Daily Figures Edition No Sign-Up No Tracking Free Forever Vol. XII — No. 204
“The figures, plainly worked — a standing desk of free, no-nonsense calculators.”
Find a calculator

Water Intake Calculator

Enter your weight and exercise to estimate how much water to drink each day.

Daily water
Recommended fluid intake.
Readout
Litres
Cups (8 oz)
Base (from weight)
Exercise add-on
Show our math
Enter your figures above to see the step-by-step working.
General guide — not medical adviceEverything computed client-side — nothing leaves this page

How the Water Intake Calculator Works

A widely used rule of thumb is to drink about half your body weight in ounces of water each day. This calculator applies that — multiplying your weight in pounds by 0.5 to get a baseline in fluid ounces — then adds roughly 12 ounces for every 30 minutes of exercise, since you lose fluid through sweat.

The result is shown in ounces, litres and cups. It is a general guide, not a medical prescription: hot weather, altitude, illness and pregnancy all raise your needs, and much of your water also comes from food.

ounces ≈ weightlb × 0.5 + exercise adjustment

Frequently Asked Questions

How much water should I drink a day?

A common guideline is about half your body weight in ounces — roughly 80 oz (2.4 L) for a 160 lb person — plus more when you exercise or it is hot. Individual needs vary.

Does exercise increase how much I need?

Yes. You lose water through sweat, so add roughly 12 ounces for every 30 minutes of activity. Hot or humid conditions raise it further.

Does other fluid and food count?

Yes — tea, coffee, milk and watery foods like fruit all contribute to your total fluid. The plain-water target is a guide, not the only source.

More From The Desk

Same plain method, different figures