How It Works
This calculator works in 4 steps.
Enter the syrup strength and basis
Type °Brix, % w/w, or g/L.
Enter the syrup amount
Type the mass, or the volume, which the calculator converts with density.
Enter the target strength
Type the target °Brix or g/L.
Read the water to add
The calculator returns water mass and volume and the final syrup amount.
The Formula
The formula keeps sugar mass constant and uses density to move between mass and volume.
Bx₁ × m₁ = Bx₂ × m₂m_water = m₁ × (Bx₁ / Bx₂ − 1)m = V × ρ(Bx)g/L = Bx × ρ × 10- Bx:
- Degrees Brix (% w/w sucrose)
- m:
- Syrup mass
- ρ(Bx):
- Syrup density at that Brix, 20 °C
1 L of 65 °Bx syrup weighs 1,319 g and holds 857 g sugar. Diluting to 50 °Bx needs 1,319 × (65/50 − 1) = 395.7 g (about 396 mL) of water.
Conversion Table
The conversion table lists density, sugar per liter, and mass per liter for 7 sucrose syrup strengths at 20 °C (68 °F).
| Strength | Density | Sugar per liter | Mass of 1 L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 °Bx | 1.04 g/mL | 104 g/L | 1,040 g |
| 20 °Bx | 1.083 g/mL | 216.6 g/L | 1,083 g |
| 30 °Bx | 1.129 g/mL | 338.8 g/L | 1,130 g |
| 40 °Bx | 1.179 g/mL | 471.6 g/L | 1,179 g |
| 50 °Bx | 1.23 g/mL | 614.8 g/L | 1,230 g |
| 60 °Bx | 1.289 g/mL | 773.2 g/L | 1,289 g |
| 65 °Bx | 1.319 g/mL | 857.4 g/L | 1,319 g |
Densities from standard sucrose tables (approximate).
What Is the Sugar Syrup Dilution Calculator?
The Sugar Syrup Dilution Calculator is a tool that dilutes a sugar syrup to a target strength, accounting for whether the strength is stated by mass (°Brix, % w/w) or by volume (g/L), and for the syrup's density. One degree Brix (°Bx) equals 1 g of sucrose per 100 g of solution.
Sugar syrups are dense: a 50 °Bx syrup weighs about 1.23 g/mL. Diluting by volume with C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ in °Brix gives wrong results, since Brix is a mass percent. The calculator works by mass balance for Brix and converts to volume with density, so the water amount is correct for simple syrup, fruit concentrates, and bee feed.
Common Uses
There are 5 main uses of this calculator.
Bar syrups
Bartenders dilute rich 2:1 syrup to 1:1 simple syrup.
Beverage production
Producers dilute concentrates to target Brix.
Beekeeping
Beekeepers mix 1:1 and 2:1 sugar feeds.
Canning
Home canners prepare light, medium, and heavy syrups.
Confectionery
Confectioners adjust syrup strength before boiling.