Alcohol Dilution
Find how much water to add to reach a target alcohol percentage.
About Alcohol Dilution
Dilution adds enough water so the absolute alcohol stays constant while the total volume rises to the target percentage. Getting the added water right keeps flavor intensity predictable whether proofing down a spirit or tweaking a batch drink.
Formula
Alcohol Dilution
Water = volume x (ABV - target) / target
- proof
- ABV doubled, a US proof scale used on spirits
Worked example
With the default values below, Alcohol Dilution returns Water to Add of 250.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Volumeminimum 1 ml
- 750 ml
- Current ABVaccepts 0–100 %
- 40 %
- Target ABVaccepts 0.1–95 %
- 30 %
Results
- Water to Add
- 250.0 ml
- Total Volume
- 1,000.0 ml
- Proof
- 80.0
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Alcohol Dilution
- 3Water to Add= 250.0 ml
- 4Total Volume= 1,000.0 ml
- 5Proof= 80.0
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, fees or charges 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.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Alcohol Dilution calculated?
Water = volume x (ABV - target) / target Dilution adds enough water so the absolute alcohol stays constant while the total volume rises to the target percentage.
Why does Alcohol Dilution matter?
Getting the added water right keeps flavor intensity predictable whether proofing down a spirit or tweaking a batch drink.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 3 inputs: Volume, Current ABV, Target ABV. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.