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Rice & Grain Water Ratio Calculator

Get the right water amount, cook time and cooked yield for rice and grains — white, basmati, brown, quinoa, barley and more.

About this tool

Rice & Grain Water Ratio Calculator is a free, in-browser tool that tells you how much water to use for rice and other grains, how long to cook them, and how much cooked food you will get. Choose a grain, enter how many dry cups you are cooking, and it returns the water, time and yield. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.

Each grain carries a water-to-grain ratio, a typical simmer time and an expansion factor: water (cups) = dry × ratio and cooked yield (cups) = dry × expansion. Presets follow common stovetop guidance — white rice 2:1 (18 min, ×3), basmati and jasmine 1.5:1 (15 min, ×3), brown rice 2.5:1 (45 min, ×3), wild rice 3:1 (45 min, ×3.5), quinoa 2:1 (15 min, ×3), steel-cut oats 3:1 (25 min, ×3) and pearl barley 3:1 (40 min, ×3.5).

Use it to scale a pot to the number of servings you need, or to avoid mushy or undercooked grains from guessing the water. Times assume a covered simmer over low heat; rinse rice first and let it rest a few minutes off the heat before fluffing.

Frequently asked questions

How is the water amount calculated?
Water equals your dry cups multiplied by the grain's ratio. White rice at 2:1 needs 2 cups of water per cup of rice, while basmati at 1.5:1 needs 1½ cups. The cooked yield uses an expansion factor — most rice roughly triples in volume.
Do I rinse the grain first?
For most rice, yes — rinsing until the water runs clear removes surface starch and reduces stickiness, especially for basmati and jasmine. Quinoa benefits from a rinse to remove its bitter coating. Rinsing does not change the water ratio here.
Why is my rice still wet or too dry?
Heat and lid fit matter. These figures assume a tight-lidded pot at a low simmer; a loose lid or high heat boils water off faster. Keep the lid on, cook at low heat, and rest the pot covered for 5 minutes before fluffing.
Is my input uploaded anywhere?
No. The ratios ship inside the page and the calculation runs in your browser, so nothing you enter leaves your device and it works offline.

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