IV Drip Rate Calculator

How to calculate IV drip rate?

The drip rate is the number of drops administered per minute to ensure a specific volume is infused over a set time.

Formula: gtt/min = (Total Volume in mL × Drop Factor) / Total Time in Minutes

Using the IV Drip Rate calculator: an example

Example: Infusing 500 mL over 4 hours with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL.

Step-by-step calculation:

1. Convert hours to minutes (4 × 60 = 240 mins).
2. Multiply volume by drop factor (500 × 15 = 7,500 drops).
3. Divide total drops by total minutes (7,500 / 240).
4. Final rate: 31.25 (round to 31 gtt/min).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a drop factor?

The drop factor is the number of drops required to deliver 1 mL of fluid, which is determined by the size of the IV tubing.

What is the difference between Macrodrip and Microdrip?

Macrodrip sets (10-20 gtt/mL) are for fast infusions, while Microdrip sets (60 gtt/mL) are for precise, slow infusions, common in pediatrics.