Tools · Daily decisions
Daily fluid budget
Find a sensible starting point for how much you can drink in a day. Your nephrologist sets the final number — this calculator just gives you a baseline to discuss.
Your CKD stage
Treatment
Suggested budget
2000 mL
Function is reduced. Most patients still benefit from steady fluids, but if you are accumulating swelling or your urine output has fallen, your doctor may restrict you.
What does 1 L of fluid look like?
Most patients underestimate fluid intake because it's not just water. Here's a typical 1 L day:
A glass of water
1 standard tumbler
250 mL
A cup of tea
1 chai katori
200 mL
A small bowl of dal
half a katori, mostly liquid
150 mL
A small glass of milk
count any dairy
150 mL
Mid-day water
and you're at the 1 L mark
250 mL
Foods that count as fluid
If it's liquid at room temperature, it counts. Tea, coffee, soup, dal, kulfi, ice cream, sherbet, fruit juice, milk, buttermilk, coconut water — they all go into the budget.
See the fluids section of the renal diet guide for the full list.