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Enteral Feed Rate Calculator

Work out enteral feed rate instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Enteral Feed Rate Calculator

Divides the prescribed daily feed volume by the feeding hours to give a pump rate, and converts volume into delivered energy.

Formula

Feed rate

Rate (mL/h) = total volume / feeding hours; energy = volume x kcal/mL

Worked example

With the default values below, Enteral Feed Rate Calculator returns Pump rate of 75.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Total daily feed volumeaccepts 100–4,000 mL
1,500 mL
Hours of feedingaccepts 1–24 h
20 h
Feed energy densityaccepts 0.5–3 kcal/mL
1.5 kcal/mL

Results

Pump rate
75.0 mL/h
Energy delivered
2,250 kcal
Volume per 8-hour shift
600 mL
Energy per hour
112.5 kcal/h

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Feed rate
  3. 3Pump rate= 75.0 mL/h
  4. 4Energy delivered= 2,250 kcal
  5. 5Volume per 8-hour shift= 600 mL
  6. 6Energy per hour= 112.5 kcal/h

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
  • Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why not feed for 24 hours?

A rest period allows gastric pH to fall, reduces bacterial overgrowth risk and permits mobility and medicine administration.

How fast can feeding be started?

Typically 20 to 30 mL/h, increased over 24 to 48 hours, with slower increases where refeeding syndrome is a risk.

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Enteral Feed Rate Calculator | Calcrivo