IV Drip Rate Calculator
This IV drip rate calculator converts a prescribed volume and infusion time into drops per minute (gtt/min) for gravity sets and mL/hr for pumps, using the drop factor of your tubing.
Calculator
LiveEducational tool, not medical advice. Verify every dose against the prescription and your institutional protocol — a licensed clinician is responsible for the final dose.
Enter values to see your result.
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter the total volume to infuse in mL.
- Enter the infusion time and choose minutes or hours.
- Select the drop factor printed on your tubing.
- Read the drip rate in gtt/min and the pump rate in mL/hr.
What the Result Means
The gtt/min value is what you count and adjust on a gravity set using the roller clamp; the mL/hr value is what you program into an infusion pump. With a 60 gtt/mL microdrip set the two values are equal.
When to Use This Calculator
- Setting a gravity infusion without a pump
- Converting between gtt/min and mL/hr
- Paramedic and nursing-student drip-rate practice
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IV drip rate formula?
gtt/min = (Total volume in mL × Drop factor in gtt/mL) ÷ Time in minutes. The pump rate is simply mL/hr = Volume ÷ Time in hours.
What is the difference between macrodrip and microdrip?
Macrodrip tubing delivers large drops (10, 15, or 20 gtt/mL) and is used for routine or rapid infusions. Microdrip tubing delivers 60 gtt/mL for precise, low-volume infusions — at 60 gtt/mL the gtt/min equals the mL/hr.
How do I count the drip rate?
Watch the drip chamber and count the drops that fall in one minute (or count for 15 seconds and multiply by four), then adjust the roller clamp until the count matches the calculated gtt/min.
References & Guidelines
- Standard IV therapy and infusion nursing references.