The 4:1 recipe, scaled
Hummingbird nectar calculator
Enter your feeder's capacity and get the exact sugar and water amounts for the classic 4-parts-water, 1-part-sugar recipe — no math at the stove.
Plain white sugar
½ cup
Water
2 cups
How to make it
- Measure. Use the amounts above — 4 parts water to 1 part plain white granulated sugar.
- Dissolve. Bring the water briefly to a boil, take it off the heat, and stir in the sugar until the liquid turns clear.
- Cool completely. Hot nectar can damage feeders and hurt birds — room temperature before filling, always.
- Fill and store. Fill a clean feeder; refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to a week.
Three never-evers: never red dye (the feeder's red parts do the attracting), never honey (it ferments and grows a fungus dangerous to hummingbirds), and never brown, raw, or powdered sugar (excess iron and additives). Plain white granulated sugar only.
Mixing is half the job — the other half is the wash. See how to clean a hummingbird feeder (short version: hot water and a bottle brush at every refill).
Feeding orioles too? Mix it weaker
Orioles take sugar water at 6:1 — six parts water to one part sugar — because most of their sugar comes from fruit and jelly. Switch the calculator above to the oriole setting for the amounts, and see the oriole feeding guide for the full jelly-and-oranges setup.
Nectar questions, answered
What is the correct ratio for hummingbird nectar?
4 parts water to 1 part plain white granulated sugar — for example, 1 cup of sugar dissolved in 4 cups of water. This roughly matches the sugar concentration of the wildflower nectar hummingbirds evolved on.
Do I need to boil the water?
Boiling isn't strictly required, but it helps the sugar dissolve, drives off chlorine, and slows spoilage slightly. Bring the water to a brief boil, stir in the sugar, and let the mixture cool completely before filling the feeder.
Should I add red dye?
Never. Red dye is unnecessary — the red parts on the feeder itself are what attract the birds — and it may be harmful. Skip food coloring entirely, and skip pre-made red nectar too.
Can I use honey, brown sugar, or artificial sweetener?
No. Honey ferments quickly and promotes a fungus that can be fatal to hummingbirds. Brown sugar, raw sugar, and turbinado contain iron levels hummingbirds can't handle, and artificial sweeteners offer zero calories to a bird that needs them desperately. Plain white granulated sugar only.
How often should I change the nectar?
Every 4–5 days in mild weather, every 2 days when highs pass 80°F, and daily in extreme heat. If the liquid turns cloudy or you see black mold, wash the feeder with hot water and a bottle brush (a dilute vinegar soak works well) before refilling.
How long does homemade nectar keep in the fridge?
Up to one week in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Making a bigger batch and refrigerating the extra is the easiest way to keep up with busy late-summer feeders.
What ratio do orioles need?
6 parts water to 1 part sugar — weaker than the hummingbird mix. Orioles get most of their sugar from fruit and jelly, so their nectar is a lighter supplement. Use the 'Orioles — 6:1' setting in the calculator above, and serve it in an oriole feeder with larger perches.
Can I make the nectar stronger in cold weather?
A slightly richer 3:1 mix is sometimes used during cold snaps and migration to pack more calories per visit, and it won't harm the birds short-term. But 4:1 is the year-round standard — stronger mixes are harder to digest and can promote dehydration in hot weather.
Now — when should that feeder go up? Timing depends on your state's migration schedule.
Find your state's dates