This is a PatientPlus article. PatientPlus articles are written for doctors and so the language can be technical. However, some people find that they add depth to the articles found in the other sections of this website which are written for non-medical people.

Body Surface Area Calculator (Mosteller)

Post your experience

BSA Calculator (Mosteller Method)
Height (cm)
Weight (kg)
Body Surface Area (m2)

Mosteller Method:^1,2 BSA (m²) = ( Height(cm) x Weight(kg) / 3600 )^½

e.g. BSA (m²) = squareroot of (height (cm)x weight (kg)/3600)

See also our dedicated record on the subject of Sunburn.

---

Document references

1. Halls BSA web calculator; (more extensive calculator which can use other equations) Mosteller Method : BSA (m²) = ( Height(cm) x Weight(kg) / 3600 )½ e.g. BSA = squareroot of (height (cm)x weight (kg)/3600)
2. Mosteller RD. Simplified Calculation of Body Surface Area. N Engl J Med. 1987 Oct 22;317(17):1098. (letter)

Acknowledgements EMIS is grateful to Dr Huw Thomas for writing this article. The final copy has passed scrutiny by the independent Mentor GP reviewing team. ©EMIS 2009.
Document ID: 1876
Document Version: 21
Document Reference: bgp24931
Last Updated: 1 Jun 2009
Planned Review: 31 May 2014

Related pages in Patient UK

Your Experience (^ top of page)

Health Topic information leaflets related to this topic (^ top of page)

Support Groups related to this topic (^ top of page)

PatientPlus articles related to this topic (^ top of page)

Links to other selected websites related to this topic (^ top of page)

Poems and stories related to this topic (^ top of page)

Videos related to this topic (^ top of page)

Patient UK Newspaper (^ top of page)

Recent related news items

All news by related topic

Related Products (^ top of page)

Online Pharmacy

Medical equipment

Books

Other - Useful resources (^ top of page)