General Recommendations

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The amount of water you should drink daily can vary based on factors like age, activity level, climate, and overall health, but a common general guideline is:

General Recommendations

  • Women: about 2.7 liters (91 ounces) per day from all beverages and food

  • Men: about 3.7 liters (125 ounces) per day from all beverages and food

About 20% of your daily water intake typically comes from food, so that means:

  • Women should aim for about 9 cups (2.1 liters) of fluids daily

  • Men should aim for about 12.5 cups (3 liters) of fluids daily

Other Helpful Rules of Thumb

  • 8x8 Rule: Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 2 liters) – easy to remember, but may be too low for active people.

  • Listen to your body: Thirst is a good signal, and so is the color of your urine (pale yellow = well hydrated).

  • Increase intake if:

    • You’re exercising or sweating a lot

    • You’re in hot or dry climates

    • You’re pregnant or breastfeeding

    • You’re ill or have a fever