Water Intake Calculator: Your Personalized Daily Hydration Goal

Calculate how much water you should drink each day based on body weight, activity level, exercise time, climate, and special conditions like pregnancy or breastfeeding. Backed by Mayo Clinic, EFSA, IOM & sports nutrition guidelines (updated 2026).

How Much Water Should You Drink? Evidence-Based Guidelines (2026)

Daily fluid needs vary widely. According to the Mayo Clinic, U.S. National Academies (IOM), and EFSA:

~20% comes from food (fruits, vegetables, soups), so aim for ~80% from drinks. This calculator personalizes the recommendation using:

These align with Mayo Clinic, American College of Sports Medicine, and recent hydration studies (2023–2025).

Best Sources of Hydration & Practical Tips

Pro tips:

Signs of Good Hydration vs Dehydration

Good HydrationDehydration Warning
Pale yellow / straw-colored urineDark yellow / amber urine
Urinating every 2–4 hoursInfrequent urination or small amounts
No thirst / dry mouthPersistent thirst, dry lips/tongue
Good energy, focus, skin elasticityFatigue, headache, dizziness, dry skin

Severe signs (confusion, rapid heartbeat) → seek medical help immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions – Daily Water Intake

Does coffee or tea dehydrate you?

No — the fluid in coffee/tea counts toward your total. Caffeine has only a mild diuretic effect in regular consumers (Mayo Clinic, 2025).

How much extra water during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Pregnant: +300 ml/day (~total 3–3.5 L). Breastfeeding: +700–1,000 ml/day (~3.5–4 L) to support milk production (IOM & Mayo Clinic).

Is the “8 glasses a day” rule accurate?

No — it’s a rough average. A 90 kg active person in hot weather may need 4–6 L, while a small sedentary person may need ~2 L (personalized calculators are better).

Do I need electrolytes with water?

Usually not for normal daily intake. But for exercise >60–90 min, heavy sweating, or hot climates — add sodium/potassium (sports drink, pinch of salt, banana) to avoid hyponatremia.

Can you drink too much water?

Yes — overhydration (hyponatremia) is rare but possible if you drink >1 L/hour without electrolytes. Listen to thirst and urine color.

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