Tidal Volume Calculator — Lung-Protective Ventilation
Compute the recommended tidal volume for mechanically ventilated patients. Enter height and sex to derive ideal body weight (IBW) via the Devine formula, then set your target mL/kg to get the tidal volume and minute ventilation.
Biological sex
cm
mL / kg IBW
breaths / min
Volume of air per breath for lung-protective ventilation
- 1
Height in inches
175 cm ÷ 2.54 = 68.9 - 2
Ideal body weight (Devine)
50 + 2.3 × (68.9 − 60) = 70.46Male formula: 50 + 2.3 × (height_in − 60). - 3
Tidal volume
70.46 kg × 7 mL/kg = 493
How does this calculator work?
TV (mL) = IBW (kg) × target mL/kg, where IBW = 50 + 2.3 × (height_in − 60) for males and 45.5 + 2.3 × (height_in − 60) for females. The ARDSNet lung-protective range is 6–8 mL/kg IBW. Minute ventilation = TV × respiratory rate ÷ 1000 L/min.
Formula
How this is calculated
Tidal volume (TV) for mechanical ventilation is calculated relative to ideal body weight (IBW) rather than actual body weight, because lung size correlates with height and frame, not with obesity. The Devine formula (1974) is the most widely used: for males IBW = 50 + 2.3 × (height_in − 60), for females IBW = 45.5 + 2.3 × (height_in − 60). The formula is undefined below 60 inches (152 cm), so the calculator clamps height at 60 inches for very short patients — verify IBW by clinical judgment in those cases.
The landmark ARDSNet ARMA trial (2000) demonstrated that lung-protective ventilation at 6–8 mL/kg IBW reduces mortality in ARDS compared to traditional 10–12 mL/kg. The calculator defaults to 7 mL/kg; adjust within 6–8 for ARDS or up to 10 for non-ARDS patients per your institution's protocol. Minute ventilation (V̇E) is TV × respiratory rate ÷ 1000, expressed in L/min.
This tool is an aid for calculation only — it does not replace clinical assessment. Plateau pressure, compliance, driving pressure and patient comfort must be monitored at the bedside. Values in this calculator are current as of 2025 and reflect ARDS Network recommendations; local protocols may differ.
Frequently asked questions
Lung size is determined by height and skeletal frame, not by adipose tissue. An obese patient's lungs are not proportionally larger, so basing tidal volume on actual weight would over-distend the lungs. IBW corrects for this, making the calculation lung-size-appropriate.
The ARDSNet protocol recommends 6–8 mL/kg IBW for ARDS, with many centres targeting 6 mL/kg and adjusting respiratory rate to maintain adequate minute ventilation and acceptable pH. For non-ARDS patients, 8–10 mL/kg IBW is commonly used.
No — the Devine IBW is a formula-based clinical estimate, not a direct measurement of lean mass. It is simple and widely validated for respiratory calculations. More sophisticated formulas exist (Hamwi, Robinson) but Devine remains the standard for ventilator settings.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Tidal Volume Calculator — Lung-Protective Ventilation [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/tidal-volume-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Tidal Volume Calculator — Lung-Protective Ventilation." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/tidal-volume-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Tidal Volume Calculator — Lung-Protective Ventilation," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/tidal-volume-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_tidal_volume_calculator, title = {Tidal Volume Calculator — Lung-Protective Ventilation}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/tidal-volume-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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