CalcDepo

Maintenance IV Fluid Rate (4-2-1 Rule) Calculator

Estimate hourly maintenance fluid for a child or adult using the 4-2-1 rule.

Inputs

Results

Maintenance fluid rate65mL/h
Maintenance fluid per day1,560mL/day

Chart

Not what you need? Search by intent

Describe what you want to find — “4-2-1 rule fluids” — and jump to the right calculator.

How to use the maintenance iv fluid rate calculator

Estimate hourly maintenance fluid for a child or adult using the 4-2-1 rule. Enter body weight in the field above; the maintenance fluid rate, maintenance fluid per day are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.

Common searches this calculator answers include “4-2-1 rule fluids”, “maintenance IV fluid rate”, “hourly fluid for weight”, “calculate maintenance iv fluid rate”, “find maintenance fluid rate”.

Formula

Maintenance fluid rate (mL/h) = 4 × min(w,10)+2 × min(max(w-10,0),10)+max(w-20,0)
Maintenance fluid per day (mL/day) = [Maintenance fluid rate] × 24

Variables

  • w — Body weight (kg)

Worked example

With body weight = 25 kg, the calculator gives maintenance fluid rate ≈ 65 mL/h; maintenance fluid per day ≈ 1,560 mL/day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maintenance iv fluid rate calculator used for?

Estimate hourly maintenance fluid for a child or adult using the 4-2-1 rule. It helps with questions such as “4-2-1 rule fluids”, “maintenance IV fluid rate”, “hourly fluid for weight”.

What is the formula for the maintenance iv fluid rate calculation?

Maintenance fluid rate (mL/h) = 4 × min(w,10)+2 × min(max(w-10,0),10)+max(w-20,0). Maintenance fluid per day (mL/day) = [Maintenance fluid rate] × 24. Here w is body weight (kg).

What inputs do I need for the maintenance iv fluid rate (4-2-1 rule) calculator?

You need body weight in kg. 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 the maintenance iv fluid rate 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 maintenance iv fluid rate 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.

Related calculators

More in Human Body & Health: BMI · BMR · Weight Change Calorie · Body Surface Area · Ideal Body Weight · Body Fat Percentage · Waist-to-Hip Ratio · Heart Rate Zones