IV Drip Rate Calculator
Calculate drops per minute and mL per hour from an IV prescription. Macro-drip and micro-drip sets supported.
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Frequently asked questions
The drop factor is the number of drops the IV set delivers per mL. The Open RN Nursing Skills textbook says it's on the packaging of the IV tubing and should be checked before calculating a rate. Macro-drip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 drops per mL and micro-drip sets deliver 60.
That follows the provider's order and the facility's policy. Open RN describes both: an infusion pump is set to the volume and the rate in mL per hour, while a gravity infusion is set with the roller clamp to the number of drops per minute. This calculator gives both figures.
Counting for a full minute gives the drops-per-minute figure directly. Counting for 15 seconds and multiplying by 4 is quicker, but any miscount is multiplied by 4 too. Open RN advises double-checking a manually calculated IV rate with another registered nurse.
A gravity drip can speed up or slow down as the patient moves. Recount during the infusion, and if the bag will finish earlier or later than planned, recalculate from the volume left and the time left.
The math is the same, but blood products go through a dedicated blood-administration set with its own filter and drop factor. Read the factor off that set's packaging and follow the facility's transfusion protocol.
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Source: Open RN Nursing Skills, Chapter 23: IV Therapy Management · Last verified 2026-11. Nursing Skills: IV therapy management. This tool provides estimates only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Always verify your specific situation with the relevant UAE authority or a licensed advisor before taking action.