Body Surface Area Calculator

Calculate your body surface area (BSA) using the Mosteller, Du Bois, or Haycock formula from height and weight.

Height (cm)

Weight (kg)

Formula

Result

Please check your inputs.

Enter your height in centimeters (e.g., 170) and weight in kilograms (e.g., 70) into the designated fields. Select your preferred formula – Mosteller, Du Bois, or Haycock – from the dropdown menu. Click the 'Calculate' button to instantly compute your Body Surface Area (BSA). Review your result displayed in square meters (m²) along with a brief interpretation. Optionally, change the formula or re‑enter values to compare results from different methods.

📖 How to Use This Tool

Enter your height in centimeters (e.g., 170) and weight in kilograms (e.g., 70) into the designated fields.

Select your preferred formula – Mosteller, Du Bois, or Haycock – from the dropdown menu.

Click the 'Calculate' button to instantly compute your Body Surface Area (BSA).

Review your result displayed in square meters (m²) along with a brief interpretation.

Optionally, change the formula or re‑enter values to compare results from different methods.

📝 What Is Body Surface Area Calculator?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the total surface area of the human body, typically measured in square meters. It is a critical metric in healthcare, used primarily to calculate safe and effective dosages for chemotherapy drugs, to assess burn severity, and to guide medication dosing in children and adults. Unlike body weight alone, BSA accounts for both height and weight, providing a more personalized measure of metabolic mass. This Body Surface Area Calculator makes it easy to obtain your BSA using three trusted formulas – Mosteller, Du Bois, and Haycock – saving time and reducing calculation errors. Whether you are a healthcare professional or an individual tracking your health metrics, knowing your BSA helps ensure medical treatments are tailored to your unique body size.

🧮 Formula

The tool uses three popular BSA formulas:

- **Mosteller Formula**: BSA (m²) = √(Height(cm) × Weight(kg) / 3600). This is the simplest and most widely used formula, derived from geometric principles. - **Du Bois Formula**: BSA = 0.007184 × Height(cm)^0.725 × Weight(kg)^0.425. Developed in 1916 from a small sample, it remains a historical standard. - **Haycock Formula**: BSA = 0.024265 × Height(cm)^0.3964 × Weight(kg)^0.5378. This formula is often preferred for children because it was derived from a broad age range. All formulas require height in centimeters and weight in kilograms. The exponent values reflect the non‑linear relationship between body dimensions and surface area.

💡 Tips for Best Results

✨🩺 Use the Mosteller formula for quick estimates – it is accurate enough for most clinical purposes and easy to remember.

✨📏 Measure height and weight accurately; even small errors can affect BSA by several percent, which matters for precise drug dosing.

✨🔄 Compare results from different formulas – if you get a large discrepancy, double‑check your inputs or consult a healthcare professional.

✨💊 Always discuss BSA‑based dosages with your doctor – this calculator is for educational and reference purposes, not as a substitute for professional medical advice.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is Body Surface Area (BSA) used for?

BSA is primarily used in medicine to determine safe dosages for chemotherapy and other drugs that are metabolized based on body surface area. It also helps in assessing burn severity, adjusting renal function calculations, and setting ventilator parameters in critical care.

Which BSA formula is the most accurate?

No single formula is universally 'best' – accuracy depends on the population. The Mosteller formula is simple and works well for adults and older children. The Du Bois formula is a historical benchmark, while the Haycock formula is often preferred for infants and young children due to its broader validation.

Can I use pounds and inches with this calculator?

This tool requires height in centimeters and weight in kilograms for accuracy. However, you can easily convert: 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 pound = 0.4536 kg. Many online converters can help, or you can use the built‑in unit options if available in your browser.