Body Surface Area
Estimate BSA using Mosteller’s equation for pharmacology education.
Use the calculator below, then review the formula, a numeric example, and the reference table to understand how the body surface area result is produced.
Educational tool only. It does not replace advice from a licensed clinician, dietitian, or exercise physiologist.
Calculator inputs
Result
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What is this calculator?
This guide supports the Body Surface Area, a focused resource for people researching body surface area results and related body metrics. The on-page tool keeps inputs simple while the sections below explain the math, a worked example, and reference ranges where they exist. Ideal weight formulas provide reference anchors, not guarantees of health or performance. Energy calculators are planning tools: track weight trend for two to three weeks, then adjust calories in small steps rather than large jumps. Injury timelines are highly variable; phases overlap, and imaging plus hands-on exam change recommendations. Calorie deficits derived from weekly fat-mass assumptions oversimplify lean mass loss during aggressive dieting. Hydration estimates change with climate, altitude, fever, and exercise duration; treat fluid targets as ranges, not rigid prescriptions. Body adiposity and waist-based ratios add shape information when BMI alone is ambiguous. Activity level multipliers align with PAL textbooks; ultra-endurance lifestyles may sit above typical tables. Heart-rate math is individualized: medications, caffeine, sleep debt, and stress all shift resting and maximal responses. Skinfold calipers demand consistent landmarking; untrained measures widen error bands. Metabolic age toys compare one BMR estimate to another; they are motivational, not diagnostic. Laboratory-based kidney and lipid markers should be reviewed with the ordering clinician; eGFR and ratios online are for study awareness only. Navy circumference equations assume standard tape technique; small placement errors alter logarithmic terms. Target heart rate from reserve methods should respect symptoms: stop if dizzy, chest pain, or unusual shortness of breath occurs. When Body Surface Area outputs conflict with how you feel, prioritize clinician review over any website summary.
How it works
Mosteller BSA (m²) = √[height(cm) × weight(kg) ÷ 3600].
Example
170 cm, 70 kg → BSA = √(170×70/3600) = √3.31 ≈ 1.82 m².
Reference Table
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Teaching PK | Introductory models |
| Chemotherapy | Real dosing is protocol-driven |
| BSA vs BMI | Different clinical purpose |
FAQ
- Is this for dosing my medication?
- Other BSA equations?
- Extreme BMI?
- Pediatrics?