The general recommendation for daily water intake varies by age, sex, and life stage, but here are the typical guidelines:
- Adult men (19 and older) should aim for about 104 ounces (13 cups) of water per day from beverages.
- Adult women (19 and older) should aim for about 72 ounces (9 cups) of water per day from beverages.
- Pregnant women need about 80 ounces (10 cups) daily.
- Breastfeeding women require about 104 ounces (13 cups) daily.
- Children’s recommended intake varies by age, for example, 40 ounces (5 cups) for ages 4-8, and up to 88 ounces (11 cups) for ages 14-18
These amounts include water from all beverages but not water from food. Total fluid intake recommendations (including food and other fluids) are approximately 3.7 liters (125 ounces) for men and 2.7 liters (91 ounces) for women daily
. The popular "8 glasses a day" (64 ounces) guideline is a simple rule but not scientifically precise for everyone. Individual water needs depend on factors such as activity level, climate, body size, and health status. Listening to your thirst is a practical way to stay hydrated
. In summary, a good general target is about 72-104 ounces of water daily for adults, adjusted based on personal factors and lifestyle.
