Body Surface Area
BSA tracks metabolic rate better than weight does, which is why drug doses are scaled to it. Du Bois is the classic formula; Mosteller is easier to compute and also widely used.
Your numbers
Body surface area
1.754m²
Result
1.752m²
Formula
Body surface area = 0.007184 × Height (cm)^0.725 × Weight (kg)^0.425
Actual dosing must follow the prescription — this figure is for understanding it, not for setting it.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Height (cm)Height in centimetres; converted to metres inside the formula. | 170 | 30 ~ 250 |
| Weight (kg)The second weight you are comparing against. | 65 | 2 ~ 300 |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Height (cm) changes and everything else stays put.
| Height (cm) | Body surface area (m²) | Result (m²) |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | 1.061 | 1.239 |
| 128 | 1.428 | 1.52 |
| 170 | 1.754 | 1.752 |
| 250 | 2.319 | 2.125 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Body surface area (m²)Body surface area — used for drug and fluid dosing. | 1.754 |
| Result (m²)What the formula gives back — the answer this page is for. | 1.752 |
Common mistakes
Actual dosing must follow the prescription — this figure is for understanding it, not for setting it.
Glossary
- Height (cm)
- Height in centimetres; converted to metres inside the formula.
- Weight (kg)
- The second weight you are comparing against.
- Body surface area
- Body surface area — used for drug and fluid dosing.
- Result
- What the formula gives back — the answer this page is for.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Body Surface Area calculated?
Body surface area = 0.007184 × Height (cm)^0.725 × Weight (kg)^0.425 — BSA tracks metabolic rate better than weight does, which is why drug doses are scaled to it. Du Bois is the classic formula; Mosteller is easier to compute and also widely used.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Height (cm) 170, Weight (kg) 65, the answer is Body surface area 1.754m².
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Height (cm), Weight (kg). The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Height (cm) moves the answer to Height (cm) 85 → Body surface area (m²) 1.061 and Height (cm) 250 → Body surface area (m²) 2.319. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
Actual dosing must follow the prescription — this figure is for understanding it, not for setting it.
Related calculators
These calculators help you understand health figures; they do not replace diagnosis or prescription. See a clinician if you have symptoms.