How many bottles of water is 8 cups a day?

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

8 cups of water per day is equal to about 2 liters or 67.6 fluid ounces. This means you would need to drink around 2 to 3 typical 16.9 oz disposable water bottles per day to get your recommended 8 cups of water. Or you could drink about 4 to 5 refillable 20 oz water bottles. The exact number of water bottles needed depends on the size, but roughly 2 to 5 bottles per day will provide 8 cups of water.

How Many Ounces in 8 Cups of Water?

When looking at the recommended water intake, it helps to know some key measurements:

1 cup = 8 fluid ounces

1 liter = 33.8 fluid ounces
1 gallon = 128 fluid ounces

Knowing this:

8 cups x 8 oz per cup = 64 oz
64 oz = 1/2 gallon
64 oz = about 2 liters

So 8 cups of water is equal to:

64 fluid ounces
1/2 gallon

About 2 liters

This makes it easy to figure out how many water bottles you need for 8 cups of water based on the size.

Water Bottle Sizes

Some typical water bottle sizes include:

12 oz
16.9 oz (most common disposable size)
20 oz (common refillable size)

24 oz
32 oz

Knowing this, here is how many bottles needed for 8 cups/64 oz of water:

12 oz bottles: 64 oz / 12 oz per bottle = 5.3 bottles, so about 5 bottles
16.9 oz bottles: 64 oz / 16.9 oz per bottle = 3.8 bottles, so about 3 bottles
20 oz bottles: 64 oz / 20 oz per bottle = 3.2 bottles, so about 3 bottles

24 oz bottles: 64 oz / 24 oz per bottle = 2.7 bottles, so about 3 bottles
32 oz bottles: 64 oz / 32 oz per bottle = 2 bottles

As you can see, for the typical disposable 16.9 oz water bottles, you would need about 3 bottles per day to get 8 cups. For the typical refillable 20 oz size, you would need about 3 bottles per day.

The exact amount can vary slightly based on the exact size of the bottle and how precisely you measure, but in general 2 to 3 disposable bottles or 3 to 5 refillable bottles will provide 8 cups of water.

Daily Water Intake Recommendation

The recommendation to drink 8 cups (64 oz) of water per day comes from the Institute of Medicine, which sets intake recommendations for nutrients and fluids.

This general guideline actually equates to about:

2.7 liters for adult women
3.7 liters for adult men

So the 8 cup or 64 oz recommendation is a simplified general target. The actual ideal amount can vary based on factors like age, gender, activity level and climate.

For example, the Institute of Medicine specifically recommends:

About 2.2 liters (9 cups) per day for older women
About 3 liters (12.5 cups) per day for older men

Higher intake may be needed for very active individuals
Increased intake may be needed in hot climates or during strenuous exercise

While water needs can vary, the standard 8 cups per day is a good minimum target for most healthy adults. Consuming enough fluids is important to stay hydrated and prevent dehydration.

Tips for Consuming More Water from Bottles

If you are striving to drink 8 cups of water per day, here are some tips for getting more of your daily fluid from water bottles:

Carry a refillable bottle – Keep a water bottle with you during the day so you can sip water frequently.
Choose larger bottles – Opt for 20-32oz sized bottles to minimize refilling.

Set reminders to drink – Set a recurring alarm on your phone or watch to remind you to drink water hourly or a few times per day.
Flavor your water – Add lemon, lime, mint or other fruits to give your water some flavor and make it more enticing to drink.
Drink a glass before meals – Make it a habit to drink 8oz of water before each meal.

Replace sugary drinks – Substitute water for high-calorie sodas, juices and other sweetened beverages.
Track your intake – Use an app to monitor how much water you drink each day.
Set goals – Challenge yourself to drink a certain number of bottles per day.

Drinking enough water is important, and using refillable water bottles can help you consume an adequate amount for good health.

Health Benefits of Drinking Water

Consuming the recommended daily amount of water provides many important health benefits, including:

Prevents dehydration – Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, which can cause headaches, fatigue, confusion, dry mouth and more.

Aids digestion – Water helps digest food and absorb nutrients, keeps bowel movements regular, and prevents constipation.
Flushes out toxins – Water helps flush waste and toxins out of the body through urine, sweat and bowel movements.
Boosts exercise performance – Staying well hydrated helps maintain blood volume and regulates body temperature during physical activity.

Aids weight loss – Water has zero calories and can substitute higher-calorie beverages as well as fill you up before meals.
Promotes kidney health – Adequate hydration is critical for optimal kidney function.
Improves skin health – Water keeps skin hydrated and supple, can reduce dryness and eczema flare-ups.

Boosts mood – Even mild dehydration can negatively impact mood, concentration and brain function.
Reduces disease risk – Proper hydration may help lower risk of bladder and colon cancers, urinary tract infections, kidney stones and heart disease.

Getting enough clean, purified water from sources like bottles is one of the best things you can do for overall health. The daily minimum of 8 cups per day provides huge benefits.

Tracking Your Water Intake

To make sure you are hitting the recommended daily water intake from bottles, cups and other beverages, it can help to do some simple tracking. Here are some tips:

Measure your bottle size – Figure out exactly how many ounces or liters your regular water bottles contain.
Read bottle labels – Check the label for the exact amount of other beverages like juice or milk.

