If yes, you’re already dehydrated by the time thirst kicks in.
This calculator helps you estimate how much water you need each day to stay hydrated and avoid dehydration.
Water is the oldest, most recycled substance on Earth — the same water you drink today has been cycling through the planet for billions of years. It’s our most essential nutrient. Without it, life cannot exist, and without enough of it, most of our physical and mental functions begin to decline.
Water supports:
Temperature regulation
Brain and nerve function
Digestion and metabolism
Detoxification
Countless chemical reactions
Your hydration status depends on both water intake and water loss.
While scientists still debate the “perfect” amount of water for humans, avoiding thirst and drinking within a healthy range are the best practical indicators.
Body Weight
Activity Level
Climate
(Fields marked with * are required.)
There are 16 ounces (oz) in 1 pound (lb).
500 ml (0.5 L) → 16.9 oz
1 L → 33.8 oz
2 L → 67.6 oz
1 gallon (128 oz) → 3.78 L
These conversions make it easier to track your water intake using bottles or jugs.
Your ideal intake varies based on:
Age
Gender
Body size
Activity level
Climate
Athletes and people living in hot climates need more water because they sweat more.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women also need extra fluids (about 0.5–2 liters per day).
Thirst isn’t an early warning sign — it’s a late one. When you feel thirsty, you’ve already lost 1–2% of your body’s water.
Average recommendations:
Plain water: ~1.5 liters per day
Total fluid intake:
Men: 3 liters per day
Women: 2.2 liters per day
Climate affects these numbers.
Hotter environments → greater water needs.
Insufficient hydration can contribute to conditions like kidney stones — a risk expected to rise with increasing global temperatures.
Water is full of strange but life-saving properties:
Recycled Water
The water you drink is prehistoric — older than the Earth itself.
Floating Ice
Water expands when frozen, which is why ice floats and oceans don’t freeze solid.
Heaviest at 4°C
This helps regulate marine life survival in cold seasons.
Earth’s Climate Regulator
Water stabilizes global temperature and helps regulate body temperature.
Brain Power
The human body is 60–70% water; the brain is around 75%.
Hydration Myths
Small amounts of tea, coffee, and alcohol do not dehydrate you.
Weight Control
A glass of water before meals may help with appetite and digestion.
Dehydration Symptoms
Headache, mood changes, low energy, and poor concentration can signal dehydration.
Bottled Water
Packaged water has an expiration date.
Water Scarcity
Only 1% of Earth’s water is usable for human needs.
Men: ~3 liters (100 oz)
Women: ~2.2 liters (77 oz)
Water alone doesn’t cause weight loss, but drinking 2 cups before meals may help reduce calorie intake.
A simple rule:
Drink half your body weight (in pounds) in ounces.
Example: 200 lbs → 100 oz/day (~3 liters)
More energy
Better digestion
Improved skin
Toxin removal
Stable mood and brain function
Ages 1–3: 4 cups/day
Ages 4–8: 5 cups/day
Older children: 7–8 cups/day
Review of 65 studies shows:
Children: 58% from plain water
Adolescents: 75%
Adults: 80%
Adults tend to drink more tea, coffee, and alcohol.
Yes — drinking 10–15 liters/day for several days can lead to water intoxication. This is rare with normal kidney function.
Confusion, nausea, vomiting, disorientation, and altered mental status.
Yes. Low fluid intake increases stone risk.
Aim to produce 2.5 L of urine per day.
Women: 4–5 bottles (16.9 oz bottles)
Men: 6 bottles
Adjust for heat and exercise.
Weight (kg) × 0.03
Example:
70 kg → 2.1 liters minimum
1 standard glass = 8 oz = 0.24 L
1 gallon = 16 glasses
Use:
0.67 × body weight (lbs) = ounces per day
Add 12 oz for every 30 minutes of exercise.
Based on an average of 3 liters/day:
Monthly: 90 liters
Yearly: 1,095 liters
Lifetime (80 years): 87,600 liters
Average person uses:
Daily: 110 liters
Monthly: 3,300 liters
Yearly: 40,150 liters
Approximate usage:
Showering (10 min): 100 liters
Bathing: 150 liters
Handwashing: 1 liter per wash
Face/hand washing daily: ~5 liters
Up to 200 liters per day.
Camels can survive days or weeks without drinking due to extreme water efficiency.
Over 4.5 billion years old — older than Earth and the Sun.