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What does the Dough hydration calculate?
What is the dough hydration percentage? This calculator uses total flour weight, total water weight, and water contained in other liquids to estimate water relative to flour immediately in your browser.
With the values currently entered, the result is 73% — dough hydration. It also shows total water used, and total flour and water.
How to use the Dough hydration
- Replace the example values with your own numbers.
- Review the result and supporting figures as they update automatically.
- Check the formula and assumptions before using the estimate for a decision.
Inputs used
- Total flour weight — entered in g
- Total water weight — entered in g
- Water contained in other liquids — entered in g
Dough hydration formula
(Water + water in other liquids) ÷ flour × 100
Assumptions
- Only the water portion of other liquids is included.
- Flour from preferments should be included in total flour.
Practical guide
Dough hydration example and edge cases
What is the dough hydration percentage? Let's use a concrete example, then look at the assumptions that can move the answer.
Example: A practical dough hydration scenario
For this example, use total flour weight of 1,000 g, total water weight of 700 g, and water contained in other liquids of 30 g. These are starting values, so replace them with numbers that match your situation.
- Total flour weight
- 1,000 g
- Total water weight
- 700 g
- Water contained in other liquids
- 30 g
Calculated result73%dough hydration
Start with dough hydration. Then check total water used, and total flour and water to understand what sits behind the main result.
Example results use the default display profile. The calculator above follows your selected country and units.
How to read the result
- Read the main result first. The supporting figures for total water used, and total flour and water explain how the estimate is built.
- The method is (Water + water in other liquids) ÷ flour × 100. Keep the units consistent and use values from the same time period.
Edge cases worth checking
When total flour weight is unusual
Only the water portion of other liquids is included. Double-check this input before relying on the result.
When water contained in other liquids is uncertain
Flour from preferments should be included in total flour. Run a lower and higher value to see a useful range.
What changes the result most
Total flour weight
Change total flour weight on its own first. This shows how strongly it affects the answer.
Total water weight
Change total water weight on its own first. This shows how strongly it affects the answer.
Water contained in other liquids
Change water contained in other liquids on its own first. This shows how strongly it affects the answer.
Try a different scenario
Small changes show whether the answer is stable or sensitive.
Total flour weight: 10% lower
900 g81.1%dough hydration
Total flour weight: 10% higher
1,100 g66.4%dough hydration
Total water weight: 10% higher
770 g80%dough hydration
Common mistakes
Check total flour weight
Only the water portion of other liquids is included. Make sure this matches the number you enter.
Keep water contained in other liquids consistent
Flour from preferments should be included in total flour. Use the same units and time period throughout the calculation.
Do not rely on one dough hydration scenario
Run a cautious case and an optimistic case. The range is often more useful than one exact-looking number.
Use this result well
What is the dough hydration percentage?
Taste, ingredient behavior, food safety, and equipment can require adjustments.