Mr Calcu | Easily calculate your BSA to guide dosing, nutrition, and care decisions with confidence.
Calculate your Body Surface Area (BSA) instantly and accurately using trusted medical formulas. Simplify dosing decisions and feel confident in your care.
Body Surface Area Calculator Description
What Is Body Surface Area (BSA)?
Body Surface Area (BSA) is the total surface area of the human body. In medicine, it’s a key indicator for determining dosage of medications, estimating metabolic rate, and evaluating organ function more accurately than using body weight alone.
Why BSA Matters
- Used for dosing chemotherapy, anesthetics, and antibiotics.
- Essential in pediatric care where accurate dosage is critical.
- Supports fluid resuscitation in burn treatments.
- Assists in nutritional and metabolic assessments.
Common BSA Formulas
Du Bois and Du Bois (1916):
BSA (m²) = 0.007184 × Height(cm)^0.725 × Weight(kg)^0.425
Other validated formulas:
- Mosteller:
BSA = sqrt([Height(cm) × Weight(kg)] / 3600) - Haycock:
0.024265 × Height(cm)^0.3964 × Weight(kg)^0.5378 - Gehan and George:
0.0235 × Height(cm)^0.42246 × Weight(kg)^0.51456
Pro Tip: For general adult use, the Du Bois formula is widely accepted. For pediatric or obese patients, consider Haycock or Mosteller for better precision.
Edge Case Considerations
- Obesity: Adjust formula as Du Bois may overestimate surface area in obese individuals.
- Extremely Tall or Short Individuals: Scaling may exaggerate BSA. Cross-verify with Mosteller.
- Pediatrics: BSA is preferred for dosing to avoid weight-based errors.
- Burn Injury Assessment: Used in calculating total body surface area (TBSA) affected for fluid resuscitation.
- Renal/Hepatic Impairment: Even with accurate BSA, dosage adjustments may be required.
Real-World Case Studies
Case Study 1 – Chemotherapy Dosing
- Patient: Male, 60 years old
- Height: 178 cm
- Weight: 72 kg
- Drug dosage: 35 mg/m²
- BSA: 1.89 m² → Total dose: 66.15 mg
Case Study 2 – Pediatric Antibiotic Dosing
- Child: Age 6
- Height: 110 cm
- Weight: 18 kg
- BSA: 0.75 m² → Enables tailored, safe dosing
Start using the calculator now to make faster, safer, and more informed clinical decisions!