Logo
← Back to Tools

Gravity Dilution Calculator

Calculate how much water to add to dilute your wort or beer to a target gravity. Also useful for calculating boil-off rates and pre-boil volumes.

Original or current specific gravity
Desired specific gravity after dilution

Formula

Final Volume = (Current Volume × Current GP) ÷ Target GP
Where GP (Gravity Points) = (SG - 1) × 1000

About Gravity Dilution

This calculator helps you determine how much water to add to dilute wort or beer to a target gravity. It's based on the principle that the total amount of extract (sugar) remains constant during dilution.

Common Uses:

  • High Gravity Brewing: Brew concentrated wort and dilute to target strength at packaging
  • Correcting Overshoots: Fix batches that came out stronger than intended
  • Pre-Boil Calculations: Determine pre-boil volume needed to hit target post-boil gravity
  • Parti-Gyle Brewing: Calculate dilution for different strength beers from the same mash

Important Considerations:

  • Use deoxygenated, sterile water when diluting finished beer to avoid oxidation and contamination
  • Consider the impact on hop character - IBUs and hop flavor will be diluted proportionally
  • Account for any dissolved CO₂ when diluting carbonated beer
  • Temperature affects volume - measurements should be taken at the same temperature

Reverse Calculation (Boil-Off):

You can also use this calculator in reverse to determine boil-off. Enter your pre-boil volume and gravity as "current" values, and your target post-boil gravity. The "water to add" will be negative, showing the volume you need to boil off.

Related Articles