Free tool
Homemade electrolyte drink calculator
Turn target electrolyte amounts into grams or teaspoons you can weigh out at home, or skip the work and let us do it.
Match a brand, then tweak
Sources and methodology
Constants published
This tool works backwards from a target dose to the weight of each ingredient, using the elemental mineral content of each compound.
How amounts are derived
Every mineral salt is only partly the mineral itself.
Grams of ingredient = target milligrams / elemental mass fraction. Fractions come from each compound's molecular formula and molar mass.
Mass fractions used
- Sodium chloride: 39.34% Na
- Sodium citrate: 23.1% Na
- Potassium chloride: 52.45% K
- Potassium citrate (monohydrate): 36.2% K
- Magnesium oxide: 60.3% Mg
- Magnesium citrate: 16.2% Mg
- Magnesium malate: 15.6% Mg
- Magnesium glycinate: 14.1% Mg
Default target
800 mg sodium, 240 mg potassium and 60 mg magnesium is the Saltivate per-serving profile.
Limitations 4
- Absorption differs between compounds. Magnesium oxide is the most concentrated per gram and the most poorly absorbed, so equal elemental doses are not equally useful.
- Home scales are usually the limiting factor. Weighing 60 mg accurately needs a scale reading to 0.001 g, which is why batching is the practical approach.
- Ingredient purity varies by supplier. These fractions assume the pure compound.
- This tool does not recommend a dose for you, and is not medical advice.
Constants published here are the values this page computes with. Last reviewed July 2026.
How to make your own electrolyte drink
A homemade electrolyte drink is three minerals stirred into 16 to 32 oz of water with a squeeze of citrus, the basics of any sports drink without the sugar:
- Sodium from regular table salt
- Potassium from a potassium salt like Lite Salt or NoSalt (potassium chloride)
- Magnesium from a magnesium supplement
The tricky part is the amounts. Half a teaspoon of table salt carries roughly 1,000 to 1,200mg of sodium, while potassium and magnesium come in much smaller doses and turn bitter fast if you overshoot.
Side by side
Mixing your own vs Saltivate
DIY is cheap if you have the time and ingredients. Here is what changes when Saltivate measures for you.
| Mix it yourself | Saltivate | |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | Salt, a potassium source, and magnesium, bought separately | One scoop with all three minerals already balanced |
| Every drink | Weigh and stir each dose by hand | One scoop in any glass, ready in seconds |
| The ratio | Easy to get wrong from batch to batch | 800mg sodium, 240mg potassium, 60mg magnesium, every time |
| Taste | Salty or bitter when the balance is off | Balanced, no bitter finish |
| HSA/FSA card | Not eligible | Pay pre-tax with your HSA/FSA card |
| Save more | Buy and store three bulk ingredients | Buy 3, get the 4th free |
Pre-measured, third-party tested, pay with your HSA/FSA card. Made in the USA in an NSF GMP Certified facility, which certifies the facility, not the product.
Good to know
DIY electrolytes, answered
How do you make an electrolyte drink at home?
Stir sodium, potassium and magnesium into 16 to 32 oz of water, then add citrus or a splash of juice for taste. The calculator gives exact grams and teaspoons.
What do you put in a homemade electrolyte drink?
Table salt for sodium, a salt substitute like Lite Salt or NoSalt for potassium, and a magnesium supplement. Plus water and something for flavor.
How much salt should a homemade electrolyte drink have?
Sodium is the one you lose most. Half a teaspoon of table salt is about 1,000 to 1,200mg.
Where do you get the potassium and magnesium for DIY electrolytes?
Potassium from a salt substitute like Lite Salt or NoSalt. Magnesium from a magnesium supplement. Both are easy to overdo, and both turn bitter.
Is making your own electrolyte drink cheaper than buying one?
Per serving, usually yes, if you already own a milligram scale and the three salts. You are paying in time instead: every dose gets weighed.
Can I just use salt water instead of a full electrolyte mix?
Salt water covers sodium but misses the potassium and magnesium you also sweat out.
