Microdrop Rate Calculator

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

About Microdrop Rate Calculator

Uses the 60 drops per millilitre microdrip set, where the microdrops per minute figure equals the millilitres per hour rate.

Formula

Microdrip shortcut

With a 60 drops/mL set, microdrops per minute = mL per hour, because volume x 60 / minutes reduces to the hourly rate

Worked example

With the default values below, Microdrop Rate Calculator returns Microdrops per minute of 100.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Volume to infuseaccepts 1–1,000 mL: 100 mL
Infusion timeaccepts 5–1,440 min: 60 min

Results

Microdrops per minute: 100.0 drops/min
Equivalent pump rate: 100.00 mL/h
Seconds between drops: 0.60 s

Step by step

1Values used
2Microdrip shortcut
3Microdrops per minute= 100.0 drops/min
4Equivalent pump rate= 100.00 mL/h
5Seconds between drops= 0.60 s

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 2 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 2 decimal places, 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 do paediatric sets use 60 drops/mL?

Smaller drops allow accurate delivery of the low volumes children need, and the arithmetic simplifies.

Is a burette still needed?

Yes for small volumes, because it limits how much can be delivered if the rate is set wrongly.