Osmolarity Calculator

2×Na + glu/18 + BUN/2.8 (+ EtOH/4.6). Click any i for detail.

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Chem 7 (US units)

Sodium (mmol/L)
i
Na

Serum sodium.

Glucose (mg/dL)
i
Glucose

Serum glucose in mg/dL.

BUN (mg/dL)
i
BUN

Blood urea nitrogen, not urea in mmol/L.

Ethanol (mg/dL)
i
EtOH

Optional. 0 if none.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter sodium, glucose, and BUN in US units shown.
  2. Add ethanol mg/dL if relevant, else leave 0.
  3. Read calculated osmolarity in mOsm/L.
  4. Compare to lab osmolality separately for gap math.

Results explained

Textbook calculated osm from Chem 7 values. SI glucose/urea units need conversion first. Osmolal gap needs measured osmolality.

Quick reference: calculated osm

Na is doubled; glucose and BUN use US divisors.

ItemDetail
Sodium2 × Na mmol/L
Glucosemg/dL ÷ 18
BUNmg/dL ÷ 2.8
Ethanolmg/dL ÷ 4.6 when present

Toxic alcohols need measured osmolality, not this sum alone.

How the estimate is built

Osm ≈ 2Na + glu/18 + BUN/2.8 + EtOH/4.6.

Example scenario

Na 140, glu 100, BUN 14 → about 290 mOsm/L.

FAQ

What is an osmolal gap?

Measured osmolality minus calculated osm. This page only calculates the second term.

Can I paste mmol/L glucose?

Not directly. Convert units to the US fields this page expects.

Does this diagnose diabetes?

No. It is arithmetic on labs you enter.