How to calculate dough hydration
Enter the flour weight and water weight, choose one shared unit, then click Calculate. Use grams (g), kilograms (kg), ounces (oz), or pounds (lb). The calculation uses only the two weights you enter.
What the calculator returns
The calculator uses these formulas:
Hydration % = (Water weight / Flour weight) x 100Total dough weight = Flour weight + Water weight
Flour is the 100% reference for hydration. After a valid calculation, the result shows hydration and total dough weight, followed by the formula, converted intermediate values, and flour and water shares of the total dough. A plain-text version is also prepared for copying or downloading.
Use the calculator controls
- Enter a flour weight greater than zero and a water weight of zero or more.
- Choose the same unit for both fields:
grams (g),kilograms (kg),ounces (oz), orpounds (lb). - Click Calculate. The result appears only when the inputs pass validation.
- Click Copy result to copy the plain-text result when clipboard access succeeds. If copying fails, the interface shows Could not copy - select and copy manually.
- Click Download result (.txt) to save the plain-text result.
- Click Reset to restore flour to
1000, water to700, and the unit tograms (g).
If validation fails or you click Reset, the result is hidden.
Input rules and limitations
- Flour must be a number greater than zero. Water must be a number of zero or greater.
- The selected unit applies to both numeric inputs. Supported units are grams (g), kilograms (kg), ounces (oz), and pounds (lb); the calculator converts them internally to grams.
- Enter the combined flour weight and the combined water weight you want counted.
- Only the entered flour and water weights are included. Other ingredients or liquids are not added automatically.
- The implementation accepts numeric weight inputs only. It does not fetch recipe or ingredient data.
Privacy for calculator inputs
The page-specific calculation script performs the arithmetic locally and does not send the calculator input values in a network request. This statement applies to the calculator inputs, not to every form or script on the page.
Dough hydration calculator FAQ
What is the dough hydration formula?
Dough hydration % = (Water weight / Flour weight) x 100. Flour is the 100% reference weight, so hydration expresses water as a percentage of flour, not of the total dough weight.
Is hydration a percentage of flour or of total dough weight?
Hydration is calculated against flour weight, not total dough weight - this is the standard baker's percentage convention. This tool also separately reports water's and flour's share of total dough weight, which are different, smaller figures.
Does this include milk, eggs, or other liquids in hydration?
No. This calculator only uses the flour weight and water weight you enter. If your recipe's hydration should include another liquid, add its weight into the water figure yourself before entering it.
What units are supported?
grams (g), kilograms (kg), ounces (oz), and pounds (lb). Pick one unit and enter both flour and water in that same unit; the calculator converts internally to grams for the percentage math.
Does this tool use a standardized recipe database or official baking rules?
No. It performs a single, transparent calculation using only the flour weight and water weight you type in. It does not fetch recipe data, apply any bakery association's or institution's specific formula conventions, and it is not professional baking or nutrition advice.