IV drip rate calculator (drops per minute)
A quick check for nurses and students setting a gravity IV infusion or confirming a pump setting.
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Processing and privacy: The result is calculated inside your browser and your data is not sent to any server.
How to use it
- Enter volume to infuse, time (hours), time (extra minutes) and drop factor.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Drops/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (drops/mL) ÷ time in minutes. mL/h = volume ÷ time in hours.
Example
Inputs: Volume to infuse = 1,000 mL, Time (hours) = 8 h, Time (extra minutes) = 0 min, Drop factor = 20 drops/mL. Result: Drip rate: 41.7 drops/min; Rounded to whole drops: 42 drops/min; Infusion rate: 125 mL/h.
Limits and caveats
- The drops per mL is printed on the infusion set package, so check it before you calculate.
- Infusion pumps are set in mL/h, not in drops.
- An educational estimate that does not replace assessment by a doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this tool
What is the drop factor?
How many drops make 1 mL in the infusion set: 10, 15 or 20 for a macro set, and 60 for a micro set.
Why do drops/min and mL/h match with a 60 drop set?
Sixty drops make 1 mL and sixty minutes make an hour, so the two cancel out.
Should I round to a whole number?
Yes. You cannot count part of a drop, so the tool shows both the exact and the rounded rate.