Fitness & Health Calculators

The Lean Body Mass Calculator computes a person's estimated lean body mass (LBM) based on body weight, height, gender, and age. For comparison purposes, the calculator provides the results of multiple formulas.

Lean body mass (LBM) is a part of body composition that is defined as the difference between total body weight and body fat weight. This means that it counts the mass of all organs except body fat, including bones, muscles, blood, skin, and everything else. While the percentage of LBM is usually not computed, it on average ranges between 60-90% of total body weight. Generally, men have a higher proportion of LBM than women do. The dosages of some anesthetic agents, particularly water-soluble drugs, are routinely based on the LBM. Some medical exams also use the LBM values. For body fitness and routine daily life, people normally care more about body fat percentage than LBM. To compute body fat, consider using our body fat calculator or ideal weight calculator.

Multiple formulas have been developed for calculating estimated LBM (eLBM) and the calculator above provides the results for all of them.

1. Boer P. "Estimated lean body mass as an index for normalization of body fluid volumes in man." Am J Physiol 1984; 247: F632-5
2. James, W. "Research on obesity: a report of the DHSS/MRC group" HM Stationery Office 1976
3. Hume, R "Prediction of lean body mass from height and weight.". J Clin Pathol. 1966 Jul; 19(4):389-91.
4. A. M. Peters, H. L. R. Snelling, D. M. Glass, N. J. Bird "Estimation of lean body mass in children". British Journal of Anaesthesia1 06(5): 719-23 (2011).