Blood Volume Calculator
HealthEstimate total blood volume from height, weight, and sex using Nadler's formula. A standard reference calculation, not a clinical transfusion planning tool.
Estimated Total Blood Volume
4.25
What is a Blood Volume?
The Blood Volume Calculator estimates total blood volume from height, weight, and sex using Nadler's formula, a widely referenced equation in blood volume estimation literature. This is an educational reference tool, not a clinical transfusion planning tool.
For a related calculation, see the Plasma Volume Calculator.
How to use this Blood Volume calculator
- Enter your height in centimetres.
- Enter your weight in kilograms.
- Select your sex.
- Read the Estimated Total Blood Volume instantly.
Formula & Methodology
Male: Blood Volume (L) = 0.3669 × Height (m)³ + 0.03219 × Weight (kg) + 0.6041 Female: Blood Volume (L) = 0.3561 × Height (m)³ + 0.03308 × Weight (kg) + 0.1833 Worked example — a man 178 cm (1.78 m) tall, weighing 80 kg: Blood Volume = 0.3669 × (1.78)³ + 0.03219 × 80 + 0.6041 = 0.3669 × 5.64 + 2.575 + 0.6041 ≈ 5.25 L
Frequently Asked Questions
Nadler's formula is a widely referenced equation for estimating total blood volume from height, weight, and sex, using separate coefficients for men and women that account for typical differences in body composition.
For men, the formula is 0.3669 × height(m)³ + 0.03219 × weight(kg) + 0.6041; for women, it's 0.3561 × height(m)³ + 0.03308 × weight(kg) + 0.1833, giving the result in litres.
Blood volume correlates with overall body size, and using height cubed (which scales similarly to body volume) alongside weight gives a more accurate estimate than either measurement alone.
No — this is an educational reference calculator only. Actual transfusion and fluid management planning must be determined by a qualified healthcare professional based on the complete clinical picture.
The separate coefficients reflect average physiological differences in body composition between sexes, which affect the relationship between height, weight, and total blood volume.
Adult blood volume is commonly cited as roughly 5 litres on average, though it varies significantly by individual body size, which is exactly why a height-and-weight-based formula gives a more personalized estimate than a single average figure.
The [Plasma Volume Calculator](/plasma-volume-calculator/) builds directly on this blood volume estimate, further adjusting for hematocrit to estimate the non-cellular liquid portion of blood.
Nadler's formula was developed and validated for adults; blood volume estimation in children typically uses different pediatric-specific reference formulas.
This calculator expresses total blood volume in litres (L), the standard unit used in blood volume reference literature.
Nadler's formula is a widely cited reference estimate; individual blood volume can vary from the formula's prediction due to factors like body composition, pregnancy, or certain health conditions.
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