Rice Water Ratio Calculator — Perfect Fluffy Rice Every Time
Get the right amount of water for any rice type — white long-grain, brown, basmati, jasmine, sushi, wild, or arborio — in cups, grams, or millilitres. Scales for any batch size.
Rice type
cups
Unit
Ratio: 1.75 cups water per cup of rice
- 1
Water required (cups)
2 × 1.75 = 3.5 - 2
Convert to mL
3.5 × 240 = 840Multiplying cups by 240 mL/cup gives the total water in millilitres.
How does this calculator work?
Water = dry rice × ratio. Common ratios: white long-grain 1.75 : 1, jasmine 1.5 : 1, brown 2.25 : 1, sushi 1.25 : 1, wild 3 : 1. Absorption method: bring to boil, cover, simmer on low until water is absorbed (~15–18 min white, 40–50 min brown). These are starting estimates — adjust by ¼ cup to taste.
Formula
How this is calculated
Rice absorbs water during cooking to swell the starch granules and gelatinise. Too little water and the rice burns or stays hard; too much and it turns mushy. The ratio of water to dry rice varies by variety, milling, rinsing, soaking, and altitude. The ratios in this calculator are approximate consensus values from cooking sources and rice package instructions — treat them as a starting point and adjust by ¼ cup increments for your stove, pot, and preference.
White long-grain rice (Basmati, Jasmine, standard long-grain) typically uses a 1.5–1.75 : 1 water-to-rice ratio. Short-grain and medium-grain white rice (sushi, Arborio) absorbs less water per cup because the grains are more compact; sushi rice is intentionally slightly drier before adding seasoned vinegar. Brown rice requires more water (~2.25 : 1) because the bran layer slows water absorption and needs longer cooking. Wild rice (not true rice, but a grass seed) requires the most water (~3 : 1) and 45–55 minutes of cooking.
Rinsing rice removes surface starch and reduces stickiness — it can also reduce the water ratio slightly (rinsed rice absorbs less additional water in the pot). Soaking Basmati for 20–30 minutes before cooking shortens cook time and reduces the water needed. Altitude affects water ratios because water boils at lower temperatures, requiring more time and sometimes slightly more water. These are guidelines as of 2024 — editable via the Custom option.
Frequently asked questions
For long-grain white rice (Jasmine, Basmati, regular long-grain), use about 3.5 cups of water (ratio 1.75 : 1). For medium/short-grain white rice, use 3 cups (ratio 1.5 : 1). These ratios apply to the absorption method — bring to a boil, then simmer covered until all water is absorbed.
Brown rice retains its outer bran layer, which acts as a barrier slowing water absorption. It also requires a longer cook time (40–50 min vs 15–18 min for white rice), so more water is needed to prevent the pot from drying out. The ratio is typically 2–2.5 cups of water per cup of brown rice.
Rinsing removes excess surface starch, resulting in less sticky, more separate grains — generally preferred for Basmati, Jasmine, and pilaf-style dishes. For sushi rice or risotto, rinsing is usually skipped because the sticky starch is desirable. Rinsing can reduce the rice's water absorption slightly, so some recipes adjust the ratio down by 1–2 tablespoons when using rinsed rice.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Rice Water Ratio Calculator — Perfect Fluffy Rice Every Time [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/rice-water-ratio-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Rice Water Ratio Calculator — Perfect Fluffy Rice Every Time." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/rice-water-ratio-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Rice Water Ratio Calculator — Perfect Fluffy Rice Every Time," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/rice-water-ratio-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_rice_water_ratio_calculator, title = {Rice Water Ratio Calculator — Perfect Fluffy Rice Every Time}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/rice-water-ratio-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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