IV Infusion Rate Calculator
Convert a prescribed infusion dose into a pump rate in mL/hour using the bag concentration and, where dosing is weight-based, the patient's weight. Pure unit arithmetic on an order that has already been written.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Symbol | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| IV Infusion Rate Calculator | — | Rate (mL/hr) = dose × weight × 60 / concentration | mL/hour |
Step-by-Step Examples
Order: 5 mcg/kg/min. Patient 70 kg. Bag: 400 mg in 250 mL.
- Dose per hour = 5 × 70 × 60 = 21,000 mcg/hr = 21 mg/hr
- Concentration = 400 / 250 = 1.6 mg/mL
- Rate = 21 / 1.6 = 13.1 mL/hr
Order: 8 mg/hr. Bag: 250 mg in 500 mL.
- Concentration = 250 / 500 = 0.5 mg/mL
- Rate = 8 / 0.5 = 16 mL/hr
Order: 10 mcg/min. Bag: 4 mg in 250 mL.
- Dose per hour = 10 × 60 = 600 mcg/hr = 0.6 mg/hr
- Concentration = 4 / 250 = 0.016 mg/mL
- Rate = 0.6 / 0.016 = 37.5 mL/hr
Real-World Applications
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most common source of error is a thousand-fold mistake between mcg and mg. Confirm the units on both the order and the bag label before calculating.
Concentrations vary between institutions and between double-strength or fluid-restricted preparations. Always read the actual label rather than recalling a usual value.
This tool performs arithmetic on numbers you enter. It cannot verify that the order itself is appropriate, that the drug is correct, or that the patient can tolerate it.