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Calculate the gravity (manual) IV drip rate in drops per minute: gtt/min = Volume × Drop factor / Time. Drop factor selectable (macro 10/15/20 or micro 60 gtt/mL). Time may be hours+minutes or minutes; rounded to whole drops with drift warning. Vasoactive/cardiotonic drugs and pediatric infusions must ALWAYS use a pump. Derived from Philips 2007, Macklin 2011, MDCalc, and ISMP. Not medical advice.
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Tool usage guide
The IV Drip Rate Calculator (Gravity) calculates a manual infusion rate in drops per minute (gtt/min) from volume, drop factor, and infusion time. It supports macro sets of 10, 15, or 20 gtt/mL and micro sets of 60 gtt/mL, then rounds the result to whole drops.
Background
A 1,000 mL fluid bag must run over four hours through a 20 gtt/mL macro set.
Problem
Find the manual gravity drip rate in drops per minute.
How to use
Enter volume 1000, select drop factor 20, enter 4 hours and 0 minutes, and leave decimal places at 1.
{"dropFactor":"20","volume":1000,"hours":4,"minutes":0,"decimalPlaces":1}Outcome
The raw rate is 83.3 gtt/min, rounded to 83 gtt/min. The equivalent volume rate is 250 mL/h.
Background
A 120 mL non-pediatric gravity infusion is scheduled over two hours using a 60 gtt/mL micro set.
Problem
Calculate the required drops per minute while checking the relationship between gtt/min and mL/h.
How to use
Enter volume 120, select drop factor 60, enter 2 hours and 0 minutes, and use 1 decimal place.
It uses gtt/min = Volume (mL) × Drop factor (gtt/mL) ÷ Time (minutes).
The calculator supports 10, 15, and 20 gtt/mL macro sets and a 60 gtt/mL micro set.
Yes. Enter hours, minutes, or both; the calculator converts the total time to minutes.
Drops are discrete events, so the displayed manual drip rate is rounded to whole drops per minute.
No. Pediatric infusions and vasoactive or cardiotonic drugs must use an infusion pump, not gravity. This tool is not medical advice.
{"dropFactor":"60","volume":120,"hours":2,"minutes":0,"decimalPlaces":1}Outcome
The calculator returns 60 gtt/min, which corresponds numerically to 60 mL/h with a 60 gtt/mL set.