Baby Formula Calculator
Calculate recommended daily infant formula from your baby's age and weight in lbs or kg.
Returns total daily intake and suggested feeding frequency by age.
Baby formula preparation requires precise measurement, both for the infant’s nutrition and for food safety. Too little powder results in an under-nourished feed; too much can stress a newborn’s kidneys and cause dehydration.
Standard US formula preparation:
Scoops of Powder = Fluid Ounces of Water ÷ 2
Most US formulas use the ratio: 1 level scoop per 2 fl oz (60 mL) of water. Always add water first, then powder. That is what keeps the finished volume accurate.
Total daily intake by age:
These brackets match the age options in the calculator above.
| Age | Feeds/Day | Amount per Feed | Total/Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 weeks | 8–12 | 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) | 16–24 oz (480–720 ml) |
| 2 weeks – 2 months | 6–8 | 2–4 oz (60–120 ml) | 24–30 oz (710–890 ml) |
| 2–4 months | 5–6 | 4–6 oz (120–180 ml) | 26–32 oz (770–960 ml) |
| 4–6 months | 4–5 | 5–7 oz (150–210 ml) | 28–32 oz (830–960 ml) |
| 6–12 months | 3–4 | 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) | 24–32 oz (710–960 ml) |
No row goes past 32 oz, and that is deliberate. Most healthy babies should not take more than 32 oz (960 ml) of formula in 24 hours, so the calculator holds its answer at that ceiling however much weight you enter. After six months solids start replacing part of the milk, which is why the total comes back down rather than climbing.
A simple daily guideline:
Daily Intake (ml) ≈ Baby Weight (kg) × 150
That is the figure this calculator uses. It works out to roughly 2.3 oz per pound of body weight. You will also see the American version quoted as a round 2.5 oz per pound, which lands about 8% higher. Either one is a starting point rather than a prescription, so defer to your pediatrician.
Worked example: A 3-month-old weighing 13 lbs (5.9 kg):
- Daily intake: 5.9 × 150 = 885 ml (29.9 oz)
- Feeds per day at this age: 5–6
- Per feed: 885 ÷ 5.5 = 161 ml (5.4 oz) per bottle
- Scoops for a 6 oz bottle: 6 ÷ 2 = 3 scoops of powder
Formula safety rules:
- Powdered formula is not a sterile product. For a baby under 3 months, born early, or with a weakened immune system, the CDC says to boil the water and let it cool to no lower than 158°F (70°C) before mixing, then cool the made-up bottle quickly under a running tap before feeding. For an older, healthy baby, water from a safe supply at room temperature is fine.
- Prepared formula is safe in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours
- Never reuse formula left in a bottle after a feed, and discard it after 1 hour
- Never freeze prepared formula
- Always check the expiration date and use within 1 month of opening the can
Powdered vs. ready-to-feed vs. liquid concentrate: Ready-to-feed is the safest for immunocompromised infants but costs 3–4× more than powder.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
SuperGlobalCalculator is independently built and maintained. See how we build and verify our calculators.
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