Dilution
Diluting 5 gallons from 1.070 to 1.045
Add 2.78 gallons of water (11.1 quarts) to 5 gallons at 1.070 to reach 1.045, finishing with 7.78 gallons.
Dilution works on gravity points, not on the gravity reading itself: 70 points in 5 gallons is the same total sugar as 45 points in 7.78 gallons.
5 gallons at 1.070, diluted
| Target gravity | Water to add | Final volume | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.055 | 1.36 gal | 6.36 gal | Standard |
| 1.050 | 2 gal | 7 gal | Standard |
| 1.045 | 2.78 gal | 7.78 gal | Standard |
| 1.040 | 3.75 gal | 8.75 gal | Standard |
Rows marked Standard come from a published equation, constant or manufacturer specification. Rows marked Convention are widely repeated brewing practice with no governing document behind them. The difference matters, so this site labels it rather than blurring the two together.
Measuring and volume gear
Prices are those returned when this page was last built and change often.
Brewer's Elite Hydrometer and Test Jar
Triple scale hydrometer with a plastic test jar. Stable gravity on this instrument is the only real proof fermentation has finished.
SOLIGT Triple Scale Hydrometer with Glass Test Jar
Hydrometer reading ABV, Brix and specific gravity, supplied with a glass jar.
Fermtech Glass Triple Scale Hydrometer Kit
Triple scale glass hydrometer for beer, wine, mead and cider.
Fermentaholics Hydrometer Test Jar
Measuring cylinder for taking a gravity sample without dropping the hydrometer into the fermenter.
Brewing America Glass Hydrometer Test Jar with Brush
Narrow glass flask and cleaning brush, which reads more accurately than a wide vessel.
Northern Brewer MegaPot 10 Gallon (valve and thermometer)
Heavy stainless kettle with volume markings, a ball valve and a fitted thermometer, for propane or electric element brewing.
Northern Brewer MegaPot 10 Gallon (valve)
The same MegaPot body with a ball valve but no thermometer port fitted.
Concord 10 Gallon Brew Kettle (weldless fittings)
Forty quart stainless stock pot supplied with weldless valve and thermometer fittings.
Related on BrewGearCalc
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Frequently asked questions
- How much water dilutes 1.070 wort to 1.045?
- 2.78 gallons, taking 5 gallons up to 7.78 gallons total. The calculation balances gravity points: total points stay the same and the volume increases, so the reading falls in proportion.
- Should the dilution water be boiled first?
- Yes if you are adding it after the boil. Any water going into cooled wort or into the fermenter is a contamination route, so boil it and chill it, or use water you know to be sterile. Water added before or during the boil needs no separate treatment.
- Does diluting change anything besides gravity?
- It dilutes everything, not just sugar. Bitterness, colour and the mineral content of your water all fall by the same proportion. A beer diluted from 1.070 to 1.045 loses roughly the same percentage of its IBU, so a hop addition planned for the stronger wort will taste noticeably softer.
Researched from published brewing formulas, manufacturer specifications and verified owner reviews. This is general guidance, not professional advice.