A reliable rice to water ratio for long-grain white rice on the stove is 1.5 cups of water for every cup of rice, written as 1.5:1. Brown rice needs more, about 2 cups of water per cup, and sticky short-grain rice needs less, about 1.25 cups.
The right ratio depends on the type of rice, whether you rinse it and how tightly your lid fits, which is why package directions often disagree. The free rice water ratio calculator gives you a starting amount of water for seven common rice types, in cups and milliliters.
Below you will find a ratio chart, a worked example, a simple stovetop method, and the fixes for rice that comes out mushy or crunchy.
Rice to water ratio chart
The first ratio column shows the calculator's starting ratio. The second shows the range you will commonly see in recipes and on packages. Simmer times are for covered pots on low heat, before resting.
| Rice type | Calculator ratio | Common range | Simmer time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-grain white | 1.5:1 | 1.5–2:1 | 15–20 min |
| Basmati | 1.5:1 | 1.25–1.75:1 | 12–15 min |
| Jasmine | 1.5:1 | 1.25–1.5:1 | 12–15 min |
| Short-grain white (sushi) | 1.25:1 | 1.1–1.25:1 | 15–20 min |
| Brown | 2:1 | 2–2.5:1 | 40–45 min |
| Wild | 3:1 | 3–4:1 | 45–60 min |
| Arborio (risotto) | 3.5:1 | 3–4:1 stock, added gradually | 18–20 min, stirring |
Two rows need a note. Wild rice is the seed of an aquatic grass rather than true rice, and it takes far more water than white rice; the calculator's 3:1 is a starting point, and many cooks simmer it in plenty of water and drain the excess once the grains split. Risotto is not cooked by absorption at all: hot stock goes in a ladle at a time, and a cup of arborio typically takes 3 to 4 cups before it is creamy, so the calculator's 3.5:1 is the stock to keep warm, not to pour in at once.
Worked example: rice for four people
Plan on about 1/3 to 1/2 cup (roughly 60 to 90 g) of uncooked rice per person, depending on whether rice is a side or the main event. For four people, use 1.5 cups of long-grain white rice.
- Multiply the rice by the ratio: 1.5 cups × 1.5 = 2.25 cups of water.
- Convert if you prefer metric: 2.25 × 240 ml = 540 ml.
- Expect about 4.5 cups of cooked rice, since white rice roughly triples in volume.
If you need to scale a whole rice dish rather than plain rice, the recipe scaler multiplies every ingredient at once.
How to cook rice on the stove
This absorption method works for long-grain, basmati, jasmine, short-grain and brown rice.
- Rinse. Swirl the rice in cold water and drain, repeating until the water runs mostly clear. This removes surface starch that makes grains clump.
- Combine. Put the rice, the measured water and a pinch of salt in a pot with a tight-fitting lid.
- Boil, then lower. Bring to a boil uncovered, then cover and turn the heat to the lowest setting.
- Simmer without peeking. Leave the lid on for the simmer time in the chart. Lifting it lets steam escape, and the rice needs that steam to finish.
- Rest and fluff. Take the pot off the heat and leave it covered for 5 to 10 minutes, then fluff the grains with a fork.
How to use the Rice Water Ratio Calculator
- Open the Rice Water Ratio Calculator and pick your Rice Type: long-grain white, short-grain white, basmati, jasmine, brown, wild or arborio.
- Enter the Rice Amount. Decimals such as 1.5 work.
- Choose the Measurement Unit: Cups, or Grams if you weigh your rice.
- Read the results: Water needed in cups and milliliters (or, for weighed rice, in milliliters and grams), the Water to rice ratio, and the Total volume of rice plus water in milliliters, which helps you pick a pot.
- Check the Cooking Tips panel. For firmer rice, use about 1/4 cup less water; for softer rice, about 1/4 cup more.
The calculator uses a 240 ml cup. If you need water in other units, such as fluid ounces or liters, the volume converter handles it.
Measuring rice by weight
Weight ratios and volume ratios are not interchangeable. A US cup of uncooked long-grain rice weighs roughly 185 g, while a cup of water weighs about 240 g, so 1.5:1 by weight means noticeably less water than 1.5:1 by cups.
So when you choose grams, the calculator first turns the weight into cups using what a cup of that rice weighs: about 185 g for long-grain white, basmati, jasmine and brown rice, 200 g for short-grain and arborio, and 160 g for wild rice. It then applies the usual ratio and gives the water in milliliters, where 1 ml of water weighs 1 g. So 200 g of basmati is about 1.08 cups and takes about 389 ml of water, a ratio of about 1.95:1 by weight. If your recipe gives its own ratio by weight, follow the recipe. Our guide to converting cups to grams explains why the same cup weighs differently for each ingredient.
Common rice cooking mistakes
- Using the wrong cup in a rice cooker. Rice cooker cups usually hold about 180 ml, not 240 ml. Use the cooker's own cup and fill water to the lines inside its pot.
- Rinsing risotto rice. Arborio relies on its surface starch for creaminess, so skip the rinse.
- Scaling the water exactly for big batches. In the same pot, evaporation stays about the same while the rice increases, so a large batch may need slightly less water per cup.
- Using a pot that is too wide. A wide, shallow pan loses more water to evaporation. A saucepan sized to the batch, with a lid that seals well, gives more predictable results.
- Ignoring altitude. At high altitude, water boils at a lower temperature and evaporates faster, so rice usually needs a little more water and time.
- Leaving leftovers out. Spores of the bacterium Bacillus cereus can survive cooking. Cool leftover rice quickly and refrigerate it within one to two hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ratio of water to rice?
For long-grain white rice, start with 1.5 cups of water per cup of rice. Brown rice needs about 2 cups, and short-grain white rice about 1.25 cups.
How much water do I need for 2 cups of rice?
Two cups of long-grain white rice need about 3 cups of water at a 1.5:1 ratio. Two cups of brown rice need about 4 cups.
How much water for 1 cup of basmati rice?
Use about 1.5 cups (360 ml) of water for 1 cup of rinsed basmati. Soaked basmati can need a little less, closer to 1.25 cups.
Why is my rice mushy or crunchy?
Mushy rice usually had too much water or was stirred while cooking. Crunchy rice had too little water, too much evaporation from a loose lid, or not enough resting time, so add 2 to 3 tablespoons of hot water, cover and steam it for a few more minutes.
Do you need to rinse rice before cooking?
Rinsing is recommended for most white rice because it removes surface starch and gives separate, fluffy grains. Skip it for risotto, where that starch makes the dish creamy.
How much uncooked rice per person?
Plan on about 1/3 to 1/2 cup, or roughly 60 to 90 g, of uncooked rice per person. One cup of uncooked white rice makes about 3 cups cooked.