Body Surface Area Calculator
Calculate your body surface area using 5 validated formulas for medical dosing and clinical assessments.
Body Surface Area Calculator
BSA is used in medical settings for drug dosing, cardiac index calculations, and clinical assessments.
About Body Surface Area
Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It's commonly used in medical settings for drug dosing calculations, determining cardiac index, and assessing metabolic mass. BSA provides a more accurate measure than body weight alone for many clinical purposes.
•The Five BSA Formulas
- –Du Bois & Du Bois (1916): Most widely used formula in clinical practice.
- –Mosteller (1987): Simplest formula, easy to calculate manually.
- –Haycock (1978): Developed for pediatric use, accurate for all ages.
- –Gehan & George (1970): Based on large patient population data.
- –Boyd (1935): Complex formula with logarithmic components.
•Clinical Applications
- –Chemotherapy Dosing: Many cancer drugs are dosed per m² of BSA.
- –Cardiac Index: Cardiac output normalized to BSA (L/min/m²).
- –GFR Reporting: Kidney function standardized to 1.73 m².
- –Burn Assessment: Calculating percentage of body burned.
- –Drug Dosing: Antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and other medications.
•Normal BSA Ranges
- –Average Adult Male: 1.9 m² (range: 1.7-2.1 m²)
- –Average Adult Female: 1.6 m² (range: 1.5-1.8 m²)
- –Children: Varies significantly with age and growth
- –Newborns: Approximately 0.25 m²
•Important Considerations
- –Not for Self-Dosing: Never adjust medication doses without medical supervision.
- –Formula Variations: Different formulas may give slightly different results.
- –Clinical Context: BSA is one factor among many in medical decision-making.
- –Obesity Considerations: BSA may be less accurate in very obese individuals.