Comprehensive Calculator Guide
Body surface area (BSA) estimates the area of a person's skin in square metres from weight and height. Doctors use it to dose some drugs, such as chemotherapy, and to index heart and kidney measures to body size. At 70 kg and 175 cm it is about 1.84 m². The calculator gives the Mosteller and Du Bois results.
Mosteller and Du Bois
Mosteller (1987) is the simplest: the square root of height in cm × weight in kg ÷ 3600. Du Bois (1916) is older and still widely used. The two agree closely for most adults, whose BSA is often around 1.7 m².
The result is information only: drug doses are set by a doctor or pharmacist.
How to Use
- 01Enter weight.
- 02Enter height.
- 03Read BSA from both formulas.
Formula Used
Mosteller: √(cm × kg ÷ 3600) | Du Bois: 0.007184 × kg^0.425 × cm^0.725Practical Examples
Example 1
70 kg, 175 cm: 1.84 m² (Mosteller), 1.85 m² (Du Bois).
Example 2
55 kg, 160 cm: 1.56 m².
Important Tips
- Use current weight and height.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Working out a drug dose yourself from the result.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a normal BSA?
- Often around 1.7 m² for adults.
- Which formula is better?
- They agree closely for most adults; Mosteller is simpler.
- Why is BSA used for doses?
- For some drugs it reflects body size better than weight alone.