Body Surface Area Calculator

Calculate BSA using Mosteller, DuBois, Haycock, or Gehan-George formulas. Essential for medication dosing and medical calculations.

Mosteller: BSA = sqrt((Height (cm) * Weight (kg)) / 3600)\nDuBois: BSA = 0.007184 * Height^0.725 * Weight^0.425\nHaycock: BSA = 0.024265 * Height^0.3964 * Weight^0.5378\nGehan-George: BSA = 0.0235 * Height^0.42246 * Weight^0.51456
Example (Mosteller):\nHeight: 170 cm\nWeight: 70 kg\n\nBSA = sqrt((170 * 70) / 3600)\nBSA = sqrt(11,900 / 3,600)\nBSA = sqrt3.306\nBSA = 1.818 m^2\n\nThis is typical for an average adult.

What is body surface area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of a human body. It is used in medicine to calculate drug dosages, cardiac index, and various other medical parameters that need to be adjusted for body size.

Which BSA formula is most accurate?

The Mosteller formula is widely used due to its simplicity and accuracy. The DuBois formula is the classic method. Haycock and Gehan-George formulas are alternatives. For most clinical purposes, differences between formulas are minimal (typically <5%).

Why is BSA important in medicine?

BSA is crucial for: calculating chemotherapy doses, determining cardiac output (cardiac index = CO/BSA), assessing burn severity (rule of nines), fluid resuscitation calculations, and adjusting medication doses for size differences.

How do I measure height and weight accurately?

Height: Stand barefoot against a wall, mark the top of your head, measure from floor to mark. Weight: Use a calibrated scale, weigh in the morning after using bathroom, minimal clothing, same time each day for consistency.

Is BSA the same as BMI?

No. BSA measures total body surface area in square meters (m^2) and is used for medical dosing. BMI (Body Mass Index) is weight/height^2 in kg/m^2 and assesses if weight is healthy for height. They serve different purposes.