Emergency
Parkland formula calculator
Calculate burn fluid resuscitation with the Parkland formula — 4 mL × body weight (kg) × %TBSA of warmed Lactated Ringer’s over 24 hours, half in the first 8 hours and half over the next 16. Enter weight and %TBSA and see the hourly rates plus the full worked setup, not just the number. Free, no signup, runs in your browser.
Interactive calculator
Parkland formula calculator
Enter body weight and the percentage of total body surface area (%TBSA) with 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns to calculate the Parkland fluid resuscitation target with warmed Lactated Ringer’s, and see the worked setup below. Results update as you type.
Result
Enter weight and %TBSA (0–100) to see the 24-hour total, the two infusion phases, and the worked setup.
For education and practice only.This tool is a study aid, not a substitute for clinical judgment, a protocol, or a physician’s order. Burn fluid resuscitation is directed by a clinician and titrated to the patient’s response — the Parkland formula only sets a starting estimate that must be verified against the order and institutional policy.
How it works
The Parkland formula
The Parkland (Baxter) formula estimates the crystalloid a burn patient needs in the first 24 hours. It uses warmed Lactated Ringer’s and splits the total across two timed phases counted from the moment of injury.
Total fluid, first 24 hours
Total mL = 4 mL × weight (kg) × %TBSA
Multiply 4 mL by body weight in kilograms and by the percentage of total body surface area with 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns. The result is the total warmed Lactated Ringer’s for the first 24 hours after the burn.
The 8h / 16h split
½ over first 8 h · ½ over next 16 h
Give half of the total over the first 8 hours and the other half over the next 16 hours. The clock starts at the time of the burn, not arrival — elapsed pre-hospital time shortens the window left for the first half.
%TBSA is commonly estimated with the rule of nines (adults: head 9%, each arm 9%, each leg 18%, anterior trunk 18%, posterior trunk 18%, genitalia 1%). Only 2nd-degree (partial-thickness) and 3rd-degree (full-thickness) burns are counted — superficial 1st-degree burns are not.
Worked example
A Parkland calculation, step by step
The patient
An adult weighing 70 kg with 40% TBSA of 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns. What is the Parkland fluid plan?
The setup
- 1. Total: 4 × 70 kg × 40 = 11,200 mL over 24 h.
- 2. First half: 11,200 ÷ 2 = 5,600 mL over first 8 h.
- 3. First-8h rate: 5,600 ÷ 8 = 700 mL/hr.
- 4. Second half: 5,600 mL over next 16 h.
- 5. Next-16h rate: 5,600 ÷ 16 = 350 mL/hr.
Answer: 11,200 mL total — 700 mL/hr for 8 h, then 350 mL/hr for 16 h.
Reading the result
The first-8h rate is double the second-phase rate because the same volume is delivered in half the time. Remember the clock runs from the burn: if this patient reached care 2 hours after injury, the 5,600 mL first half would be delivered over the remaining 6 hours (about 933 mL/hr) rather than 8.
Enter 70 kg and 40% in the calculator above to see this exact worked setup returned. Try pounds too — the tool converts lb to kg (÷ 2.2) and shows the conversion in the steps.
These numbers are only the starting point. The infusion is titrated to urine output (about 0.5 mL/kg/hr in adults), so the actual rate is adjusted up or down at the bedside.
Common questions
Burn fluid resuscitation, explained
- What is the Parkland formula?
- The Parkland (Baxter) formula estimates the intravenous fluid a burn patient needs in the first 24 hours after injury: total fluid (mL) = 4 mL × body weight in kilograms × percentage of total body surface area (%TBSA) burned. It guides fluid resuscitation for moderate-to-severe burns and gives a starting target that is then adjusted to the patient's response.
- How does the 8-hour and 16-hour split work?
- Half of the calculated 24-hour total is given over the first 8 hours and the other half over the next 16 hours. Critically, the clock starts at the moment of the burn, not when the patient arrives — so if time has passed before treatment begins, the first half must be delivered over whatever hours remain until the 8-hour mark from the time of injury.
- What fluid is used in the Parkland formula?
- Warmed Lactated Ringer's is the standard crystalloid for Parkland resuscitation. It is an isotonic, balanced solution that helps replace the large fluid and electrolyte losses that follow a major burn, and warming it helps prevent hypothermia in a patient who has lost skin barrier function.
- How is %TBSA estimated with the rule of nines?
- The rule of nines divides the adult body into areas worth about 9% (or multiples): head 9%, each arm 9%, each leg 18%, the anterior trunk 18%, the posterior trunk 18%, and the genitalia 1%. Only 2nd-degree (partial-thickness) and 3rd-degree (full-thickness) burns are counted toward %TBSA — superficial (1st-degree) burns such as simple sunburn are not included.
- Is the Parkland formula a fixed prescription?
- No. It is a starting estimate, not a fixed order. The calculated rate is titrated up or down to the patient's response — urine output is the main guide, with a target of roughly 0.5 mL/kg/hr in adults. Over- or under-resuscitation is adjusted at the bedside, so the formula's numbers are where you begin, not where you must stay.
- Is this Parkland formula calculator free?
- Yes. It is completely free, needs no account, and runs entirely in your browser, so it works on a phone. It is a study and practice aid only — burn fluid resuscitation is directed by a clinician and titrated to the patient, so any real calculation must be verified against the order and institutional protocol.
Keep the drip going
From fluid total to infusion rate
Once you have an hourly volume, setting the pump or counting gtt/min is the next step. Use the IV drip rate calculator, review the medical-surgical topic, or explore the other free calculators.
This calculator and all study material on this site are provided for practice and study only — they are not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment, a protocol, or a physician’s order. The Parkland formula gives a starting estimate that is titrated to the patient’s response; verify every calculation before acting on it. NCLEX® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN), which does not endorse or sponsor this site.