How do you calculate IV drip rate?

Drip rate (gtt/min) = (Volume in mL × Drop factor) / (Time in minutes). For infusion pumps: Rate (mL/hr) = Total volume / Total time in hours. For weight-based infusions: Rate (mL/hr) = (Dose in mcg/kg/min × Weight in kg × 60) / Concentration in mcg/mL.

What are common IV drop factors?

Standard macrodrip sets: 10, 15, or 20 drops/mL (varies by manufacturer). Microdrip sets: 60 drops/mL. Most modern ICU and hospital settings use infusion pumps programmed in mL/hr, eliminating the need for manual drip rate calculations.

How do you convert mcg/kg/min to mL/hr?

Rate (mL/hr) = (Dose in mcg/kg/min × Weight in kg × 60) / (Concentration in mcg/mL). For example, dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min for an 80 kg patient using 400 mg in 250 mL (1600 mcg/mL): Rate = (5 × 80 × 60) / 1600 = 15 mL/hr.

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Startseite / IV Tropfrate Calculator

IV-Tropfrate-Rechner

Calculate IV infusion rates in mL/hr and drops/min. Includes weight-based dosing calculations.

Volume/Time Calculator

Gesamtvolumen (mL)

Infusionszeit (hours)

Tropffaktor (gtt/mL)

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Enter volume and time.

Weight-Based Dose Calculator

Desired Dose (mcg/kg/min)

Patient Weight (kg)

Drug Concentration (mg in bag)

Bag Volume (mL)

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Enter dose, weight, and concentration.

Disclaimer: Nur für Bildungszwecke. Kein Ersatz für klinische Beurteilung. Always double-check drip calculations independently.

Wann verwenden

Use this calculator for setting up IV fluid infusions, converting between mL/hr and drops/min for manual drip sets, and calculating weight-based drip rates for vasoactive medications and infusions.

Klinische Hinweise

Always verify drip rate calculations with a second clinician for high-risk infusions (vasopressors, insulin, heparin).
Micro-drip sets (60 gtt/mL): gtt/min = mL/hr (convenient 1:1 ratio).
Common drug concentrations: dopamine 400mg/250mL, norepinephrine 4mg/250mL, nitroglycerin 50mg/250mL.
Dose (mcg/kg/min) = [Rate (mL/hr) × Concentration (mg/mL) × 1000] / [Weight (kg) × 60].

Common Drop Factors

10 gtt/mL — Macro drip (blood/trauma sets)
15 gtt/mL — Standard macro drip
20 gtt/mL — Standard macro drip
60 gtt/mL — Micro drip (pediatric/precision)

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Über dieses Tool

What Is an IV Tropfrate Calculator?

An IV drip rate calculator converts between different units of intravenous fluid delivery — milliliters per hour (mL/hr), drops per minute (gtt/min), and weight-based dosing (mcg/kg/min). While modern IV pumps use mL/hr, many clinical settings still use gravity-based drip sets requiring drops/min calculations. Additionally, weight-based dosing is essential for vasoactive medications, sedation drips, and many critical care infusions. Accurate drip rate calculation is a fundamental nursing and medical skill that prevents medication errors.

Key Formulas

The basic volume/time formula is: mL/hr = Gesamtvolumen (mL) / Time (hours). To convert to drops per minute: gtt/min = (Volume × Drop Factor) / (Time in minutes), or equivalently gtt/min = (mL/hr × Drop Factor) / 60. For weight-based dosing: Rate (mL/hr) = [Dose (mcg/kg/min) × Weight (kg) × 60] / [Concentration (mg/mL) × 1000]. The drop factor depends on the tubing set: macro drip sets typically deliver 10, 15, or 20 drops per mL, while micro drip (pediatric) sets deliver 60 drops per mL.

Clinical Applications

IV drip calculations are used daily across all clinical settings. In emergency and critical care, weight-based dosing is essential for vasopressors (norepinephrine, dopamine, vasopressin), inotropes (dobutamine, milrinone), sedation (propofol, dexmedetomidine), and insulin infusions. On medical-surgical floors, volume/time calculations are used for maintenance fluids, antibiotics, and blood product administration. In resource-limited settings or field medicine where IV pumps are unavailable, drops/min calculations with gravity sets remain the primary delivery method.

🔑 Klinische Hinweise

With 60 gtt/mL micro-drip sets, gtt/min equals mL/hr — the most convenient ratio for manual drip counting.
Always perform independent double-checks for high-risk drips: vasopressors, insulin, heparin, chemotherapy.
Common concentration shortcuts: "Rule of 6" for pediatric drips — 6 × weight (kg) = mg of drug in 100 mL; then 1 mL/hr = 1 mcg/kg/min.
When changing drip concentrations or volumes, recalculate the rate — the most common source of drip errors is concentration changes without rate adjustments.

Wichtige Referenzen

Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). Guidelines for Standard Order Sets and IV Infusion Calculations. 2020.
Dager WE, et al. Intravenous medication safety consensus. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2020;77(9):657-664.

Formel zuletzt überprüft: Februar 2026