How is lean body mass different from just subtracting body fat?

This calculator uses the Boer formula, which estimates lean mass directly from height, weight, and sex. It doesn't require a separate body fat percentage measurement, though the two approaches should give similar results if your body fat % is accurate.

Why do men and women get different formulas?

Men and women have different average ratios of muscle to fat at the same height and weight, so the Boer formula uses separate coefficients (0.407/0.267 for men, 0.252/0.473 for women) calibrated on sex-specific reference data.

Lean Body Mass Calculator

Estimate lean body mass and fat mass from height and weight.

How this is calculated

Boer formula: men 0.407×weight + 0.267×height − 19.2; women 0.252×weight + 0.473×height − 48.3

Assumptions used in this calculation

Formula: The Boer formula is a population estimate; individual muscle mass and frame size vary.

About this calculator

The lean body mass calculator uses the Boer formula to estimate lean (fat-free) body mass and fat mass from height, weight, and sex.

Worked example

Male, 80 kg, 180 cm

Result: Lean body mass ≈ 61.4 kg

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About this calculator

Frequently asked questions

How is lean body mass different from just subtracting body fat?

Why do men and women get different formulas?

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