IV Drip Rate Calculator
Calculate IV drip rate in drops per minute (gtts/min) and mL per hour from volume, infusion time, and drop factor. Includes reverse calculator.
Infusion Parameters
Hours
Minutes
Enter infusion parameters and click Calculate
Results will appear here
Drip Rate
—
gtts / min
Infusion Rate
—
mL / hr
Total Drops
—
drops total
Rounded drip rate (manual set)
—
Round to nearest whole drop when counting manually
Calculation Breakdown
For educational and reference use. Always verify IV calculations with a second nurse and follow your institution's infusion protocols.
Known Rate Parameters
Enter a drip rate and drop factor
mL/hr (and optional time) will appear here
Infusion Rate
—
mL / hr
Infusion Time
—
hrs : min
Calculation Breakdown
For educational and reference use. Always verify IV calculations with a second nurse and follow your institution's infusion protocols.
Quick Reference — Common Drop Factors
| Drop Factor | Set Type | Typical Use | Multiplier (÷60) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 gtt/mL | Macro-drip | Blood, colloids, large-volume infusions | 0.1667 |
| 15 gtt/mL | Macro-drip | Standard adult infusions | 0.25 |
| 20 gtt/mL | Macro-drip | Most common adult administration set | 0.3333 |
| 60 gtt/mL | Micro-drip | Pediatric, neonatal, precise low-volume infusions | 1.0 |
Multiplier = Drop factor ÷ 60. Multiply mL/hr by this value to get drops/min directly.
Summary
Calculate IV drip rate in drops per minute (gtts/min) and mL per hour from volume, infusion time, and drop factor. Includes reverse calculator.
How it works
- Enter the total volume to infuse in millilitres (mL).
- Set the infusion time using hours and minutes fields.
- Select the drop factor (gtt/mL) printed on your administration set, or choose Custom to enter a non-standard value.
- Click Calculate to get drops per minute, mL per hour, and total drop count.
- Use the Reverse tab to work backwards from a known drip rate to mL/hr or total time.
- Round drops per minute to the nearest whole number when setting a gravity drip by hand.
Use cases
- Set a gravity IV drip accurately when an infusion pump is unavailable.
- Verify pump settings against manual drop-rate calculations as a double-check.
- Calculate pediatric or critical care infusion rates with microdrip (60 gtt/mL) sets.
- Convert a physician order written in mL/hr to drops per minute for a specific drip set.
- Teach nursing students the three-variable IV flow rate formula.
- Quickly recalculate rate after a bag change or time adjustment mid-infusion.
- Determine total infusion time when running a known volume at a given drip rate.