NCLEX-RN · Free tool

Dosage calculation practice

Practice as many dosage problems as you like. Pick a type, type your answer and see if it's right. Every problem has a step-by-step solution.

For study only. Not for patient care or clinical decisions.

Drug names and strengths come from real drug labels (DailyMed), but these are practice orders, not dosing advice. In practice, follow the order, the label and your facility's policy.

Liquids and shots Your score: 0 of 0

Adult client

Order: furosemide 60 mg PO
On hand: furosemide oral solution 10 mg/mL

How many mL will you give?

Round to the nearest tenth.

Something wrong with this problem?

The formulas on one screen

Each formula is a short cut for dimensional analysis: start with the unit you want, then cancel every other unit.

Tablets

tablets = dose ordered ÷ dose in 1 tablet

50 mg ÷ 25 mg = 2 tablets

Liquids and shots

mL = dose ordered ÷ dose on hand × mL on hand

650 mg ÷ 160 mg × 5 mL = 20.3 mL

Weight-based

dose = mg/kg × weight in kg (lb ÷ 2.2 = kg)

15 mg/kg × 10 kg = 150 mg

IV pump, fluids

mL/hr = total mL ÷ total hours

1,000 mL ÷ 8 hr = 125 mL/hr

IV pump, drug drips

mL/hr = dose per hour ÷ dose in 1 mL

1,200 units/hr ÷ 100 units/mL = 12 mL/hr

mcg/kg/min drips

mL/hr = mcg/kg/min × kg × 60 ÷ mcg in 1 mL

5 × 80 kg × 60 ÷ 1,600 = 15 mL/hr

Gravity drip

gtt/min = total mL × drop factor ÷ total minutes

1,000 mL × 15 ÷ 480 min = 31 gtt/min

Rounding rules

Round once, at the end. Keep every digit until the final answer.
Leading zero, no trailing zero. Write 0.5 mg, not .5 mg. Write 5 mg, not 5.0 mg.
Rounding to the tenth: 0.05 and up rounds up. 0.04 and lower rounds down.

What you calculate	Round to	Example
Adult liquid dose of 1 mL or more	Tenth	17.276 → 17.3source
Any dose under 1 mL	Hundredth	0.0467 → 0.05source
Child's liquid dose	Hundredth	4.6875 → 4.69source
Drops per minute (gravity)	Whole number	20.83 → 21source
Weight changed from lb to kg	Tenth	62.2727 → 62.3source
Pump rate (mL/hr)	What the question asks	11.25 → 11.3

Pump rates: on this page, IV fluids and piggybacks round to a whole number and drug drips to a tenth. Your school, pump or facility policy may differ, and in practice policy decides. On the NCLEX, the question tells you how to round.

Equivalents to know by heart

Conversion tables are not allowed in the NCLEX testing room, so learn these.

1 kg = 2.2 lb
1 g = 1,000 mg
1 mg = 1,000 mcg
1 L = 1,000 mL
1 tsp = 5 mL
1 Tbsp = 15 mL
1 oz = 30 mL
1 cup = 240 mL
1 hr = 60 min
Macrodrip: 10, 12, 15 or 20 gtt/mL
Microdrip: 60 gtt/mL

Worked examples

Tablets, with a unit change

Adult client

Order: levothyroxine 0.15 mg PO
On hand: levothyroxine 75 mcg tablets

How many tablets will you give?

Enter a whole number of tablets.

Set-up in one line

1 tab75 mcg×1,000 mcg1 mg×0.15 mg=2 tablets

Make the units match. The order is in mg and the tablet is in mcg.
1,000 mcg1 mg×0.15 mg=150 mcg
Divide the ordered dose by the dose in one tablet.
1 tab75 mcg×150 mcg=2 tablets

Answer 2 tablets

Does it make sense? 2 × 75 mcg = 150 mcg, which matches the order.

Weight-based dose for a child

Child

Order: acetaminophen 15 mg/kg PO every 4 to 6 hours as needed
On hand: acetaminophen oral suspension 160 mg/5 mL
Weight: 22 lb

How many mL will you give for one dose?

Round to the nearest hundredth.

Set-up in one line

5 mL160 mg×15 mg1 kg×1 kg2.2 lb×22 lb=4.6875 mL

Change pounds to kilograms. 1 kg = 2.2 lb, so divide by 2.2.
1 kg2.2 lb×22 lb=10 kg
Find the dose: 15 mg for each kg.
15 mg1 kg×10 kg=150 mg
Turn mg into mL with the label.
5 mL160 mg×150 mg=4.6875 mL
Round once, at the end: a child's dose → nearest hundredth.
→ 4.69 mL

Answer 4.69 mL

Does it make sense? 4.69 mL × 32 mg per mL ≈ 150.1 mg, close to 150 mg.

IV pump: mcg/kg/min to mL/hr

Adult client

Order: dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min IV
On hand: dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL D5W
Weight: 80 kg

At what rate will you set the pump?

Round to the nearest tenth.

Set-up in one line

250 mL400 mg×1 mg1,000 mcg×5 mcg1 kg·min×80 kg×60 min1 hr=15 mL/hr

Concentration: 400 mg = 400,000 mcg, in 250 mL.
→ 1,600 mcg in each mL
Dose per minute for this client.
5 mcg1 kg·min×80 kg=400 mcg/min
Dose per hour (60 min = 1 hr).
400 mcg1 min×60 min1 hr=24,000 mcg/hr
Divide by the mcg in each mL.
1 mL1,600 mcg×24,000 mcg1 hr=15 mL/hr

Answer 15 mL/hr

Does it make sense? 15 mL/hr × 1,600 mcg/mL ÷ 60 ÷ 80 kg ≈ 5 mcg/kg/min.

Gravity drip in drops per minute

Adult client

Order: lactated Ringer's 1,000 mL IV over 8 hours
Tubing: 15 gtt/mL (macrodrip)

How many drops per minute will you set?

Round to the nearest whole number.

Set-up in one line

15 gtt1 mL×1,000 mL8 hr×1 hr60 min=31.25 gtt/min

Start with the drop factor (gtt/mL) so mL cancels with the order, then turn hours into minutes (1 hr = 60 min).
15 gtt1 mL×1,000 mL8 hr×1 hr60 min=31.25 gtt/min
Round once, at the end: you can't count part of a drop → nearest whole number.
→ 31 gtt/min

Answer 31 gtt/min

Does it make sense? 31 gtt/min × 60 ÷ 15 ≈ 124 mL/hr, close to 125 mL/hr.

Calculation questions on the NCLEX

You type a number into a box. The question says whether to give a whole number or one or two decimal places.
If it asks for decimal places, you must type the decimal point for the answer to count.
Round only at the end of the calculation.
An on-screen calculator is available. Handheld calculators are not allowed.

Keep going

Dosage calculation lessonSet up any problem with dimensional analysis Pharmacology practice testFree NCLEX-RN pharmacological therapies questions Drip rate calculatorCheck your gtt/min math step by step HESI A2 dosage mathDesired over have and mg/kg for the entrance exam

Sources

All accessed October 15, 2026.

Drug labels used for strengths and dose limits (31, DailyMed)

Problems are made by code from templates. The code also works out every answer, and it is tested against problems solved by hand. HealthcareExams is independent and not affiliated with NCSBN. NCLEX and NCLEX-RN are trademarks of NCSBN.