Hummingbird Nectar Calculator
Get the exact sugar and water amounts for safe hummingbird nectar at the correct 1:4 ratio, no dye or honey needed.
Use only plain white granulated sugar, never honey, brown sugar, or other sweeteners, and never add red dye. Change the nectar every 2 to 3 days in hot weather (every 4 to 5 days in mild weather), and clean the feeder with hot water at every refill.
How it works
Hummingbird nectar has exactly one safe recipe: plain white granulated sugar dissolved in water at a 1:4 ratio by volume, one part sugar to four parts water. The calculator takes how much water you want to make and divides it by four to get the sugar volume, then converts that to grams so you can weigh it if you don't trust your measuring cups. The yield is just the water volume converted to milliliters, since dissolved sugar adds almost no extra volume to the batch.
Worked example: 2 cups of water. Divide by 4 and you get 0.5 cups of sugar, which is 100 g on a kitchen scale. That batch yields about 474 ml of finished nectar, enough to fill a couple of standard feeders. Boil the water first, stir in the sugar until it fully dissolves, then let it cool to room temperature before filling feeders.
FAQ
Can I use honey or brown sugar instead of white sugar?
No. Honey ferments quickly once diluted and can grow a fungus that is fatal to hummingbirds. Brown, raw, or turbinado sugar carry minerals and molasses that build up in a bird's liver over time. Plain white granulated sugar is the only ingredient with a track record of being safe.
Do I need to add red dye to attract hummingbirds?
No. Feeders already have red parts built in, which is enough to draw birds in. Dye adds no nutritional benefit and its long-term effects on hummingbirds haven't been proven safe, so it's simplest to leave it out entirely.
How often should I change the nectar?
Every 2 to 3 days when temperatures are hot, since sugar water ferments faster in the heat. In mild weather you can stretch that to every 4 to 5 days. Either way, rinse the feeder with hot water at each refill; a feeder that looks cloudy or smells sour needs an immediate change and a proper cleaning.
Can I make a bigger batch and store the extra?
Yes. Boiled nectar keeps in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, so making a larger batch and refilling feeders from the fridge saves you from mixing a fresh batch every couple of days. Just bring it to room temperature before filling a feeder in cold weather.
For more on feeding hummingbirds well, see how to attract hummingbirds to your yard and how often to clean a bird feeder and how to do it.