Home › Nurse tools
Free nurse tools
Nurse tools: drip rate calculator, cannula sizes and catheter sizes.
Four quick tools for wards, clinics and home care. Free to use, no sign up. Made by Sternmed Afrika, a medical consumables supplier in Nairobi.
Calculator
IV drip rate calculator
Enter the volume, the time and the drop factor printed on the giving set. Sternmed infusion sets deliver 20 drops per ml.
IV drip rate calculator
Set the drip to
42 drops a minute
Flow rate 125 ml an hour
Drops a minute = volume in ml × drop factor ÷ time in minutes. For trained health workers. Always follow the prescription and your facility protocol.
Chart
IV cannula size chart
Colours, approximate flow and common uses for each gauge, from 14G to 26G. Tap a size to compare.
IV cannula size chart
Tap a size. A smaller gauge number means a wider cannula and a faster flow.
| Size | Colour | Flow | Common use | Sternmed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14G | Orange | About 270 ml/min | Trauma and very fast fluid or blood replacement | Ask us |
| 16G | Grey | About 180 ml/min | Major surgery, trauma and fast transfusion | In our range |
| 18G | Green | About 90 ml/min | Blood transfusion, surgery and fast fluids | In our range |
| 20G | Pink | About 60 ml/min | Most adult IV therapy and routine transfusion | In our range |
| 22G | Blue | About 35 ml/min | Small or fragile veins, older adults and children | In our range |
| 24G | Yellow | About 20 ml/min | Infants, children and very fragile veins | In our range |
| 26G | Violet | About 13 ml/min | Newborns and very small veins | Ask us |
Selected size
20G
Pink, about 60 ml a minute
Most adult IV therapy and routine transfusion
Flow figures are approximate and vary by brand. Check the rate printed on the pack. Size choice is a clinical decision.
Guide
Foley catheter size guide
Slide to a French size to see its width in millimetres and what it is commonly used for.
Foley catheter size guide
| Size | Width | Commonly used for | Sternmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 to 10 Fr | 2.0 to 3.3 mm | Children | Ask us |
| 12 Fr | 4.0 mm | Adults, routine drainage | In our range |
| 14 Fr | 4.7 mm | Adults, the most common size | In our range |
| 16 Fr | 5.3 mm | Adults, thicker urine or sediment | In our range |
| 18 to 24 Fr | 6.0 to 8.0 mm | Blood clots or heavy sediment | Ask us |
Selected size
14 Fr
Outer width about 4.7 mm, 0.18 inch
Adults, the most common size
1 Fr is a third of a millimetre. Size choice is a clinical decision.
Planner
Underpads planner
Work out how many pads, packets and bales you need for a week, a month or three months.
Underpads planner
Not sure? Start with 3 a day and adjust.
You need
90 pads
That is 9 packets of 10.
About KSh 240 a day per patient.
Buying to resell? Distributors pay KSh 7,500 a bale.
Questions
About these tools.
Spotted something to improve or want another tool? Tell us on WhatsApp.
Message usHow do you calculate IV drops per minute?
Multiply the volume in ml by the drop factor of the giving set, then divide by the time in minutes. For 1000 ml over 8 hours with a 20 drop set: 1000 x 20 / 480 is about 42 drops a minute.
What drop factor do Sternmed infusion sets have?
Sternmed IV infusion sets deliver 20 drops per ml. Always check the drop factor printed on the pack of the set you are using.
What do IV cannula colours mean?
Each gauge has a standard colour: 14G orange, 16G grey, 18G green, 20G pink, 22G blue, 24G yellow and 26G violet. A smaller gauge number means a wider cannula and a faster flow.
What does Fr mean on a Foley catheter?
Fr, also written Ch, is the outer size of the catheter. Divide it by 3 to get the width in millimetres. A 14 Fr catheter is about 4.7 mm wide.
Do these tools replace clinical judgement?
No. They are quick checks for trained health workers. Always follow the prescription and your facility protocol.
Ever done an IV drip rate calculator sum in your head at 3 am with the ward lights off?
You should not have to. The four free tools above do the sums for you. Here is more about each one and the supplies they mention.
More about the IV drip rate calculator and the other nurse tools
The IV drip rate calculator turns volume, time and drop factor into drops per minute. The cannula chart lists gauges and colours and the Foley guide lists sizes. The underpads planner works out how many pads a patient needs.
