Body Surface Area Calculator
Compute total body surface area in square meters using the Mosteller and DuBois clinical medical formulas.
About Body Surface Area (BSA)
Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of a human body. In clinical medicine, BSA is a more accurate indicator of metabolic mass and cardiac index than body weight alone.
The Mosteller Formula
BSA (m²) = √[ (Height (cm) × Weight (kg)) / 3600 ]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is chemotherapy dosed by BSA?
Renal and hepatic drug clearance rates correlate more closely with metabolic surface area than gross weight, helping avoid under-dosing or lethal toxicity.
What is average adult BSA?
Average BSA is approximately 1.9 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women.
How does Mosteller compare to the DuBois formula?
Mosteller is easier to compute and matches the accuracy of the multi-variable logarithmic DuBois formula within 1% across normal physiological ranges.
Is BSA used in cardiology?
Yes. Stroke volume index and cardiac index normalize cardiac output against patient BSA ($$\text{L/min/m}^2$$).
Calculate in three steps
- 1Enter your valuesUse the fields above and check the units shown beside each input.
- 2Run the calculationSelect Calculate to refresh the result with your latest values.
- 3Review or shareCompare the result, reset the form, print it, or share this page.