Drip Rate Calculator
Calculate IV drip rate and flow rate for safe intravenous medication administration
Calculate IV Drip Rate
Required medication dose per kilogram per minute
Patient weight in kilograms
Total volume of IV bag in milliliters
Total drug amount in the IV bag
Number of drops per milliliter (check IV tubing)
Drip Rate Results
Formula: Drip rate = (60 × Dose × Weight × Bag volume) ÷ (1000 × Drug in bag)
Total daily dose: 0.0 mg/day
Flow calculation: 0.0 ml/h × 15 gtts/ml ÷ 60 min = 0.0 gtts/min
Example Calculation
Clinical Scenario
Patient: 85 kg adult requiring dopamine infusion
Desired dose: 0.02 mg/kg/min
Drug solution: 10 mg dopamine in 40 ml D5W
IV tubing: Macrodrip set (10 gtts/ml)
Step-by-Step Calculation
1. Drip rate = (60 × 0.02 × 85 × 40) ÷ (1000 × 10)
2. Drip rate = 4,080 ÷ 10,000 = 408 ml/h
3. Flow rate = 408 ml/h × 10 gtts/ml ÷ 60 min
4. Flow rate = 68 gtts/min
Set pump to 408 ml/h or count 68 drops per minute
Common Drop Factors
Macrodrip
10 gtts/ml - Standard IV tubing
Macrodrip
15 gtts/ml - Common macrodrip
Microdrip
60 gtts/ml - Pediatric/precise control
🚨 Safety Guidelines
Always double-check calculations with another healthcare provider
Verify drop factor on IV tubing packaging
Use infusion pumps for critical medications
Monitor patient response and vital signs
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical judgment.
Always follow your institution's protocols and verify all calculations before patient administration.
Consult with a pharmacist or physician for complex dosing calculations.
Understanding IV Drip Rate Calculations
What is Drip Rate?
Drip rate is the speed at which intravenous medication is administered, measured in milliliters per hour (ml/h). It determines how fast a patient receives medication through an IV line and is critical for safe drug delivery.
Flow Rate vs Drip Rate
- •Drip Rate: Volume per time (ml/h)
- •Flow Rate: Drops per time (gtts/min)
- •Flow rate helps nurses count drops visually
- •Drip rate is used for infusion pump settings
Calculation Formula
Drip Rate = (60 × Dose × Weight × Bag Volume) ÷ (1000 × Drug Amount)
- 60: Conversion factor (minutes to hours)
- Dose: mg/kg/min prescribed
- Weight: Patient weight in kg
- Bag Volume: Total IV bag volume (ml)
- Drug Amount: Total drug in bag (mg)
Flow Rate Formula: Drip Rate × Drop Factor ÷ 60 = gtts/min
Clinical Applications
Critical Care
- • Vasopressors (dopamine, norepinephrine)
- • Inotropes (dobutamine, milrinone)
- • Sedatives (propofol, dexmedetomidine)
General Medicine
- • Insulin infusions
- • Heparin anticoagulation
- • Maintenance fluids
Emergency Care
- • Nitroglycerin for chest pain
- • Amiodarone for arrhythmias
- • Fluid resuscitation