Ibuprofen Pediatric Dose Calculator
Weight-based ibuprofen dosing for children — 5–10 mg/kg/dose · every 6–8 hours with food if needed · max 400 mg/dose, 1200 mg/day. Enter age and weight for the dose in mg and syrup mL or tablets.
Pediatric dosing
Fever or mild–moderate pain
Ibuprofen dose chart by age and weight
Fever or mild–moderate pain. Weights are WHO/IAP reference medians for age — always dose on the measured weight.
| Age | Weight | Dose (mg) | Suspension 100 mg/5 mL | Infant drops 40 mg/mL (50 mg/1.25 mL) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 6.1 kg | 61 mg | 3.1 mL | 1.5 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 6 months | 7.6 kg | 76 mg | 3.8 mL | 1.9 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 9 months | 8.6 kg | 86 mg | 4.3 mL | 2.2 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 1 year | 9.3 kg | 93 mg | 4.7 mL | 2.3 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 18 months | 10.6 kg | 106 mg | 5.3 mL | 2.7 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 2 years | 11.8 kg | 118 mg | 5.9 mL | 3 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 3 years | 14.1 kg | 141 mg | 7.1 mL | 3.5 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 4 years | 16.2 kg | 162 mg | 8.1 mL | 4.1 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 5 years | 17.5 kg | 175 mg | 8.8 mL | 4.4 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 6 years | 19 kg | 190 mg | 9.5 mL | 4.8 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 8 years | 24.4 kg | 244 mg | 12 mL | 6.1 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 10 years | 31.1 kg | 311 mg | 15.5 mL | 7.8 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
| 12 years | 39.4 kg | 394 mg | 19.5 mL | 9.9 mL | Every 6–8 hours with food if needed |
Strengths in the calculator
- Suspension 100 mg/5 mL (Oral)
- Infant drops 40 mg/mL (50 mg/1.25 mL) (Oral) — US concentrated infant drops — do not confuse with the 100 mg/5 mL suspension.
- Tablet 200 mg (Oral)
- Tablet 400 mg (Oral)
Different strength on your bottle? Use “Different strength on the bottle?” under the result.
Safety
Contraindications and cautions
- Dehydration, hypovolaemia or acute kidney injury.
- Suspected dengue or any bleeding tendency.
- Varicella (chickenpox) — risk of severe skin and soft-tissue infection.
- Active GI bleeding or peptic ulcer; NSAID-sensitive asthma.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Legacy FDA category C. Avoid from 20 weeks' gestation (fetal renal dysfunction and oligohydramnios) and in the third trimester (premature closure of the ductus arteriosus). Prefer paracetamol.
Compatible with breastfeeding.
Clinical notes
Give with food or milk. Paracetamol is preferred in gastroenteritis, dehydration and suspected dengue.
Adult and adolescent (≥40 kg) dose
200–400 mg — Every 6–8 hours with food (max 400 mg per dose, 1200 mg per day).
Up to 2.4 g/day on prescription for inflammatory pain.
Other names and brands
- India: Brufen, Ibugesic
- UK: Nurofen for Children
- USA: Motrin, Advil
Brand examples only — products and strengths vary by country. Always check the label.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ibuprofen dose for children?
Fever or mild–moderate pain: 5–10 mg/kg/dose · every 6–8 hours with food if needed · max 400 mg/dose, 1200 mg/day. Usual duration: Shortest course needed. Always use the child's measured weight and check the strength on the bottle.
How many mL of suspension 100 mg/5 mL for an 11.8 kg child?
For fever or mild–moderate pain, an 11.8 kg child (about 2 years) needs 118 mg per dose — 5.9 mL of Suspension 100 mg/5 mL, every 6–8 hours with food if needed. Recalculate with the child's actual weight.
From what age can ibuprofen be given?
Age range in PediaRx: ≥3 months (≥5 kg) – adult. The calculator does not calculate a dose below 3 months. Each indication can have its own age and weight limits, shown with its regimen.
Is ibuprofen safe in pregnancy?
Legacy FDA category C. Avoid from 20 weeks' gestation (fetal renal dysfunction and oligohydramnios) and in the third trimester (premature closure of the ductus arteriosus). Prefer paracetamol.
Sources and editorial process
- BNF for Children — Ibuprofen — NICE / BMJ Group / Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Ibuprofen oral suspension — US prescribing information — DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later (2020) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Dosing data last updated 2026-09-27. PediaRx is built and maintained by Dr. Shounak Pal, MBBS (Medical Officer, Government of West Bengal, India — founder and developer of PediaRx). Every regimen is encoded with explicit units, maximum doses and age/weight limits and is checked by automated tests before publication. Report an error: hello@pediarx.com.
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Clinical disclaimer: reference tool for qualified health professionals. Verify every dose against current guidance and the product label before prescribing.
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