Enteral Feeding Calculator
Calculate tube feeding rate, daily volume, and protein delivery from formula specifications. Includes Holliday-Segar fluid needs and free water flush requirements.
Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of results from this tool.
Inputs
Results
Feeding rate (mL/hr)
90
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the patient's weight in kg.
- Set the caloric goal in kcal/day as prescribed.
- Enter the formula density (kcal/mL) from the product label.
- Input the protein content per liter of formula.
- Review the daily volume (mL), hourly rate, and protein delivery to verify adequacy.
How the result changes with Formula density (kcal/mL)
| Formula density (kcal/mL) | Feeding rate (mL/hr) |
|---|---|
| 0.75 | 120 |
| 1.38 | 65.2 |
| 2.13 | 42.3 |
| 2.75 | 32.7 |
What each input means
- Weight (kg)
- Patient body weight in kilograms.
- Caloric goal (kcal/day)
- Target daily calorie delivery.
- Formula density (kcal/mL)
- Caloric density: 1.0 standard, 1.5 high-cal, 2.0 renal/concentrated.
- Formula protein (g/L)
- Grams of protein per liter of formula.
- Feeding hours per day
- Hours of feeding per day (continuous = 20-24, bolus = fewer).
- Formula water content (%)
- Percentage of formula that is water (typically 80-85%).
What each result means
- Feeding rate (mL/hr)
- Pump rate for the specified feeding duration.
- Daily volume (mL/day)
- Total formula volume to deliver caloric goal.
- Protein delivered (g/day)
- Total protein from the formula at this volume.
- Protein per kg (g/kg/day)
- Protein delivery relative to body weight.
- Calories per kg (kcal/kg/day)
- Caloric delivery relative to body weight.
- Holliday-Segar fluid needs (mL/day)
- Estimated daily fluid requirement.
- Water from formula (mL)
- Free water provided by the formula.
- Free water flush needed (mL)
- Additional water flushes needed to meet fluid requirements.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersWeight (kg) = 70, Caloric goal (kcal/day) = 1800, Formula density (kcal/mL) = 1, Formula protein (g/L) = 40 = 6 input(s) provided
- Calculate Feeding rateFeeding rate = dailyVolumeMl / feedingHours90 = 90
- Calculate Daily volumeDaily volume = caloricGoal / formulaDensity1800 = 1800
- Calculate Protein deliveredProtein delivered = (dailyVolumeMl / 1000) * proteinPerLiter72 = 72
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