Use a measuring cup – For a glass or cup, fill with water and pour into a measuring cup to determine the ounces.
Log intake – Make a note each time you finish a bottle or glass. There are also apps to help track.
Set reminders – Use your phone, watch, or an app to set hourly alerts reminding you to drink water.

Carry a larger bottle – Minimize refills by using a 32oz or larger refillable water bottle.
Check urine color – Pale yellow urine means you are well hydrated, while dark yellow urine indicates dehydration.

Simple techniques like these can help ensure you consume the recommended 64+ ounces and stay on track with hydration. Adjust your water intake if you fall short of daily goals.

Water Intake for Active Individuals and Athletes

People who are very physically active generally need even higher water intakes than the standard recommendation. Intense exercise causes fluid loss through sweat. Not replenishing this fluid loss can impair athletic performance and cause harm.

Some tips for athletes and active individuals:

Drink 17-20 oz of water 2-3 hours before exercise – This helps ensure you begin activity well-hydrated.

Drink 8 oz of water 20-30 minutes before exercise – Topping off your fluid levels just prior to starting activity boosts performance.
Drink 7-10 oz of water every 10-20 minutes during exercise – Frequently sipping water prevents excessive dehydration during activity.
Drink 16-24 oz of water after exercise for every pound lost – Weighing yourself before and after exercise determines fluid loss, so you know how much to replenish.

Drink electrolytes during intense activity – Sports drinks or coconut water provide electrolytes lost in sweat.
Get on a schedule – Plan out hourly water intake the night before an event.
Carry a large water bottle – A 32oz bottle or hydration backpack allows you to always have water accessible.

Consuming adequate water before, during and after exercise is vital for any athlete. This requires planning to ensure water bottles and hydration is handy when active.

Signs of Dehydration

Failing to drink enough water can cause dehydration, with mild symptoms at first but escalating to serious complications. Signs of dehydration include:

Thirst

Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Headaches

Dizziness
Weakness
Nausea

Confusion
Dry or sticky mouth
Infrequent urination

Dark yellow urine
Rapid heart rate
Fainting

Low blood pressure

Severe dehydration can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical treatment to prevent complications like seizures, kidney failure, coma and death. Using water bottles to meet daily fluid requirements helps avoid these harmful effects.

Water Bottles vs. Tap Water

When trying to drink more water each day, a common question is whether bottled water or tap water is better. Here’s a comparison:

Bottled Water Benefits

Portable and convenient for on-the-go hydration
Often has added flavors to encourage drinking

Typically contains minerals for taste
Perceived to be pure and safe
Wide variety of bottle sizes and styles

Tap Water Benefits

Free/low cost from home faucet
Often fluoridated for dental health

Requires no plastic bottles ending up in landfills
Can be filtered at home
Just as safe as bottled water in most areas

Ultimately, the source of water matters less than drinking the daily recommended amount. For convenience, bottled water offers an easy way to stay hydrated anywhere. But tap water can also provide all the hydration you need while saving money and limiting plastic waste. Many people opt to drink both types of water. The key is getting those 8 cups total from some combination of reliable sources.

Hydration Tips for Kids

Children also need adequate water intake for proper growth and development. Some tips for ensuring kids stay well hydrated include:

Offer water frequently throughout the day

Provide water bottles for school, sports and activities
Infuse kid-friendly fruit flavors into water
Set timers reminding kids to drink water hourly

Let kids choose their preferred water bottle style
Turn drinking enough water into a game or competition
Teach kids how to use thirst as a hydration cue

Limit sugary drinks like juice
Model good water drinking habits yourself

Striving for the recommended daily intake of roughly 6 cups for ages 4-8 up to 10 cups by age 18 ensures healthy hydration levels as kids grow. Provide plenty of water access and encouragement to develop lifelong hydration habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about daily water intake recommendations and meeting them using water bottles:

How is water intake measured?
Water intake is measured in cups or ounces. 1 cup is equal to 8 fluid ounces. The general guideline for adults is 8 cups or 64 ounces per day.

Do other beverages count toward daily water intake?
Yes, other unsweetened beverages like milk and coffee can contribute to fluid intake. But water is the healthiest hydration source with no sugar or calories.

What are the best water bottles to buy?
Some top-rated water bottles are Klean Kanteen, Hydro Flask, Camelbak, Nalgene, Brita, and Contigo. Key features are insulation to keep water cold, leakproof lids, durability, and ease of cleaning.

Is bottled water safer than tap water?
Both bottled water and municipal tap water in the U.S. are generally safe as they are purified and monitored for contaminants. But quality can vary by source and location.

Can you drink too much water?
It’s rare, but possible to overhydrate by consuming excessive amounts of plain water. This can dilute essential electrolytes in the body. Stick to recommended amounts and adjust for your activity level.

How much water do you need to drink a day to lose weight?
There is no magic amount of water that will cause weight loss. But drinking water before meals can help reduce calorie intake. Staying well hydrated also prevents overeating caused by mistaking thirst for hunger.

Conclusion

Drinking enough water every day provides tremendous health benefits and prevents the risks of dehydration. While needs vary based on body size, activity level, climate and other factors, the standard recommendation is around 8 cups or 64 ounces per day for the average healthy adult.

Consuming this recommended amount is easy with portable water bottles. Depending on the size, about 2-5 bottles a day will provide optimal hydration. Combining bottled water with tap water throughout the day can provide convenient, affordable access to all the water you need. Plus staying properly hydrated will make you feel great.

So pick up your favorite water bottle and start sipping your way to better health today!