NadlerCalc

Blood Volume Calculator

Estimate how much blood is in your body using Nadler's anthropometric formula.

Height (cm)

Weight (kg)

Estimated blood volume

4.98 L

Blood volume (mL): 4,985

What you entered

Sex: MaleHeight: 175 cmWeight: 75 kg

1
Height in meters
175 ÷ 100= 1.75 m
2
Height cubed
1.75³= 5.3594
3
Blood volume (Nadler's)
0.3669 × 1.75³ + 0.03219 × 75 + 0.6041= 4.98 L
4
Convert to milliliters
4.98 × 1000= 4,985 mL

Result

Blood volume: 4.98 L

Using the Nadler equation for a male at 175 cm and 75 kg, the estimated total blood volume is 4.98 liters (4,985 mL).

Total blood volume by height, weight, and sex

Nadler's formula estimates circulating blood volume from height, weight, and sex. It is the equation used clinically before blood donation and surgery.

Sex	Height	Weight	Blood volume (mL)	Litres
Male	175 cm	70 kg	4,824	4.82 L
Male	180 cm	80 kg	5,319	5.32 L
Male	185 cm	90 kg	5,824	5.82 L
Female	165 cm	60 kg	3,768	3.77 L
Female	170 cm	70 kg	4,248	4.25 L

A standard whole blood donation is about 470 mL, roughly a tenth of an adult's total volume. General wellness information only, not medical advice. Discuss any health decision with a qualified clinician.

Nadler's formula

Nadler's equation (1962) estimates blood volume from height and weight with sex-specific coefficients. For males: BV = 0.3669 × H³ + 0.03219 × W + 0.6041. For females: BV = 0.3561 × H³ + 0.03308 × W + 0.1833. Height is in meters, weight in kg, result in liters. The average adult has 4.5–5.5 liters of blood.

Why blood volume matters

Blood volume is critical in surgical planning (estimating allowable blood loss), fluid resuscitation, anesthesia dosing, and understanding cardiovascular health. Athletes tend to have higher blood volumes relative to body size. Dehydration can reduce blood volume by 10–15%, affecting performance and blood pressure.

Frequently asked questions

How much blood does the average person have?

Adults have approximately 70 mL of blood per kg of body weight — about 4.5–5.5 litres (1.2–1.5 gallons) for an average adult. Men have slightly more than women due to higher body mass and hematocrit. A 70 kg man has ~5.2 L; a 60 kg woman has ~4.2 L. Children have proportionally less: ~80 mL/kg for infants.

How much blood can you lose safely?

Class I hemorrhage: up to 15% loss (~750 mL) — minimal symptoms, body compensates. Class II: 15–30% (~750–1500 mL) — increased heart rate, anxiety. Class III: 30–40% (~1500–2000 mL) — significant drop in blood pressure, requires transfusion. Class IV: >40% — life-threatening. A standard blood donation removes ~470 mL (~10%), which the body replaces within 24–48 hours.

Do athletes have more blood?

Yes — endurance training increases blood plasma volume by 10–20% and red blood cell mass by 5–10%. This 'hypervolemia' improves oxygen delivery and heat dissipation. A trained endurance athlete might have 6–7 litres vs. 5 litres for an untrained person of similar size. The increase begins within 1–2 weeks of regular training.