Why is BSA used for drug dosing?
BSA better correlates with metabolic rate and organ size than weight alone, especially for chemotherapy.
Health Fitness
Body Surface Area Calculator
Use the Mosteller formula to approximate your BSA from height and weight.
Medical and Fitness Uses
BSA can be important for medication dosing, fluid needs, and more.
What this calculator does
Body Surface Area (BSA) approximates skin surface area, important for medication dosing (especially chemotherapy), fluid needs, and metabolic assessments. The Mosteller formula is most commonly used.
How it works
Mosteller uses height and weight: BSA = sqrt((height_cm × weight_kg) / 3600).
Formula
BSA (m²) = √((Height cm × Weight kg) / 3600). Average adult: 1.7-2.0 m².
Tips for using this calculator
- Used primarily in clinical settings for drug dosing
- More accurate than weight alone for medication calculations
- Average adult BSA is 1.7-2.0 m²
- Several formulas exist—Mosteller is simplest
- Consult healthcare provider for medical applications
Frequently asked questions
What's a normal BSA?
Average adult: 1.7-2.0 m². Values vary based on height and weight.
Which formula is most accurate?
Mosteller is most common. DuBois-DuBois and Haycock are alternatives with similar accuracy.