Calculate, review one worked example, then practice the same skill.
IV Drip Rate
Calculate flow rates for macro and micro infusion sets.
Calculation practice
Learn gravity iv drip rate
Calculate whole drops per minute for a gravity infusion.
Formula
Keep the units in the setup. Cancel them before you accept the answer.
Worked example
Infuse 1,000 mL over 8 hours with tubing that delivers 15 gtt/mL.
- 1Convert 8 hours to 480 minutes.
- 2(1,000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ 480 minutes = 31.25 gtt/min
- 3Round to a whole drop.
Answer: 31 gtt/min
Checks before use
- Use the drop factor printed on the tubing package.
- Convert hours to minutes before you calculate gtt/min.
- Round a gravity rate to a whole drop unless the question gives another rule.
Practice this skill
Create a printable iv flow-rate worksheet with worked solutions.
Add this calculator to a course site
Copy the iframe code into a learning system, school page, or nursing blog. The calculator opens without the full site navigation.
<iframe src="https://nursingworksheets.com/embed/calculators/iv-drip" title="Gravity IV drip rate calculator" width="100%" height="760" loading="lazy" style="border:1px solid #b8c6ce;background:#fff" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>References
- Dose Calculation: Volume Infusion — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf
- Chapter 5: Math Calculations — Open RN, NCBI Bookshelf
Site editor: Daniel Tran, PharmD. Educational use only. Verify the order, current drug reference, prepared product, and facility policy before clinical use.
For educational use only. Always verify with clinical judgment and facility protocols.