Body surface area (BSA) scales doses for chemotherapy and other m²-based medications. The Mosteller formula — a square root of height × weight over 3600 — is the simplest standard.
The example
175 cm, 70 kg.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | 175 × 70 | — |
| 3 | √(÷3600) | → 1.84 m² |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Multiply height (cm) × weight (kg), divide by 3600, take the square root.
- The result is BSA in m² — Mosteller is the most widely used formula.
- Multiply BSA by a dose per m² for BSA-based medication dosing.
- Imperial Mosteller:
SQRT(height_in × weight_lb / 3131).
Educational use only. These are general Excel formulas for learning spreadsheet techniques — not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment, professional guidelines, or verified dosing references. Always confirm calculations against authoritative sources and institutional protocols.
Try it: interactive demo
Height (cm) and weight (kg).
Variations
Imperial Mosteller
in & lb:
BSA-based dose
mg per m²:
Du Bois (alt)
Another formula:
Pitfalls & errors
Metric inputs. Mosteller (3600) uses cm and kg; the imperial form uses 3131.
Square root, not square. BSA takes SQRT of the product over 3600.
Estimate only. Formulas differ slightly; follow your institution’s standard.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate body surface area in Excel?
How do I dose by BSA?
Is there an imperial version?
Stop fighting formulas. Learn them in a day.
This recipe is one of hundreds of real-world formulas we teach. Our Excel Formulas & Functions class covers lookups, logic, text, and dynamic arrays hands-on — live in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, Oklahoma City, Denver, or online.
See the Formulas & Functions Class