All four are free. They are for trained health workers and they do not replace your facility protocol or a prescriber’s orders.
How do I calculate an IV drip rate in drops per minute?
Multiply the volume in ml by the drop factor, then divide by the time in minutes. Sternmed IV infusion sets and blood transfusion sets have a drop factor of 20 drops per ml.
So 1000 ml over 8 hours with a 20 drops per ml set is 1000 x 20 divided by 480, which is about 42 drops per minute. Type the same numbers into the IV drip rate calculator and check your answer.
Which cannula size and colour should I pick?
The gauge for each patient is a clinical decision. The chart shows the standard colour code so the right pack is easy to spot on the shelf.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| 16G grey | 1.70 mm, high flow use in adults |
| 18G green | 1.30 mm |
| 20G pink | 1.00 mm |
| 22G blue | 0.85 mm |
| 24G yellow | 0.70 mm, paediatric and geriatric use |
Sternmed stocks all five as winged IV cannulas with an injection port. See 18G, 20G and 22G and 16G and 24G.
Which Foley catheter size fits an adult?
FR 14, which is 4.67 mm, is the most common adult size. FR 16 is 5.33 mm and is made for higher flow drainage. FR 12 is 4 mm and gives you a smaller option.
Sternmed stocks all three as latex 2 way Foley catheters with a silicone elastomer coating, 40 cm long. Catheter size and balloon volume are clinical decisions.
How many underpads does one patient need?
Count the changes a day and multiply by the days. A patient changed four times a day for a week needs 28 pads, which is three packets of 10.
A Sternmed packet of 10 pads is KSh 800 and a bale of 100 pads is KSh 8,000. Each pad is 60 x 90 cm and takes in 900 ml and more.
Where can I buy the supplies these tools mention?
At Sternmed Afrika in Nairobi. Underpads are in stock today. Cannulas, infusion sets, transfusion sets, Foley catheters and urine bags arrive on 27 November 2026 and are quote only until then.
Pay by M Pesa or cash on delivery. Hospitals and clinics can pay against a pro forma invoice or an LPO.
We deliver across Kenya from Nairobi. We export across Africa on request and import on behalf of buyers.
For the clinical side of infusion safety, the World Health Organization patient safety pages are a good place to start.
IV drip rate calculator: the formula in one line
Drops per minute equals volume in ml times drop factor, divided by time in minutes. Keep the IV drip rate calculator open on your phone and the sum takes two seconds.
IV drip rate calculator worked examples
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| 500 ml over 4 hours, 20 drops per ml | 500 x 20 divided by 240, about 42 drops per minute |
| 1000 ml over 8 hours, 20 drops per ml | 1000 x 20 divided by 480, about 42 drops per minute |
| 1000 ml over 12 hours, 20 drops per ml | 1000 x 20 divided by 720, about 28 drops per minute |
| 250 ml over 2 hours, 20 drops per ml | 250 x 20 divided by 120, about 42 drops per minute |
Check every result against the prescription and your facility protocol. The IV drip rate calculator does the arithmetic, not the clinical decision.
Questions buyers ask
Is the drip rate calculator free?
Yes. All four tools on this page are free to use.
Which cannula sizes does Sternmed stock?
Winged IV cannulas with an injection port in 16G, 18G, 20G, 22G and 24G. Stock arrives on 27 November 2026.
Which Foley sizes does Sternmed stock?
Latex 2 way Foley catheters in FR 12, FR 14 and FR 16. Stock arrives on 27 November 2026.
How much are underpads?
A packet of 10 Sternmed underpads is KSh 800. A bale of 100 pads is KSh 8,000.
How do I order?
Order on WhatsApp at +254 799 526972 or email info@sternmedafrika.com.
Does the IV drip rate calculator work with any giving set?
Yes. Enter the drop factor printed on your set. Sternmed infusion sets and transfusion sets are 20 drops per ml.
Can I use these tools on my phone?
Yes. Every tool on this page works on a phone, a tablet or a desktop.
Order today
Need the supplies behind the IV drip rate calculator? WhatsApp +254 799 526972 or email info@sternmedafrika.com. Underpads ship from Nairobi today and every other line can be reserved for 27 November 2026.