Body Surface Area (BSA) Calculator
Mosteller (Recommended)
Du Bois
Haycock (Best for children)
Gehan & George
Estimated BSA
0.00 m²
What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?
Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of a human body. In clinical medicine, BSA is often considered a more accurate indicator of metabolic mass than body weight alone because it is less affected by abnormal adipose (fat) tissue.
Why is BSA Important in Healthcare?
Medical professionals use BSA for several critical clinical applications:
- Chemotherapy Dosing: Most cytotoxic drugs are dosed based on BSA to minimize toxicity while maximizing therapeutic effect.
- Renal Function: The Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is often adjusted to the average adult BSA of 1.73 m².
- Cardiac Index: This hemodynamic parameter relates cardiac output to BSA.
- Burn Assessment: Determining the percentage of body area affected by burns.
Common BSA Formulas Explained
Since measuring actual skin surface area is difficult, researchers have developed several mathematical models:
Mosteller Formula: √([Height(cm) x Weight(kg)] / 3600)
The Mosteller formula is the most widely used due to its simplicity and accuracy across different body types.
Du Bois Formula: 0.007184 x Weight(kg)^0.425 x Height(cm)^0.725
Developed in 1916, this remains a classic standard in physiological research.
Realistic Examples
Example 1: An adult male standing 180 cm tall weighing 85 kg has a Mosteller BSA of approximately 2.06 m².
Example 2: A child standing 110 cm tall weighing 20 kg has a Haycock BSA of approximately 0.79 m², which is often used in pediatric oncology.