Off Grid Collective
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Off-Grid Daily Water Usage Calculator

Estimate your household's daily water needs and size your storage tank for off-grid living.

New to off-grid? Start with our 3-question path finder for a personalized off-grid guide.

Household Size

Number of people and toilet type determine your baseline water demand.

2 people
1 person10 people
Usage Categories (per person/day)

Adjust the per-person daily usage for each category to match your actual habits.

1.3 gal/person
gal
11.9 gal/person
gal
3.4 gal/person
gal
10.6 gal/person (fixed)

Enable composting toilet above to eliminate this usage.

0 gal/day
gal

Calculation Assumptions

  • Per-person daily figures are for off-grid contexts — significantly lower than typical grid-connected households (which average 150–300 L/person/day in developed countries).
  • Default hygiene (45 L/person/day) covers hand washing (~15 L) and a daily off-grid shower (~30 L with a low-flow pump). Adjust lower for navy-style showers or less frequent bathing.
  • Composting toilets eliminate toilet flush water entirely. They require periodic carbon addition (sawdust, wood chips) and appropriate climate or ventilation for proper decomposition.
  • Recommended tank size = 30-day usage × 1.2 safety factor. Size for your driest season, especially if rainwater is your primary source.
  • Livestock figures are for total herd, not per animal. Common benchmarks: chickens ~0.5 L/head, goats ~5 L/head, pigs ~8 L/head, cattle ~50 L/head.

Usage Summary

Updates live as you adjust inputs.

Daily Total

54.4gal/day

27.2 gal/person/day (excl. livestock) · 2 people

Monthly Total

1,633gal/mo

30-Day Storage Tank

1,959gal

30-day supply × 1.2× safety factor

Daily Breakdown

Drinking & Cooking
2.6 gal(5%)
Personal Hygiene
23.8 gal(44%)
Laundry
6.9 gal(13%)
Toilet
21.1 gal(39%)