Hiking Water Calculator
Estimate how much water to carry for a day on the trail. Set the hours you expect to be walking, how hot it will be and the size of your bottles, and the total updates as you change them.
- Free
- Works offline after your first visit
- Saves on this device
- No sign-up
- Updated
How it works
Start with the hours you expect to be moving. Multiply by the water used each hour, which starts at half a litre, a common rule of thumb for moderate walking. Hot weather and steep climbs push that number up, so the heat setting adds a percentage on top.
The total is then divided by your bottle size, rounded up, to show how many full bottles that makes. Water needs vary with body size, pace, sweat and weather, so treat the number as a planning figure and adjust it from your own past walks.
Worked example
For 4 of walking with 10% extra for heat and climbs, plan on about 2.2 qt of water, which is 3 bottles bottles of the size you entered.
Questions
How much water do I need on a hike?
It depends on pace, heat, body size and how hard you are working. The starting figure is only a rule of thumb, so change it to match how much you drank on earlier walks.
Should I drink on a schedule?
Many hikers drink when thirsty and plan refills at the water sources along the route. Check those sources before you count on them, since they can dry up in summer.
Does this include food or salty snacks?
No. It counts water only. Salty snacks and electrolyte drinks change how much you need, so count them on their own if you use them.
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