Rice to Water Ratio Calculator
How much water for any rice — white, jasmine, basmati, brown, sushi, parboiled, wild, black, red or arborio — on the stove, in a rice cooker, Instant Pot, oven or microwave. Enter cups, grams or the number of people and get the water, cooking time, cooked yield and servings.
How it works
water = dry rice × ratio for the rice and cooking method (× 0.9 firmer, × 1.1 softer) · dry rice from weight = grams ÷ grams per cup · dry rice for people = people × cooked serving ÷ 3 · cooked yield ≈ 3 × dry volume (wild rice ≈ 3.5×)
The ratios here are for the absorption method: rice and measured water go into the pot together, come to a boil, then simmer covered until the water is gone. Long-grain white rice takes 2 parts water, medium grain 1½ and short grain 1¼, following the USA Rice chart. Aromatic jasmine and basmati are usually cooked a little drier, brown rice needs more water and much more time because the bran is still on, and sushi rice runs driest so the grains stay distinct for seasoning. The cooking method changes the amount: a rice cooker and especially a pressure cooker lose far less steam than an open pot, so they need less water, while the oven and microwave use the stovetop ratio. You can enter the rice in cups, by weight or by the number of people, and the calculator gives the water in cups and millilitres, the ratio by weight, the cooking time, the cooked yield and how many servings it makes.
Worked example
One cup of white long-grain rice at 1 : 2 needs 2 cups (473 mL) of water and yields about 3 cups cooked — four side servings of ¾ cup. Cooked in an Instant Pot, the same cup takes just 1 cup of water: 4 minutes at high pressure and 10 minutes of natural release. For 6 people with rice as a side, cook 6 × ¾ ÷ 3 = 1½ cups of dry rice with 3 cups of water.
Sources: USA Rice — How to cook rice (rice cooking chart, oven and microwave methods)
Frequently asked questions
How much water for 1 cup of rice?
For white long-grain rice on the stove, 2 cups. Jasmine and basmati take about 1½ cups, short-grain and sushi rice 1¼ cups or a little less, brown rice about 2¼ cups and wild rice 3 cups. In a rice cooker or Instant Pot use less, about 1½ cups and 1 cup for white rice.
Should I rinse rice first?
For most rice, yes. Rinsing off surface starch until the water runs mostly clear gives distinct, less gummy grains, and it is essential for sushi rice. It does not change the ratio much. Skip it when starch is the point, as in risotto.
Do these ratios work in a rice cooker?
Pick “Rice cooker” as the method: it uses a little less water because the sealed lid loses almost nothing to evaporation. Many cookers have their own 180 mL cup and water lines in the bowl; if yours does, use the cooker cup unit and trust the lines.
How much rice per person?
About ¼ cup of dry rice (¾ cup cooked) per person as a side, and ½ cup dry (1½ cups cooked) as a main. Choose “People” to have the calculator work out the dry rice and water for your group.
Why is my rice mushy or crunchy at the “right” ratio?
Lid fit, pot width and simmer strength change evaporation. Adjust in small steps, or use the Texture setting: mushy rice needs about 10% less water, crunchy rice about 10% more and a few extra covered minutes off the heat.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.