Epinephrine Dose Calculator

Weight	Calculated (0.01 mg/kg)	Dose to give	Auto-injector tier
5 kg (11 lb)	0.05 mg	0.05 mg	No standard fixed device below 7.5 kg
10 kg (22 lb)	0.10 mg	0.10 mg	0.1 mg (7.5–15 kg)
20 kg (44 lb)	0.20 mg	0.20 mg	0.15 mg (15–30 kg)
30 kg (66 lb)	0.30 mg	0.30 mg	0.3 mg (≥30 kg)
50 kg (110 lb)	0.50 mg	0.30 mg (capped)	0.3 mg (≥30 kg)
70 kg (154 lb)	0.70 mg	0.50 mg (capped)	0.3 mg (≥30 kg)

Patient	Dose	Route	Repeat interval
Adult	1 mg (fixed)	IV/IO	Every 3–5 min
Pediatric	0.01 mg/kg (max 1 mg/dose)	IV/IO	Every 3–5 min
Pediatric, no IV/IO access	0.1 mg/kg	Endotracheal (ET)	Every 3–5 min

4 min read 4 steps 7 terms 3 examples 5 FAQs dose (mg) = min(weight (kg) × 0.01, cap) where cap = 0.3 mg…

Epinephrine treats two very different emergencies — anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest — with different routes, different concentrations, and different dosing math.

High YMYL Reviewed by Calculover Medical-Source Review · Updated 2026-07-23 · 3 sources

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Walk-through

How to Use This Calculator

4 steps

Choose the emergency context

Select the Anaphylaxis Dose tab for a weight-based IM (intramuscular) dose using 1:1000 epinephrine, or the Cardiac Arrest Dose tab for the IV/IO ACLS/PALS dose using 1:10,000 epinephrine. These are two clinically distinct dosing contexts — do not use one tab's result for the other's scenario.

Enter the patient weight

Enter the patient's most recent measured weight in kilograms (or switch to lb and it converts automatically). For adult cardiac arrest, weight is not needed — the dose is a fixed 1 mg regardless of size.

Read the recommended dose

The result card shows the calculated dose, whether a maximum cap was applied, and the volume to draw up at the correct concentration for that route. A plain-language interpretation explains what the number means for this patient.

Check the Protocol Reference tab

The reference tab lays out both dosing tables side by side, the repeat interval for cardiac arrest (every 3-5 minutes), and why the 1:1000 vs 1:10,000 concentration distinction matters — the single most dangerous conflation in real practice.

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Reference

Formula & Methodology

2 formulas

Anaphylaxis IM dose (1:1000)

dose (mg) = min(weight (kg) × 0.01, cap) where cap = 0.3 mg if weight < 30 kg, else 0.5 mg

Anaphylaxis is treated with intramuscular epinephrine (mid-outer thigh) at 0.01 mg/kg of the 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) concentration, capped at 0.3 mg for weight under 30 kg and 0.5 mg at or above 30 kg, per the AAAAI/ACAAI 2023 anaphylaxis practice parameter update. Example: a 70 kg adult calculates to 0.70 mg but is capped at 0.5 mg.

Cardiac arrest IV/IO dose (1:10,000)

adult dose (mg) = 1 (fixed) · pediatric dose (mg) = min(weight (kg) × 0.01, 1)

Cardiac arrest uses the more dilute 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) concentration by the IV or IO route. Adults receive a fixed 1 mg regardless of weight (AHA ACLS); children receive 0.01 mg/kg capped at 1 mg per dose (AHA PALS). Both are repeated every 3-5 minutes during resuscitation.

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High YMYL

Trust, Methodology & Sources

Reviewed by Calculover Medical-Source Review · Updated 2026-07-23 · 3 sources

Editorial accountability

Author: Calculover Editorial Team - Author

Owner: Calculover Editorial Team - Editorial owner

Reviewer: Calculover Medical-Source Review - Clinical reference review

Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

Last verified: 2026-07-23

Data effective: 2026-07-23

Methodology

The Anaphylaxis Dose tab computes 0.01 mg/kg of 1:1000 epinephrine, capped at 0.3 mg for weight under 30 kg and 0.5 mg at or above 30 kg, per the AAAAI/ACAAI 2023 anaphylaxis practice parameter update, and shows the nearest fixed-dose auto-injector tier (0.1/0.15/0.3 mg) for reference. The Cardiac Arrest Dose tab computes a fixed 1 mg IV/IO dose of 1:10,000 epinephrine for adults (AHA ACLS) or 0.01 mg/kg capped at 1 mg for pediatric patients (AHA/AAP PALS), both repeated every 3-5 minutes. Pounds convert to kilograms at ×0.453592.

Assumption: The patient weight entered is a current, measured weight in the selected unit (kg or lb), not an estimate.

Assumption: The anaphylaxis mode assumes IM administration in the mid-outer thigh using 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) epinephrine; the cardiac-arrest mode assumes IV/IO administration using 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) epinephrine.

