How to use the soil moisture content calculator
Compute gravimetric moisture content of a soil sample. Enter wet mass, dry mass in the fields above; the moisture content (dry basis), moisture content (wet basis) are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- w — Wet mass (g)
- d — Dry mass (g)
Worked example
With wet mass = 120 g, dry mass = 100 g, the calculator gives moisture content (dry basis) ≈ 20 %; moisture content (wet basis) ≈ 16.66667 %.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the soil moisture content calculation?
Moisture content (dry basis) (%) = 100 × (w-d) / d. Moisture content (wet basis) (%) = 100 × (w-d) / w. Here w is wet mass (g), d is dry mass (g).
What inputs do I need for the soil moisture content calculator?
You need wet mass in g, dry mass in g. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.