🍚 Rice to Water Ratio Calculator
Choose your rice type and amount to get the right water quantity, the cooked yield and the simmer time.
Water
2 cups
Cooked yield
~3 cups
Simmer time
~18 min
Water is in the same unit as the rice — the ratio is what matters (2:1 for white, 2.5:1 for brown, 1.5:1 for basmati/jasmine). Rinse the rice first for fluffier grains, bring to a boil then cover and simmer on low, and rest it off the heat for 5–10 minutes before fluffing. Times and absorption vary by pan and lid, so adjust to taste. 🔒 In your browser.
How the rice to water ratio calculator works
Different rices absorb different amounts of water. The calculator multiplies your dry-rice amount by the standard water ratio for the type — 2:1 for white long-grain, 2.5:1 for brown, 1.5:1 for basmati and jasmine, 1.25:1 for sushi rice and 3:1 for wild rice — and also estimates the cooked yield (rice roughly triples) and a typical simmer time. Because it's a ratio, the water comes out in the same unit as the rice, so cups or millilitres both work.
For fluffier grains, rinse the rice until the water runs clear to wash off surface starch, bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer on low without stirring, and let it rest off the heat for 5–10 minutes before fluffing. Absorption varies with your pan, lid and heat, so treat the water as a strong starting point and fine-tune to taste. The absorption method (all water absorbed) is assumed — not boiling and draining.
Frequently asked questions
What is the water to rice ratio?
It depends on the type: white long-grain is about 2 cups water per cup of rice, brown rice 2.5, basmati and jasmine 1.5, sushi rice 1.25, and wild rice 3. Enter your amount and type for the exact quantity.
How much water for 1 cup of rice?
For white long-grain rice, about 2 cups of water per cup of dry rice. Brown rice needs ~2.5 cups, basmati/jasmine ~1.5. The tool scales this to any amount and shows the cooked yield.
How much does rice expand when cooked?
Roughly three times its dry volume — so 1 cup of dry rice yields about 3 cups cooked (a bit more for brown and wild). Plan portions of about ½–¾ cup cooked rice per person as a side.
Why is brown rice water ratio higher?
Brown rice keeps its bran layer, which is tougher and slower to absorb water, so it needs more water (~2.5:1) and a longer simmer (about 45 minutes) than white rice. Soaking it first can shorten the cooking time.
Does rinsing rice change the water amount?
Not the ratio, but rinsing removes surface starch for fluffier, less sticky grains. Drain it well after rinsing so you don't add extra water. Sushi rice is an exception where a little stickiness is desirable.