Assumption: The user selects the patient-type (adult vs. pediatric) and weight correctly for the cardiac-arrest mode, and the correct calculator mode for the clinical scenario at hand.

Limitations & guidance

This tool performs dosing arithmetic only. It does not know a patient's allergy history, cardiac rhythm, response to a prior dose, or the full resuscitation sequence, and it is not a substitute for institutional protocol or clinician judgment.

It does not account for endotracheal (ET) dosing, alternate routes, drug interactions, or contraindications.

Concentration and route errors with epinephrine can cause serious harm — always confirm the ampule or syringe concentration matches the intended route before administering, and call emergency services immediately in a real emergency rather than relying on this tool.

Professional guidance: The Epinephrine Dose Calculator is for clinical and educational reference only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not replace an epinephrine auto-injector prescription, emergency medical services (EMS), or your institution's resuscitation protocol. In a real anaphylaxis or cardiac-arrest emergency, call emergency services immediately. Always verify doses with a pharmacist, prescriber, or current prescribing information before administering.

Primary sources

Anaphylaxis: A 2023 practice parameter update - Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI / ACAAI Joint Task Force)

Part 9: Adult Advanced Life Support — 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC - American Heart Association (Circulation)

Part 8: Pediatric Advanced Life Support — 2025 AHA/AAP Guidelines for CPR and ECC - American Heart Association / American Academy of Pediatrics (Circulation)

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Glossary

Key Terms Explained

7 terms

IM (intramuscular) Injection directly into muscle tissue — the mid-outer thigh for anaphylaxis epinephrine. IM absorption is fast enough for anaphylaxis but is not used for cardiac arrest, which needs the immediate circulating effect of an IV or IO push.

IV/IO (intravenous / intraosseous) Direct injection into a vein (IV) or into bone marrow (IO) when IV access is not available. Used for cardiac arrest epinephrine because it reaches central circulation immediately, unlike an IM injection.

1:1000 vs 1:10,000 The two standard epinephrine concentrations. 1:1000 is 1 mg/mL and is used IM for anaphylaxis. 1:10,000 is 0.1 mg/mL (ten times more dilute) and is used IV/IO for cardiac arrest. Giving the 1:1000 concentration IV delivers ten times the intended dose.

Auto-injector tier Fixed-dose epinephrine auto-injector devices (e.g. EpiPen) ship in 0.1 mg, 0.15 mg, and 0.3 mg strengths assigned by weight band, rather than a continuously variable calculated dose. They top out at 0.3 mg — reaching the 0.5 mg adult ceiling requires a drawn-up dose, not a fixed auto-injector.

ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) The American Heart Association's adult resuscitation protocol, which specifies a fixed 1 mg IV/IO epinephrine dose every 3-5 minutes during cardiac arrest, alongside CPR and defibrillation as indicated.

PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) The American Heart Association / American Academy of Pediatrics resuscitation protocol for children, specifying weight-based 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO epinephrine capped at 1 mg per dose, every 3-5 minutes.

Max-dose cap An absolute ceiling on a calculated dose that prevents a linear mg/kg multiplication from exceeding a safe adult maximum in larger patients. This calculator applies caps in both modes (0.3/0.5 mg for anaphylaxis, 1 mg for pediatric cardiac arrest).

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Scenarios

Real-World Examples

3 worked examples

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20 kg child, anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis Dose tab, weight-based (uncapped)

Weight 20 kg Mode Anaphylaxis (IM, 1:1000)

Calculated dose = 20 × 0.01 = 0.20 mg, which is below the 0.3 mg child/teen cap, so 0.20 mg is given IM (0.20 mL of 1:1000) in the mid-outer thigh. The nearest fixed auto-injector tier for this weight is 0.15 mg — a drawn-up dose more closely matches the calculated figure than the fixed device.

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70 kg adult, anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis Dose tab, adult weight (capped)

Weight 70 kg Mode Anaphylaxis (IM, 1:1000)

Calculated dose = 70 × 0.01 = 0.70 mg, which exceeds the 0.5 mg adult ceiling, so the dose is capped at 0.5 mg IM (0.5 mL of 1:1000) — not the full linear calculation. This is the weight-band-tier-plus-cap behavior every dosing calculator on this site is required to implement.

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15 kg toddler, cardiac arrest

Cardiac Arrest Dose tab, Pediatric

Weight 15 kg Mode Cardiac arrest (IV/IO, 1:10,000)

Calculated dose = 15 × 0.01 = 0.15 mg, well under the 1 mg pediatric ceiling. Give 0.15 mg IV/IO of 1:10,000 epinephrine (1.5 mL), repeated every 3-5 minutes per AHA PALS, alongside CPR. Note the concentration switch from 1:1000 (anaphylaxis) — using the wrong one here would be a serious error.

