherapy dosages
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?
Body Surface Area (BSA) represents the total surface area of the human body. It is commonly used in medical calculations such as drug dosing, burn assessment, and cardiac output evaluation.
Which formula does this calculator primarily use?
The main displayed result uses the Mosteller formula, which is widely accepted for its simplicity and accuracy: BSA = √[(Height(cm) × Weight(kg)) ÷ 3600].
Why are multiple BSA formulas shown?
Different formulas (Du Bois, Haycock, Boyd, Schlich, etc.) were developed for specific populations or clinical purposes. Displaying all allows comparison and clinical reference.
What is a normal BSA value?
For most adults, BSA typically ranges between 1.5 and 2.0 m², though this varies with height, weight, and body composition.
Is BSA more accurate than body weight for medication dosing?
Yes. BSA is often more accurate than weight alone because it correlates better with metabolic mass, making it especially important for chemotherapy and critical care dosing.