The general daily water intake recommendations vary slightly by source but are fairly consistent:
- For adult men, the recommended amount is about 13 to 15.5 cups (approximately 3 to 3.7 liters) of fluids per day.
- For adult women, the recommendation is about 9 to 11.5 cups (approximately 2.2 to 2.7 liters) of fluids per day.
These amounts include all fluids consumed, not just water, and also account for water obtained from food
. Additional considerations:
- Pregnant women should aim for about 10 cups (2.4 liters) daily.
- Breastfeeding women may need around 13 cups (3.1 liters) daily.
- Children’s water needs vary by age, ranging from about 4 cups for toddlers to 8-11 cups for teenagers
- Factors such as physical activity, climate, health conditions, and diet can increase or decrease individual water needs
A common guideline often cited is to drink about 6 to 8 cups of fluid daily, but this may be insufficient for many adults depending on their circumstances
. In summary, aiming for roughly 9 cups (women) to 13-15 cups (men) of fluids daily is a good general target, adjusting for personal factors like activity level and environment.
