Parkland Formula Calculator: Burn Fluid Estimate

A Parkland formula calculator estimates the initial 24-hour crystalloid fluid volume for a person with a burn, using body weight and estimated total body surface area burned (TBSA). Enter weight and TBSA percentage to get the calculated volume and an approximate first-eight-hour and next-sixteen-hour schedule; this estimate is for trained clinicians to interpret, not a treatment instruction.

Formula

The classic Parkland estimate is: 24-hour fluid volume (mL) = 4 mL × body weight (kg) × TBSA burned (%). Enter TBSA as the percentage number, not as a decimal: use 20 for 20%, not 0.20. The factor 4 is the conventional starting estimate in milliliters per kilogram per percentage point of burn.

• Weight: the person’s body weight in kilograms (kg).
• TBSA: the estimated percentage of total body surface area affected by qualifying burns, entered as a number from 0 to 100.
• 24-hour fluid: the calculated total volume in milliliters (mL), conventionally referring to the first 24 hours after the burn.
• First-eight-hour average: half the estimated total divided by eight hours, or total ÷ 16, in mL/h.
• Next-sixteen-hour average: the remaining half divided by sixteen hours, or total ÷ 32, in mL/h.

The hourly figures are arithmetic averages implied by the traditional split, not individualized infusion orders. The formula does not account for fluid already given, the time since injury, clinical findings, or local protocols.

Worked Example

Using the calculator’s defaults—70 kg and 20% TBSA—calculate the estimated 24-hour volume:

1. Multiply weight by TBSA: 70 × 20 = 1,400.
2. Multiply by the formula factor: 4 × 1,400 = 5,600 mL, or 5.6 L, during the first 24 hours.
3. For the conventional first-eight-hour average: 5,600 ÷ 16 = 350 mL/h.
4. For the next-sixteen-hour average: 5,600 ÷ 32 = 175 mL/h.

The traditional schedule allocates half the total to the first eight hours after the burn and the other half to the following sixteen hours. The first interval starts at the time of injury—not when the patient reaches a hospital. In this example, the calculator reports 5,600 mL, 350 mL/h, and 175 mL/h as mathematical estimates only.

What the Estimate Is For

The Parkland formula is a starting estimate used in burn care to help clinicians plan initial resuscitation fluid for significant burns. Its familiar form uses lactated Ringer’s solution, an isotonic crystalloid, and estimates volume from weight and burn size. It is not intended to prescribe fluid for every burn or to replace assessment and ongoing adjustment.

Many minor burns do not require formula-based intravenous resuscitation. Whether fluid resuscitation is appropriate depends on the patient, burn severity, age, associated injuries, and clinical setting. Serious burns require urgent professional assessment. A calculator cannot determine whether a burn qualifies for this approach or whether the inputs are reliable.

Estimating TBSA and Timing

TBSA is not simply the percentage of skin that looks red. In common burn-resuscitation estimates, superficial redness without deeper injury is generally excluded; partial-thickness and full-thickness burn areas are assessed. Clinicians may use a Lund–Browder chart, which accounts for age-related body proportions, or a quick method such as the patient’s palm for small or scattered areas. The patient’s palm including fingers is sometimes approximated as about 1% TBSA, but this is only a rough guide and should not replace a suitable assessment.

Timing matters because the first half of the calculated volume is assigned to the first eight hours after the burn. If several hours have already passed, that does not restart the clock: clinicians account for elapsed time and fluid already administered. The formula’s average hourly figures in this calculator assume the schedule begins at the injury time and that no other fluid has been given, assumptions that are often not true in real care.

Common Errors and Limitations

• Entering a decimal instead of a percentage: use 20 for 20% TBSA. Entering 0.20 makes the result one hundred times too small.
• Mixing weight units: this calculator takes kilograms. Convert pounds to kilograms by dividing pounds by about 2.205; for example, 154 lb is about 69.9 kg.
• Misreading the time window: the total covers the first 24 hours from the burn, not 24 hours from the calculation or hospital arrival.
• Treating the result as a fixed prescription: the formula does not represent a patient’s measured need. Clinicians reassess and adjust fluid according to the patient’s response and relevant monitoring.
• Assuming every patient uses the same factor: burn protocols and clinical circumstances can call for different starting approaches. The calculator implements the classic 4 mL version only.

The Parkland estimate is an empirical starting point, not a precise prediction of fluid requirements. Excessive or insufficient fluid can both cause harm, and the calculator has no way to monitor circulation, urine output, breathing, or other clinical signs. Burn-size estimation can also be uncertain, especially early on or with irregular burns. Decisions about fluid type, rate, monitoring, and changes belong to qualified care teams following applicable protocols.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the first eight hours start when the patient arrives?
No. The conventional timing starts at the time of injury. Any delay and fluid already administered must be considered by the treating team.

Do I enter 20 or 0.20 for a 20% burn?
Enter 20. TBSA is entered as a percentage number in this calculator, not as a decimal fraction.

Does the Parkland formula use pounds or kilograms?
The classic equation uses kilograms. Convert a weight in pounds to kilograms before entering it; 1 kg is approximately 2.205 lb.

Is Parkland the only burn-fluid formula?
No. Other resuscitation formulas and protocol variations exist, and clinical teams may select a different starting approach. This tool calculates only the classic 4 mL Parkland estimate.

Can this calculator tell me how much fluid someone should receive?
No. It provides a mathematical estimate, not an individualized treatment plan. Suspected serious burns need urgent professional care, and fluid decisions require clinical assessment and monitoring.

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in weight | Body weight | kg | 70 | 0
in tbsa | Burned body surface area | % | 20 | 0
out fluid | Estimated fluid in first 24 hours | mL | 4 * weight * tbsa | 0
out hourly | Average rate over first 8 hours | mL/h | fluid / 16 | 0
out later | Average rate over next 16 hours | mL/h | fluid / 32 | 0