Water to Rice Calculator
Choose a rice type, or the cooking time if you want a more precise answer, then enter how much dry rice you have. The calculator tells you how much water to add and how much cooked rice you will get.
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Created by the Reeliy Editorial Team. Last updated: Oct 19, 2026
How to use the water to rice calculator
Pick one of two calculation methods with the Calculation method buttons, enter the amount of dry rice in any unit from the list (grams, ounces, three kinds of cup, millilitres or fluid ounces), and press Calculate.
- Rice to Water ratio uses the standard ratio for the type of rice you pick. It is the quick answer and also shows the recommended cooking time.
- Water evaporation rate ignores the rice type and works from the cooking time instead. It is more accurate when you know how long your rice will simmer.
The result shows the water-to-rice and rice-to-water ratios, the amount of water in cups, millilitres and ounces, the cooked rice you will end up with, and the number of servings. A ratio quoted "by volume" compares cups with cups; if you enter grams or ounces the ratio is by weight instead.
Rice to water ratios by type of rice
| Rice type | Rice : water (by volume) | Cooking time |
|---|---|---|
| White long grain | 1 : 2 | 18-20 min |
| White medium grain | 1 : 1.5 | 15 min |
| White short grain | 1 : 1.25 | 15 min |
| Jasmine | 1 : 1.75 | 15-20 min |
| Basmati | 1 : 1.5 | 15-20 min |
| Texmati | 1 : 1.75 | 15-20 min |
| Brown long grain | 1 : 1.75 | 40-45 min |
| Brown medium or short grain | 1 : 2 | 50 min |
| Sushi (Calrose) | 1 : 1.33 | 18-20 min |
| Black Japonica | 1 : 2 | 50 min |
| Wild rice | 1 : 2 | 45-50 min |
| Converted (parboiled) | 1 : 2.25 | 20 min |
Read the ratio as parts of water per part of rice, measured with the same cup. For 1 : 2, every cup of rice takes two cups of water. Example: 3 US legal cups of white long grain rice need 6 US legal cups of water, which is 1,440 ml. Brown rice takes longer to cook because the bran layer slows the water down.
The evaporation method
Fixed ratios only hold when your cooking time matches the one in the table. In practice pots, lids and burners differ, and the longer rice cooks the more water escapes as steam. The second method models this directly: the rice takes up a share of water in proportion to its volume, and a roughly constant amount evaporates every minute whatever the quantity of rice in the pot.
water (ml) ≈ 1.322 × rice volume (ml) + 2.42 × minutesThe model built into the calculator. Rice by weight is first converted to volume at 0.8 g per ml.
Example: one rice cooker cup (180 ml) cooked for 20 minutes needs 1.322 × 180 + 2.42 × 20 ≈ 238 + 48 = 286 ml of water, a ratio of about 1 : 1.59. The same cup cooked for 10 minutes needs 262 ml, for 15 minutes 274 ml and for 30 minutes 310 ml.
Because the evaporation term does not depend on the amount of rice, a small batch needs proportionally more extra water than a large one. A big pot of rice has a lower overall ratio than a single cup, which is why recipes for large batches often call for less water per cup.
This is an estimate. If steam escapes constantly around the lid, add a few tablespoons of water on top of the calculated amount, and check the package for the cooking time to enter.
Getting good rice every time
- Measure rice and water with the same cup, and level it off. Weighing is more reliable than a scoop.
- Rinse the rice until the water runs nearly clear to remove loose starch and avoid a gluey texture. Rinsing does not change the amount of water to add.
- Bring the water to a boil, add the rice, then reduce to the lowest heat and keep the lid on. Lifting the lid lets out the steam the rice needs.
- Rest the rice, still covered and off the heat, for about ten minutes after cooking. The moisture evens out and the grains firm up.
- If the rice is a little hard when the water is gone, add a splash of water and cook on low a few minutes longer. Rice that is overcooked and mushy cannot be rescued, so err on the side of less water first.
To decide how much rice to cook for a number of people, use the rice calculator. For baking and other recipe maths, see the recipe scaler.
Frequently asked questions
How much water do I need per cup of rice?
It depends on the rice. White long grain rice takes 2 cups of water per cup, basmati and white medium grain take about 1.5, and jasmine takes 1.75. A longer cooking time needs more water because more of it evaporates.
How much water do I need for 3 cups of rice?
For white long grain rice, 6 cups of water (a 1 : 2 ratio). For basmati, 4.5 cups. For jasmine, about 5.25 cups. Select your rice in the calculator to see the amount in cups, millilitres and ounces.
Does the ratio change in a rice cooker?
Slightly. A rice cooker seals better than a pot, so less water is lost. Many cookers have water-level lines inside the pot, and those take priority over a general ratio. Use the rice cooker cup results from the calculator if you measure with the cup supplied.
Why is the ratio by weight different from the ratio by volume?
Dry rice is lighter than water for the same volume, about 0.8 g per millilitre against 1 g. A 1 : 2 ratio by volume is therefore about 1 : 2.5 by weight.
How do I stop rice from being undercooked or overcooked?
Keep the heat low enough to hold a gentle simmer, keep the lid on, and follow the minimum time on the package. If it is undercooked, add a little water and cook a few minutes more. If it is mushy, use less water or less time next time.
Cite this calculator and page
If you use this page in your work, you can cite it as:
Reeliy Editorial Team. (2026). Water to Rice Calculator. Reeliy. https://reeliy.com/calculators/rice-to-water-calculator“Water to Rice Calculator.” Reeliy, 2026, https://reeliy.com/calculators/rice-to-water-calculator.