Conversion Factors 

● 8 oz = 240 mL = 1 glass 

● 1 kg = 2.2 lb  ● 1 tsp = 60 gtt 

● 1 gallon = 4 quart  ● 1 pt = 500 mL = 16 oz 

● 1 tsp = 5 mL  ● 1 oz = 30 mL 

● 1 inch = 2.54 cm  ● 4 oz = 120 mL 

● 1 L = 1,000 mL  Solid Conversions 

● 1 kg = 1,000 g  gr 1 = 60 mg gr 15 = 1 g 2.54 cm
= 1 in 2.2 lb = 1 kg 
● 1 oz = 30 mL = 2 tbsp 
Liquid Conversions 
● 1 g = 1,000 mg 
30 mL = 1 oz 1 tsp = 5 mL 1
● 1 mg = 1,000 mcg 
standard measuring cup = 240
● 1 cm = 10 mm  mL 

● 1 tbsp = 15 mL  Mass 

● 1 cup = 8 fl oz  mcg ← mg ← g ← kg ( x by
● 1 pint = 2 cups  1,000 ) mcg → mg → g → kg ( ÷
by 1,000 ) lb ← kg ( x by 2.2 ) lb
● 12 inches = 1 foot  → kg ( ÷ by 2.2 ) 
● 1 L = 1.057 qt  Volume 
● 1 lb = 16 oz 
mcL ← mL ← L ← kL ( x by
● 1 tbsp = 3 tsp  1,000 ) mcL → mL → L → kL ( ÷
by 1,000 ) 
● 60 minute = 1 hour 

● 1 cc = 1 mL 
Time
min ← hr ( x by 60 ) min → hr ( ÷
● 2 pints = 1 qt 
by 60 ) 
Conversions
Before mastering drug dosage formula, you should first learn how to convert the commonly
used units of measurements in drug preparation. It is essential so you will not get lost
between drug calculations as physicians commonly order a medication available in a
different preparation. 

The most common conversion factors you will use for drug dosage calculations are the
following: 

Calculating Tablet Dosages 

In calculating tablet dosages, the following formula is
useful: 

DESIRED DOSAGE ÷ STOCK STRENGTH = NUMBER OF

TABLETS 

The desired dosage is the ordered dosage of the physician while the stock strength is the
amount of drug present in each tablet. Stock strength is also known as stock dose. 

Exa
mple

● The physician orders 1,500 mg of calcium carbonate for the patient. The drug is
available in 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should be given to the patient? 

Desired dosage ÷ stock strength = number of

tablets 

1,500 mg ÷ 250 mg = 6
tablets 
● The patient is ordered to have 2 g of potassium chloride. The drug is available in
500 mg tablets. How many tablets should be given? 

Convert 2 g to mg = 2 x 1,000 =
2,000 mg 

Desired dosage ÷ stock strength = number of

tablets 

2,000 mg ÷ 500 mg = 4
tablets 

Calculating Mixtures and Solutions

The following formula is useful in calculating mixtures and
solutions: 

DESIRED DOSAGE ÷ STOCK STRENGTH X STOCK

VOLUME = AMOUNT OF SOLUTION TO BE GIVEN 

The desired dosage is the ordered dosage of the physician. The stock strength is the
amount of drug present in the preparation while the stock volume is the amount of the
solution where the drug is diluted. 

Exa
mple

● The physician orders 375 mg of cefuroxime for the patient. The drug is available in
750 mg vial. You plan to dilute it in 10 mL of sterile water. How much should you give
to your patient? 

[Desired dosage ÷ stock strength] x stock volume = amount of solution to

be given 

[375 mg ÷ 750 mg] x 10 mL = amount of solution to be

given 

0.5 mg x 10 mL =
5 mL 

● A pediatric patient recovering from accidental fall is about to be given with

130 mg paracetamol syrup. The drug is available in 250 mg per 5 mL
preparation. How much should you give to your patient? 

[Desired dosage ÷ stock strength] x stock volume = amount of solution to

be given 

Calculate IV Rate – mL per hour and minute 

It is easy to calculate the running rate of IV fluids in terms of mL per hour or mL per
minute: 

TOTAL IV VOLUME ÷ TIME (HOUR OR MINUTE) = ML

PER HOUR OR MINUTE 
The total IV volume is the amount of fluid to be infused while the time is the number of
running hours or minutes. 