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Deep Dive

Epinephrine Dosing: Two Different Emergencies, Two Different Doses

5 chapters · 4 min read

Epinephrine treats two very different emergencies — anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest — with different routes, different concentrations, and different dosing math. Confusing the two is a recognized, serious medication error. This calculator keeps them as separate modes so the route, concentration, and cap for each context stay correct, and adds a side-by-side protocol reference so the distinction is never lost.

Anaphylaxis: IM epinephrine at 1:1000

Anaphylaxis is treated with intramuscular epinephrine in the mid-outer thigh, using the concentrated 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) solution. The weight-based dose is 0.01 mg/kg, capped at 0.3 mg for patients under 30 kg and 0.5 mg at or above 30 kg, per the AAAAI/ACAAI 2023 anaphylaxis practice parameter update. Fixed-dose auto-injectors (e.g. EpiPen) ship in 0.1 mg, 0.15 mg, and 0.3 mg tiers assigned by weight band — they never reach the 0.5 mg adult ceiling, since that figure applies to a drawn-up dose rather than a fixed device.

Cardiac arrest: IV/IO epinephrine at 1:10,000

Cardiac arrest is treated with intravenous or intraosseous epinephrine using the far more dilute 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) concentration. Adults receive a fixed 1 mg dose regardless of weight, repeated every 3-5 minutes per AHA ACLS. Children receive a weight-based 0.01 mg/kg dose, capped at 1 mg per dose and also repeated every 3-5 minutes, per AHA/AAP PALS. Neither adult nor pediatric algorithms recommend routine high-dose epinephrine.

Why the concentration distinction is the real danger

The two epinephrine concentrations are not interchangeable, and mixing them up is the single most dangerous error in this domain. Giving the undiluted 1:1000 (anaphylaxis-strength) concentration by the IV route delivers ten times the intended cardiac-arrest dose — a recognized cause of serious harm. Always confirm the concentration printed on the ampule or pre-filled syringe matches the intended route (1:1000 for IM, 1:10,000 for IV/IO) before administering, regardless of what a mental mg/kg calculation suggests.

Weight-band caps prevent over-dosing larger patients

A pure linear mg/kg multiply would keep scaling upward without limit as weight increases — clinically inappropriate for either context. This calculator applies an absolute per-dose ceiling in both modes: 0.3 mg / 0.5 mg for anaphylaxis depending on the weight band, and 1 mg for pediatric cardiac arrest. When a calculated dose exceeds the applicable cap, the tool reports the capped figure as the dose to give, and flags that the cap was applied.

This calculator is for educational reference only

This tool performs the dosing arithmetic only. It does not know a patient's allergy history, response to a prior dose, cardiac rhythm, or the full resuscitation sequence — those judgments belong to the clinician and the institutional protocol in effect. In a real anaphylaxis or cardiac-arrest emergency, call emergency services immediately; this tool does not replace an epinephrine auto-injector prescription, EMS, or a licensed clinician's judgment. Always verify doses against current prescribing information or your institution's protocol before administering.

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

What's the difference between the anaphylaxis dose and the cardiac arrest dose?+

Anaphylaxis epinephrine is given intramuscularly (IM) using the concentrated 1:1000 (1 mg/mL) solution, dosed at 0.01 mg/kg and capped at 0.3-0.5 mg. Cardiac arrest epinephrine is given IV or IO using the more dilute 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) solution — a fixed 1 mg for adults, or 0.01 mg/kg capped at 1 mg for children, repeated every 3-5 minutes. They use different concentrations and routes and are not interchangeable.

What happens if the calculated dose exceeds the maximum?+

The calculator caps the dose at the applicable ceiling — 0.3 mg (under 30 kg) or 0.5 mg (30 kg and over) for anaphylaxis, and 1 mg per dose for pediatric cardiac arrest — and flags that the cap was applied rather than showing the uncapped linear calculation. Adult cardiac arrest dosing is always the fixed 1 mg regardless of weight.

Why do 1:1000 and 1:10,000 matter so much?+

They are different strengths of the same drug: 1:1000 is 1 mg/mL and 1:10,000 is 0.1 mg/mL — a tenfold difference. Anaphylaxis uses 1:1000 IM; cardiac arrest uses 1:10,000 IV/IO. Giving the 1:1000 concentration by the IV route delivers ten times the intended dose, a serious and recognized medication error. Always check the concentration on the label before administering, regardless of the calculated dose.

Can a fixed-dose auto-injector be used for cardiac arrest?+

No. Auto-injectors (EpiPen and similar devices) contain the 1:1000 concentration for IM anaphylaxis use and are not appropriate for IV/IO cardiac-arrest dosing, which requires the 1:10,000 concentration drawn up in a syringe by trained personnel.

Is this calculator a substitute for calling emergency services?+

No. In a real anaphylaxis or cardiac-arrest emergency, call emergency services (911) immediately. This tool is a reference aid for calculating a weight-based dose — it does not replace an epinephrine auto-injector prescription, EMS, or your institution's resuscitation protocol.

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