About the Hiking Water Calculator
How much water to carry on a hike based on duration, temperature and effort, with the weight it adds.
Also known as: water for hiking, trail water needs, how much water to bring hiking.
How to use this calculator
- Enter hiking time, conditions, effort.
- The result updates instantly as you type — press Calculate (or Enter) at any time.
- Review the breakdown shown under the main result.
- Use Copy result or Share to save the answer or send a link with your inputs.
Formula
≈ 0.5–1.25 litres per hour depending on heat and effort
Worked example
Using the values pre-filled in the calculator above:
- Hiking time = 5 hours
- Conditions: Mild (15–25 °C)
- Effort: Moderate
the calculator returns:
- Water to carry: 4.5 litres
- Weight of water: 4.5 kg
- Per hour: 0.9 litres
- 500 ml bottles: 9