Advanced Fluid Requirement Calculator

Plan fluids using weight, dehydration, fever, and losses. Compare daily totals and hourly infusion targets. Use results carefully alongside clinical judgment and local protocols.

Calculator inputs

The calculator uses a responsive grid: three columns on large screens, two on smaller screens, and one on mobile.

Formula used

1) Maintenance fluid

Holliday-Segar daily method: 100 mL/kg for the first 10 kg, 50 mL/kg for the next 10 kg, and 20 mL/kg for each kilogram above 20 kg.

4-2-1 hourly rule: 4 mL/kg/hr for the first 10 kg, 2 mL/kg/hr for the next 10 kg, and 1 mL/kg/hr above 20 kg.

2) Adult and custom methods

Adult fixed methods: Daily maintenance = weight × 30 or 35 mL/kg/day.

Custom method: Daily maintenance = weight × user-selected mL/kg/day.

3) BSA method

Du Bois BSA: BSA = 0.007184 × height(cm)0.725 × weight(kg)0.425

BSA maintenance: Daily maintenance = BSA × 1500 mL/m²/day.

4) Deficits and adjustments

Dehydration deficit: weight × dehydration% × 10

NPO deficit: base maintenance hourly × NPO hours

Fever adjustment: add 10% maintenance for each °C above 37

Adjusted maintenance: base maintenance × fever multiplier × stress factor

5) Final plan values

Initial hourly rate: adjusted hourly maintenance + losses/hr + deficit replacement/hr - oral intake/hr

24-hour net requirement: adjusted maintenance + ongoing losses + total deficit - oral intake

How to use this calculator

Enter the patient type, weight, and height if you want the BSA method.

Choose the maintenance method that matches your workflow or protocol.

Add dehydration percentage, NPO hours, and ongoing losses for replacement planning.

Enter oral or enteral intake to offset the estimated intravenous requirement.

Adjust temperature and stress factor when metabolic demand is higher.

Submit the form to view the result, summary cards, graph, and download tools above the calculator.

Example data table

Scenario Weight Method Dehydration NPO Losses Temp Stress Approx. 24h net
Pediatric gastroenteritis case 18 kg Holliday-Segar 5% 6 hr 300 mL/day 38.0 °C 1.05 2967 mL
Adult perioperative case 70 kg 30 mL/kg/day 2% 8 hr 500 mL/day 37.5 °C 1.10 5026 mL
Moderate pediatric dehydration 25 kg 4-2-1 rule 6% 4 hr 250 mL/day 37.8 °C 1.00 3185 mL

FAQs

1) What does this calculator estimate?

It estimates maintenance fluid needs, dehydration deficit, NPO deficit, ongoing losses, oral intake offset, and hourly rates for a planned replacement window.

2) Is the result a prescription?

No. It is a structured estimate for planning. Final prescribing still needs clinician review, patient reassessment, electrolyte decisions, and local policy alignment.

3) When should I use Holliday-Segar?

It is commonly used for pediatric maintenance calculations. Many teams use it for children when a weight-based daily estimate is needed.

4) Why does fever change the answer?

Fever can increase insensible losses and metabolic demand. This calculator adds 10% maintenance per degree Celsius above 37 as a simple planning adjustment.

5) What is the stress factor for?

The stress factor lets you scale maintenance needs upward or downward when illness, postoperative stress, or lower demand changes the expected baseline requirement.

6) Does this include electrolytes?

No. It estimates fluid volume only. Sodium, potassium, dextrose, acid-base status, and fluid type still need separate clinical selection.

7) Can I use it for severe dehydration or shock?

Use extra caution. Severe dehydration, shock, sepsis, burns, kidney injury, or cardiac disease often need more detailed assessment than a simple maintenance calculator provides.

8) Why are there initial and continuing hourly rates?

The initial rate includes deficit replacement during the chosen time window. The continuing rate shows the estimated hourly requirement once that replacement period ends.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.