Exam
ples
 ● Start venoclysis with D5 0.9 NaCl 1 L to be infused for 16 hours. How many mL
of the IV fluid should you infuse per hour? 

Total IV volume ÷ time (hour or minute) = mL

per hour 

1 L ÷ 16 hours = mL per
hour 

[1 L x 1,000] ÷ 16 hours = mL per

hour 

1,000 mL ÷ 16 hours = 62.5 mL per

hour 

● You are going to start IV infusion with Plain Lactated Ringer’s Solution 1 L. By
regulating it for 11 hours, how much fluid are you going to infuse per minute? 
● Total IV volume ÷ time (hour or minute) = mL per
minute 

● 1 L ÷ 11 hours = mL per
minute 

● [1 L x 1,000] ÷ [11 hours x 60] = mL per

minute 

● 1,000 mL÷ [11 hours x 60] = mL per

minute 

● 1,000 mL ÷ 660 = 1.5 mL per

minute 

Calculate IV Rate – drops per minute 

Calculating for drops per minute is simple with the following

formula: 

[TOTAL IV VOLUME ÷ TIME (MINUTE)] X DROP FACTOR =

DROPS PER MINUTE 

The total IV volume is the amount of IV fluid to be infused while time is the duration of how
long the IV fluid should be infused in terms of minutes. 

The drop factor is the “drops per milliliter” delivered to the patient and it depends on the
macrodrip used for the infusion. The common drop factors used in different hospitals are
10, 15 and 20. 
Exam
ples: 

● The physician orders to start venoclysis with D5 0.3 NaCl 1 L solution. The IV fluid
will be infused for 14 hours and the drop factor of the macrodrip used is 20. It should
be regulated to how many drops per minute? 
[Total IV volume ÷ time (minute) ] x drop factor = drops per
minute 

[1 L ÷ 14 hours] x 20 = drops per

minute 

[{1 L x 1,000} ÷ {14 hours x 60} ] x 20 = drops per

minute 

[1,000 mL ÷ 840 minutes] x 20 = drops per

minute 

1.19 x 20 = 23 to 24 drops per

minute 

● You are going to regulate D5 0.9 NaCl 500 mL solution for 7 hours. The macrodrip
used has 15 drop factor. You should regulate the IV fluid for how many drops per minute? 

[Total IV volume ÷ time (minute) ] x drop factor = drops per

minute 

[500 mL ÷ 7 hours] x 15 = drops per

minute 

[500 mL ÷ {7 hours x 60}] x 15 = drops per

minute 

[500 ÷ 420] x 15 = drops per

minute 

1.19 x 15 = 17 to 18 drops per

minute 

Calculate IV Rate – Remaining Time of Infusion

Calculating for the remaining time of infusion for a certain IV fluid is possible with the
following formula: 

[VOLUME REMAINING (IN ML) ÷ DROPS PER MINUTE] X

DROP FACTOR = MINUTES REMAINING 
The volume remaining is the amount of IV fluid remaining for the infusion while the drops
per minute is the regulation of the IV infusion. The drop factor can be determined in the
macrodrip used in the hospital. 

Exa
mple

● You see that your patient has D5 0.9 NaCl IV infusion at 400 mL level. It is
regulated to run for 22 drops per minute using a macrodrip set with drop factor 20. How
many minutes are remaining before you are due to change the IV fluid? 

[Volume remaining (in mL) ÷ drops per minute] x drop factor = minutes
remaining 

[400 mL ÷ 22] x 20 = minutes

remaining 

18.18 x 20 = 363 minutes or 6

hours 
● A patient has 350 mL of Plain 0.9 NaCl solution as IV infusion regulated at 20
drops per minute. Drop factor 10 was used for the patient’s macrodrip set. Considering
the IV fluid level of the patient, for how many minutes will it run? 

[Volume remaining (in mL) ÷ drops per minute] x drop factor = minutes
remaining 

[350 mL ÷ 20] x 10 = minutes

remaining 

17.5 x 10 = 175 minutes or 3

hours 

● A patient has 350 mL of Plain 0.9 NaCl solution as IV infusion regulated at 20

drops per minute. Drop factor 10 was used for the patient’s macrodrip set. Considering
the IV fluid level of the patient, for how many minutes will it run? 

[Volume remaining (in mL) ÷ drops per minute] x drop factor = minutes
remaining 

[350 mL ÷ 20] x 10 = minutes

remaining 

17.5 x 10 = 175 minutes or 3

hours