Drinking enough water every day is important for health and wellbeing. The recommended daily intake of water is around 8 glasses, but how many bottles does that equate to? Here is a quick look at how many bottles make up 8 glasses of water.
Quick Answer
Most standard water bottles contain 16.9 fluid ounces or 500 milliliters. With 8 fluid ounces in a glass, 8 glasses would be equivalent to about 2 of these standard sized bottles.
How Many Ounces in a Glass?
When looking at recommended water intake, a ‘glass’ is generally considered to be 8 fluid ounces or approximately 240 milliliters. This is the standard used by health organizations when making water intake recommendations.
So with 8 glasses being the daily recommendation, that equates to:
- 8 glasses x 8 oz per glass = 64 oz
- 8 glasses x 240 mL per glass = 1920 mL
How Many Ounces in a Bottle?
Water bottles come in many sizes, but the most common are:
- 12 oz bottle
- 16.9 oz bottle – this is a typical single serve bottle size
- 20 oz bottle
- 24 oz bottle
- 32 oz bottle – often called a “quart” size
- 1 liter bottle – approximately 33.8 oz
Of these, the 16.9 oz or 500 mL size is the most standard. Many bottled waters, such as Dasani, Aquafina, and Poland Spring, package their water in this size.
How Many 16.9 oz Bottles Are 8 Glasses?
Given that 8 glasses is 64 oz, and a typical 16.9 oz water bottle contains 16.9 oz, we can calculate:
- 64 oz / 16.9 oz per bottle = 3.79 bottles
Rounding to the nearest whole bottle, we find that 8 glasses is equivalent to about 2 and a half of the typical 16.9 oz water bottles.
How Many 20 oz Bottles Are 8 Glasses?
If calculating based on 20 oz bottle size instead, we get:
- 64 oz / 20 oz per bottle = 3.2 bottles
So 8 glasses would be around 3 of the 20 oz water bottles.
How Many 1 Liter Bottles Are 8 Glasses?
And looking at the 1 liter or approximately 33.8 oz size:
- 64 oz / 33.8 oz per bottle = 1.89 bottles
That comes out close to 2 of the 1 liter or 33.8 oz bottles.
Summary
In summary:
| Bottle Size | Glasses per Bottle | Bottles for 8 Glasses |
|---|---|---|
| 16.9 oz | 2 glasses | 2.5 bottles |
| 20 oz | 2.5 glasses | 3 bottles |
| 33.8 oz (1 liter) | 4 glasses | 2 bottles |
So while it depends somewhat on bottle size, roughly 2 to 3 standard sized water bottles equates to the recommended 8 glasses of water per day.
Factors That Affect Water Needs
While 8 glasses or around 64 ounces is the standard daily recommendation, water needs can vary based on individual factors:
- Age – Older adults may require less hydration, while children need ample water for growth and development.
- Climate – Warmer, humid climates cause more fluid loss through sweating.
- Activity level – Active individuals need more hydration to replace sweat losses.
- Overall health – Those with certain conditions like diabetes or kidney disease may need more or less fluid intake.
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding – Pregnant and breastfeeding women require additional fluids.
Doctors may recommend more or less than the standard 8 glasses depending on an individual’s specific hydration needs.
Tips for Getting 8 Glasses of Water
Drinking enough water consistently can take some effort. Here are some tips for getting in 8 glasses or about 2-3 bottles each day:
- Carry a reusable water bottle with you throughout the day for easy sipping.
- Have a glass of water with every meal and snack.
- Choose water over sugary drinks like soda, juice, and sports drinks.
- Opt for water when dining out – skip the sodas, juices, etc.
- Add slices of lemon, lime, cucumber or mint to water for flavor.
- Set reminders on your phone or smart watch to drink water at intervals throughout the day.
- Drink a glass of water before meals to aid digestion.
- Sip water while exercising to stay hydrated.
- Drink water before, during, and after alcohol to prevent dehydration.
- Start and end your day with a glass of water.
Water Intake Considerations
There are a few things to keep in mind around water intake:
- Focus on consuming water primarily. Other beverages like coffee, tea, milks, and juice can contribute to fluid intake, but plain water should make up the majority of intake.
- Drink water before, during and after exercise sessions. Dehydration can hinder performance.
- Increase water intake in hot weather or when doing strenuous activity causing heavy sweating.
- Those with medical conditions like heart failure or kidney disease may need to moderate water intake. Consult a doctor on how much to drink.
- Water helps control appetite and calorie intake. Drink a glass before meals.
- Carry water when traveling on planes. Air travel can cause dehydration.
- Caffeine and alcohol have a mild diuretic effect so may increase the need for hydration.
Signs of Dehydration
Some signals that you may not be drinking enough water include:
- Thirst
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Muscle cramps
- Infrequent urination and dark yellow urine
- Rapid heart rate
- Low blood pressure
If experiencing signs of dehydration, drink fluids immediately. Severe dehydration can necessitate medical treatment with IV fluids.
The Bottom Line
Eight glasses of water equates to around 64 ounces daily. This is approximately:
- 2 to 2 1⁄2 of the typical 16.9 oz water bottles
- 3 of the 20 oz bottles
- 2 of the 1 liter or 33.8 oz bottles
Carrying a reusable water bottle and sipping consistently throughout the day can help you easily consume the recommended 8 glasses for good hydration.
