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Health & FitnessReviewed Methodology

Lean Body Mass Calculator

An 80 kg man at 180 cm has about 61.4 kg of lean body mass with the Boer formula used here. This lean body mass calculator estimates lean mass and fat mass from your weight and height using the sex-specific Boer formula. Enter your sex, weight in kilograms, and height in centimeters to see estimated lean body mass, fat mass, and fat mass as a percentage of total weight.

Health & FitnessBy Reviewed by Editorial Health Review

Quick answer

Lean body mass is your estimated weight minus estimated fat mass.

kg

Use your current body weight in kilograms.

cm

Use your current height in centimeters.

This calculator uses the Boer formula, which estimates lean body mass from weight and height alone. It is a population-based estimate, not a body composition scan or a diagnosis.

What this tells you

  • Lean body mass is your estimated weight minus estimated fat mass.
  • The Boer formula uses different constants for men and women.
  • It only needs weight and height, so it skips body fat percentage as an input.
  • The result is a population-based estimate, not a body scan or a diagnosis.

How to Use

  1. 1Select male or female so the calculator applies the matching Boer formula.
  2. 2Enter your current body weight in kilograms.
  3. 3Enter your current height in centimeters.
  4. 4Calculate to see estimated lean body mass, fat mass, and fat mass percentage.
  5. 5Track the trend over weeks alongside consistent weigh-ins rather than judging a single result.

How It Works

Formula

Male: LBM = 0.407 x weight(kg) + 0.267 x height(cm) - 19.2 Female: LBM = 0.252 x weight(kg) + 0.473 x height(cm) - 48.3 Fat mass = weight - LBM

The Boer formula estimates lean body mass directly from weight and height using sex-specific constants, without needing a body fat percentage as an input. Fat mass is simply total weight minus the estimated lean body mass, and fat mass percentage divides that fat mass by total weight. This formula was built from population data and gives a reasonable estimate for most adults, but it is still an approximation rather than a direct measurement.

Calculation note: values are processed in the order shown above, using the current input units.

Worked Examples

Male at 80 kg and 180 cm

SexMale
Weight80 kg
Height180 cm
ResultLean body mass 61.4 kg, fat mass 18.6 kg, fat mass 23.2%

The male Boer formula gives 0.407 x 80 + 0.267 x 180 - 19.2, which rounds to 61.4 kg of lean body mass. Fat mass is 80 minus 61.4, or 18.6 kg, which is about 23.2% of total weight.

Female at 65 kg and 165 cm

SexFemale
Weight65 kg
Height165 cm
ResultLean body mass 46.1 kg, fat mass 18.9 kg, fat mass 29.0%

The female Boer formula gives 0.252 x 65 + 0.473 x 165 - 48.3, which rounds to 46.1 kg of lean body mass. Fat mass is 65 minus 46.1, or 18.9 kg, which is about 29.0% of total weight.

Common mistakes

  • Entering pounds as kilograms or inches as centimeters
  • Selecting the wrong sex option, which changes the formula constants and the result
  • Treating one lean body mass estimate as a precise or medical measurement
  • Comparing results with tools that use a different formula, such as the Boer, James, or Hume methods

Limitations

This lean body mass calculator uses the Boer formula, which estimates lean mass from weight and height alone and does not account for body frame, muscle distribution, hydration, age, ethnicity, or pregnancy. It assumes adult body proportions similar to the population used to build the formula, so results may be less accurate for very muscular people, very lean people, older adults, and children. Treat every result as a general estimate, not a substitute for a body composition scan such as DEXA or BIA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lean body mass is an estimate of everything in your body that is not fat, including muscle, bone, organs, and water. This calculator estimates it from your weight and height using the Boer formula.
The Boer formula multiplies your weight and height by sex-specific constants and subtracts a fixed offset. It does not require a body fat percentage input, unlike some other lean mass formulas.
The Boer formula is a 1984 equation that estimates lean body mass from weight in kilograms and height in centimeters, with separate constants for men and women.
It is a population-based estimate, not a direct measurement. It tends to work well for average adult body types but can be less accurate for very muscular or very lean individuals.
Lean body mass is a weight estimate in kilograms or pounds. FFMI takes lean mass a step further and adjusts it for height to create a comparable index, similar to how BMI relates to body weight.
No. The Boer formula was built from non-pregnant adult data, so it does not reflect pregnancy-related changes in body composition. Speak with a healthcare professional for pregnancy-specific guidance.
It estimates lean body mass calculator outputs using the visible inputs and formula assumptions on this page.

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