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Rice to Water Ratio Calculator

Computes the water needed for a quantity of uncooked rice (cups or grams) using absorption-method ratios by rice type: long-grain white 1:1.5, jasmine 1:1.25, basmati 1:1.5, brown 1:2, sushi 1:1.1, wild 1:3.

When to use

You are cooking rice by the absorption method (tight lid or rice cooker) and need the water amount for a given quantity and type of rice.

Do not use when: You boil rice in excess water and drain it (ratio irrelevant), cook risotto or paella, or follow a package instruction that specifies a different ratio for that product.

Formula

rice_cups = rice_g / 185 (if grams given); water_cups = rice_cups × ratio; water_ml = water_cups × 236.588; ratio: white_long 1.5, jasmine 1.25, basmati 1.5, brown 2, sushi 1.1, wild 3

Ratios are by volume for rinsed rice cooked covered with minimal evaporation (rice cooker or tight lid). Stovetop guides such as USA Rice quote up to 2:1 for white and 2¼:1 for brown rice because more water boils off; larger batches need proportionally less water.

Inputs

Parameter	Type	Unit	Required	Description
`rice_cups`	number	cups	no	Uncooked rice in US cups (236.6 ml). Give this or rice_g. Range: > 0, ≤ 100
`rice_g`	number	g	no	Uncooked rice in grams; converted at 185 g per cup. Ignored when rice_cups is given. Range: > 0, ≤ 20000
`rice_type`	enum: white_long \| jasmine \| basmati \| brown \| sushi \| wild		default white_long	Rice type; sets the water-to-rice volume ratio.

Outputs

Output	Type	Unit	Description
`water_cups`	number	cups	Water in US cups.
`water_ml`	number	ml	Water in millilitres (cups × 236.6).
`rice_cups_used`	number	cups	Rice quantity used, in cups.
`ratio`	string		Volume ratio applied, rice : water.
`cooked_rice_cups_approx`	number	cups	Approximate cooked volume: about 3× for white and brown rice, 4× for wild rice.

Example

2 cups jasmine: {"rice_cups":2,"rice_type":"jasmine"} → {"water_cups":2.5,"water_ml":591,"rice_cups_used":2,"ratio":"1:1.25"}

300 g basmati: {"rice_g":300,"rice_type":"basmati"} → {"rice_cups_used":1.62,"water_cups":2.43,"water_ml":575,"ratio":"1:1.5"}

GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/rice-water?rice_cups=2&rice_type=jasmine

Machine access

API: GET https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculate/rice-water (query parameters) or POST with a JSON body {"inputs": {...}}
Schema: https://tttkmbb.com/api/v1/calculators/rice-water · Markdown: https://tttkmbb.com/food/rice-water.md · JSON definition: https://tttkmbb.com/food/rice-water.json
MCP: server https://tttkmbb.com/mcp, tool run_calculator with calculator_id="rice-water"
OpenAPI operationId: calculate_rice_water_ratio
Freshness: static. Authentication: none. Rate limit: fair use (see rate limits).

Sources

FAQ

Should I rinse the rice and does it change the water?

Rinse until the water runs mostly clear for fluffier long-grain and sushi rice; drained rinsed rice carries a little water, so the ratios already assume rinsing. Soaking basmati 20–30 min lets you use slightly less water.

Why does my pot need more water than a rice cooker?

Evaporation. A loose lid or long simmer loses water that a rice cooker retains; add about ¼ cup per cup of rice on the stove if the rice comes out dry.

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