WaterDailyGoal
Open menu

Pillar

Water Intake Calculator by Body Weight

Quick answer

To find your water intake by weight, drink about 0.5–0.75 oz per pound of body weight — roughly 30–40 ml per kg. A 150 lb (68 kg) adult needs about 75–113 oz (2.2–3.3 L) a day, before adding extra for exercise, heat, or pregnancy. Set your weight below for an exact number.

MRWritten by Maya Renner, Hydration & nutrition writerReviewed
Body weightUsed for the base estimate
Activity level
ClimateWhere you spend your day
Fine-tune
Life stageOptional
Measure in bottlesOptional

Your daily goal

91fl oz

of water a day · about 11 glasses or 5.5 half-litre bottles

2.7
Litres
91
Ounces
11
Glasses

Pace yourself

Spread it across the day and ease off after 9:00 PM for better sleep.

Electrolytes? Not needed

For everyday hydration, plain water and a normal diet cover your electrolytes just fine.

A friendly estimate for healthy adults, not medical advice. Your needs rise with heat, exercise, illness, pregnancy, and some medications. Don't drink more than ~1 litre per hour.

Daily water chart by weight

A quick reference in both pounds and kilograms. The low column is a mild, lightly active day; the high column reflects more activity or heat.

Daily water by body weight (≈ 0.5–0.75 oz per lb · 30–40 ml per kg)
Body weightLowHighTypical litres
120 lb (54 kg)60 oz90 oz2.3 L
140 lb (64 kg)70 oz105 oz2.6 L
150 lb (68 kg)75 oz113 oz2.8 L
160 lb (73 kg)80 oz120 oz3 L
180 lb (82 kg)90 oz135 oz3.4 L
200 lb (91 kg)100 oz150 oz3.7 L
220 lb (100 kg)110 oz165 oz4.1 L
250 lb (113 kg)125 oz188 oz4.6 L

The simple formula

The most-used rule of thumb ties water to weight directly: about half an ounce of water for every pound you weigh, up to three-quarters of an ounce if you're active. In metric, that's roughly 30–40 ml per kilogram. It works because larger bodies have more cells, more blood volume, and a higher metabolic rate — all of which use water.

Weight is the starting point, not the whole story. Two people at 70 kg can have very different needs if one runs marathons in Arizona and the other works at a desk in Oslo. That's why the calculator layers activity and climate on top of the weight-based baseline. See the exact maths on the methodology page.

Frequently asked

How much water should I drink based on my weight?

Drink about half to three-quarters of an ounce of water per pound of body weight, which is roughly 30 to 40 ml per kilogram. A 150 lb (68 kg) person needs about 75–113 oz, or 2.2–3.3 litres, before adding extra for exercise and heat.

Is 'half your body weight in ounces' accurate?

It's a reasonable lower bound. Half your weight in ounces (0.5 oz/lb) covers a lightly active person in a mild climate. Active people, hot weather, and larger bodies push the figure up toward three-quarters of an ounce per pound or more.

How do I calculate water intake from kilograms?

Multiply your weight in kilograms by 30–35 ml for a baseline. A 70 kg adult is about 2.1–2.5 litres; add roughly 0.3–1.0 litre for activity and about 10% more in hot weather.

Sources

  • 1.U.S. National Academies (IOM/NAM), 2005Adequate total water intake of about 3.7 L/day for men and 2.7 L/day for women, including water from food and all beverages.
  • 2.European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010Adequate total water intake of 2.5 L/day for men and 2.0 L/day for women under temperate conditions.
  • 3.Mayo ClinicGeneral guidance of roughly 2.7–3.7 L of total fluids a day, with thirst and pale-yellow urine as everyday checks.