# Baby Formula & Feeding Calculator

> Most babies need about 2½ ounces (75 mL) of formula a day for every pound they weigh, up to about 32 ounces (960 mL) a day. Enter your baby's age and weight to see how much that is per day and per bottle, or switch to pumped breast milk.

- Interactive calculator: https://www.leoella.com/tools/baby-formula-calculator
- Plain-text version: https://www.leoella.com/tools/baby-formula-calculator.md
- Category: Baby & Toddler
- Publisher: Leo&Ella (https://www.leoella.com)
- Last reviewed: October 19, 2026

## How it works

The calculator uses the AAP's rule of about 2½ ounces of formula a day per pound of body weight (75 mL per 453 g in metric), capped at the AAP's maximum of about 32 ounces (960 mL) a day, and divides the daily total by the number of feeds to get the amount per bottle. In the first week it shows the AAP's limit of 1 to 2 ounces per feed instead, and for each age it suggests a number of feeds from AAP, CDC and KidsHealth ranges, which the parent can change. For pumped breast milk it divides KellyMom's average of 25 ounces (750 mL) a day, typically 19 to 30 ounces, by the number of feeds, because a breastfed baby's daily intake doesn't grow with weight from 1 to 6 months. It covers babies up to 12 months old.

## Key facts

- The AAP says that on average a baby takes about 2½ ounces (75 mL) of formula a day for every pound (453 g) of body weight. [1]
- The AAP says a baby should usually drink no more than an average of about 32 ounces (960 mL) of formula in 24 hours. [1]
- In the first week, the AAP says babies should take no more than about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 mL) of formula per feed; by 6 months they take 6 to 8 ounces (180 to 240 mL) at each of 4 or 5 feedings a day. [1]
- At about 2 months, KidsHealth says formula-fed babies may drink about 4 to 5 ounces (120 to 150 mL) every 3 to 4 hours. [2]
- KellyMom says exclusively breastfed babies take an average of about 25 ounces (750 mL) of milk a day between 1 and 6 months, typically 19 to 30 ounces, and calls it a ballpark figure for filling bottles. [4]
- A study that followed breastfed babies from 1 to 6 months found their total 24-hour milk intake stayed constant as they grew (Kent et al., Breastfeeding Medicine, 2013). [5]

## Reference data

### Formula per day by weight (AAP rule, after the first week)

About 2½ oz a day per pound (75 mL per 453 g), capped at about 32 oz (960 mL) a day.

| Weight (lb) | Weight (kg) | Formula per day (oz) | Formula per day (mL) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 6 | 2.7 | 15 | 450 |
| 7 | 3.2 | 17.5 | 525 |
| 8 | 3.6 | 20 | 600 |
| 9 | 4.1 | 22.5 | 675 |
| 10 | 4.5 | 25 | 750 |
| 11 | 5.0 | 27.5 | 825 |
| 12 | 5.4 | 30 | 900 |
| 13 | 5.9 | 32 (AAP maximum) | 960 (AAP maximum) |
| 14 | 6.4 | 32 (AAP maximum) | 960 (AAP maximum) |
| 15 | 6.8 | 32 (AAP maximum) | 960 (AAP maximum) |
| 16 | 7.3 | 32 (AAP maximum) | 960 (AAP maximum) |

Example: a 10 lb baby needs about 25 oz a day; over 7 feeds that is about 3.5 oz per bottle.

### Formula per feed by age

| Age | Per feed | How often | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First week | 1–2 oz (30–60 mL), no more than this per feed | 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, about every 2 to 3 hours | AAP; CDC |
| 1 week to 1 month | 1–4 oz (30–120 mL), rising gradually to the top of the range by the end of the month | About every 3 to 4 hours | AAP; CDC |
| 1 to 2 months | 3–4 oz (90–120 mL), at least this per feed by the end of the first month | About every 3 to 4 hours | AAP |
| 2 to 4 months | 4–5 oz (120–150 mL) | About every 3 to 4 hours | KidsHealth; CDC |
| 4 to 6 months | 4–6 oz (120–180 mL), depending on how often they eat | About every 3 to 4 hours | KidsHealth; CDC |
| 6 to 12 months | 6–8 oz (180–240 mL), alongside solid foods | 4 or 5 feedings (AAP); about 5 to 6 a day (CDC) | AAP; CDC |

### Pumped breast milk per bottle (KellyMom, 1 to 6 months)

Exclusively breastfed babies take an average of about 25 oz (750 mL) a day, typically 19–30 oz (570–900 mL), whatever their weight. KellyMom calls this a ballpark figure.

| Feeds a day | Per bottle, average (typical range) | In mL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6 | 4 oz (3–5) | 125 mL (95–150) |
| 7 | 3.5 oz (2.5–4.5) | 105 mL (80–130) |
| 8 | 3 oz (2.5–4) | 95 mL (70–115) |
| 9 | 3 oz (2–3.5) | 85 mL (65–100) |
| 10 | 2.5 oz (2–3) | 75 mL (55–90) |

## Frequently asked questions

### How much formula should a newborn drink?

In the first week, the AAP says babies should take no more than about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 mL) per feed, feeding about every 2 to 3 hours. Over the first month they gradually take more, until they're having 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 mL) per feed by the end of it.

### How much formula should a 2-month-old drink?

At about 2 months, KidsHealth says babies may drink about 4 to 5 ounces (120 to 150 mL) every 3 to 4 hours. By weight, the AAP's rule of about 2½ ounces a day per pound means a 12-pound baby needs about 30 ounces a day.

### How much formula does a 6-month-old need?

By 6 months, the AAP says babies take 6 to 8 ounces (180 to 240 mL) at each of 4 or 5 feedings in 24 hours. Solid foods start around this age, so milk becomes one part of what they eat rather than all of it.

### What is the most formula a baby should have in a day?

The AAP says a baby should usually drink no more than an average of about 32 ounces (960 mL) of formula in 24 hours. If your baby regularly seems to want more, talk to your pediatrician.

### How much pumped breast milk should I put in a bottle?

Exclusively breastfed babies take an average of about 25 ounces (750 mL) a day between 1 and 6 months, so divide 25 by the number of times your baby feeds in a day. With 8 feeds that's about 3 ounces per bottle. Unlike formula, the amount doesn't grow with age or weight in those months.

### Should I wake my baby up to feed?

In the first few weeks, yes: the AAP says that if your baby sleeps longer than 4 to 5 hours and starts missing feedings, wake them up and offer a bottle. Between 2 and 4 months, or once they weigh more than 12 pounds, most formula-fed babies no longer need a middle-of-the-night feeding.

## Sources

1. [AAP (HealthyChildren.org): Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/formula-feeding/Pages/Amount-and-Schedule-of-Formula-Feedings.aspx)
2. [Nemours KidsHealth: Formula Feeding FAQs: How Much and How Often](https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/formulafeed-often.html)
3. [CDC: How Much and How Often To Feed Infant Formula](https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/formula-feeding/how-much-and-how-often.html)
4. [KellyMom: How much expressed milk will my baby need?](https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/)
5. [Kent JC et al. Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation. Breastfeeding Medicine, 2013](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23560450/)

## About this page

This is general information for parents, not medical advice; a doctor, midwife or pediatrician who knows the family should guide individual decisions. The calculator runs in the visitor's browser and stores nothing they enter. When quoting this page, cite "Baby Formula & Feeding Calculator, Leo&Ella" and link https://www.leoella.com/tools/baby-formula-calculator.