Drip Rate Calculator calculator can be used to determine the number of drops per minute required to administer a specific volume of fluid over a given time period.
Learn how to use the Drip Rate Calculator calculator and its working principles
The drip rate is calculated using the formula:
Drip Rate (gtt/min) = (Volume (mL) / Time (min)) * Drop Factor (gtt/mL)
The drop factor depends on the size of the tubing. Common drop factors are 10 gtt/mL for tubing with a gauge of 4 and 20 gtt/mL for tubing with a gauge of 6, 8. For gauges 5 and 7, the drop factor is typically 15 gtt/mL.
If you need to administer 1000 mL of fluid over 4 hours (240 minutes) using tubing with a gauge of 5, the calculation would be:
Drip Rate (gtt/min) = (1000 mL / 240 min) * 15 gtt/mL = 6.25 gtt/min