Body Surface Area Calculator Information
What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?
Body Surface Area (BSA) is the total surface area of the human body, measured in square meters (m²). It's a crucial measurement used in medical practice for determining appropriate drug dosages, assessing burn severity, and calculating metabolic rates.
- BSA Formula: Varies by method (DuBois, Mosteller, Haycock, etc.)
- Used for medical dosing calculations
- Essential for burn assessment and metabolic rate estimation
How to Use the Calculator
Enter your weight and height. Choose your preferred BSA calculation formula. The calculator provides your estimated body surface area and comparison with other formulas. Consult your doctor for medical applications.
- weight (kg) = Your weight in kilograms
- height (cm) = Your height in centimeters
- BSA = Body Surface Area in square meters
BSA Ranges
These ranges help assess normal BSA values
Medical Applications
- Drug Dosing: Many medications, especially chemotherapy drugs, are dosed based on BSA
- Burn Assessment: Burn severity is classified by the percentage of total body surface area affected
- Metabolic Rate: BSA is used to estimate basal metabolic rate and caloric needs
- Fluid Requirements: Intravenous fluid calculations often use BSA
- Organ Function: Kidney and liver function tests may be normalized to BSA
BSA Calculation Formulas
BSA = 0.007184 × weight^0.425 × height^0.725
Most widely used in clinical practice, well-validated
BSA = √((height × weight) / 3600)
Simple calculation, good accuracy for most adults
BSA = 0.024265 × weight^0.5378 × height^0.3964
Good for children and adolescents
BSA = 0.0235 × weight^0.51456 × height^0.42246
Good for adults, validated in multiple studies
BSA = 0.0003207 × weight^(0.7285 - 0.0188 × log(weight)) × height^0.3
Accounts for body composition changes with weight
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A: DuBois & DuBois is most commonly used in clinical practice. Different medical institutions may prefer specific formulas.
A: BSA calculations provide estimates. All formulas have limitations and may not account for individual body shape variations.
A: BSA is used for drug dosing, burn assessment, metabolic calculations, and fluid requirements in medical practice.
Important Disclaimers
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only. The results should not be used for medical diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for professional medical advice.
Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical dosing and treatment decisions. Different medical institutions may prefer specific BSA formulas for their protocols.
BSA calculations are estimates and may vary from actual measurements. For medical applications, consult with qualified healthcare professionals who can determine the most appropriate formula for your specific situation.