Paracetamol dose for children by weight

Paracetamol is dosed by weight, not age: 10–15 mg per kilogram, no more often than every 4 hours and no more than 4 times in 24 hours. The calculator below converts that to millilitres of a specific syrup.

Last updated: 24 September 2026

Calculator

The rule behind it

• Single dose: 10–15 mg/kg; for fever the upper end (15 mg/kg) is usually used.
• Interval: at least 4 hours (leaflets: every 4–6 hours).
• Maximum: 4 doses in 24 hours and no more than 60 mg/kg per day.
• Do not combine with other products containing paracetamol (cold remedies, suppositories plus syrup).

Millilitres depend on the strength

The most common mistake: the same brand sells a regular and a Forte version with up to four times the concentration. A 15 kg child gets 225 mg, which is about 9.5 ml of a 120 mg/5 ml syrup but only 5.5 ml of a 40 mg/ml one. Write down which bottle you used, not just "paracetamol".

When is the next dose allowed?

Babies

Paracetamol can be used from birth, but any fever in a baby under 3 months needs a doctor before you give anything. Under 5 kg the doctor sets the dose individually.

Don't want to calculate and write this down every time?
Oh Fever does it from your child's profile and the product you use: it converts the leaflet dose to weight, counts down to the next dose and watches the daily limit — on iPhone and Apple Watch. Free for one child.

Download on the App Store

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