Estimate kidney function with the Cockcroft–Gault equation — a weight-, age-, and creatinine-based estimate of creatinine clearance, with a sex adjustment. A classic clinical formula.
The example
Age 60, 70 kg, SCr 1.0.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | (140−60)×70 | — |
| 3 | ÷ (72×1.0) | → ~78 mL/min |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
(140 - age) × weight_kg / (72 × serum_creatinine)is the base estimate in mL/min.- Multiply by 0.85 for females (the sex factor); use 1 for males.
- Serum creatinine is in mg/dL for this version of the equation.
- Lower clearance indicates reduced kidney function — often used to adjust drug dosing.
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
Age, weight (kg), SCr (mg/dL), sex.
Variations
Female adjustment
× 0.85:
Male (no adjust)
Factor of 1:
Category lookup
Band the result:
Pitfalls & errors
Sex factor. Multiply by 0.85 for females; 1 for males.
Creatinine units. This form uses mg/dL — a different constant applies for µmol/L.
Estimate only. Weight choice (actual vs ideal) and edge cases affect accuracy.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate creatinine clearance in Excel?
What's the sex factor?
What units does this use?
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