Conversion and Dilution for Fertilizers & Pesticides

Table of Equivalents for Measuring Liquids

  • 3 teaspoons or 1/2 fluid ounce = 1 tablespoon
  • 2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce
  • 16 tablespoons = 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup = 1/2 pint
  • 16 fluid ounces = 2 cups = 1 pint
  • 1 pt of formulation/100 gal = 1 teaspoon/gal

Practical Dilution Chart for Preparing Less than 100 Gallons of Insecticide Spray

  Gallons of Finished Spray*
  100 gal 25 gal 1 gal
Amount of EC or other liquid formulation to be used 1/2 pt (1 cup) 2 fl oz (4 Tbsp) 1/2 tsp
  1 pt 4 fl oz (8 Tbsp) 1 tsp
  1 qt 1/2 pt (1 cup) 2 Tsp
  1 gal 1 qt 2 1/2 Tbsp
Amount of WP or other powder formulation to be used 1 lb 1/4 lb (4 oz) 1/6 oz (5 g)
  2 lb 1/2 lb 1/3 oz (10 g)
  3 lb 3/4 lb 1/2 oz (14 g)
  4 lb 1 lb 2/3 oz (20 g)

*NOTE: The number of pints/100 is the same as the number of fluid ounces required in 6 1/4 gals.

Amounts of a Commercial Product (Formulation) Needed to Provide Various Amounts of Actual Pesticide per 100 Gallons or per Acre

  Pounds of actual pesticide wanted per 100 gallons
Commercial Products (lbs of pesticide per gal of formulated material) 1/2 lb 1 lb 3 lb 5 lb
1.5 EC (1 1/2 lb per gal) 1 1/3 qt 2 2/3 qt 2 gal 3 1/3 gal
2 EC (2 lb per gal) 1 qt 2 qt 1 1/2 gal 2 1/2 gal
4 EC (4 lb per gal) 1 pt 1 qt 3 qt 5 qt
6 EC (6 lb per gal) 2/3 pt 1 1/3 pt 1 1/2 qt 2 1/2 qt
8 EC (8 lb per gal) 1/2 pt 1 pt 1 1/2 qt 2 1/2 qt
15 WP 3 1/3 lb 6 2/3 lb 20 lb 33 1/3 lb
25 WP 2 lb 4 lb 12 lb 20 lb
40 WP 1 1/4 lb 2 1/2 lb 7 1/2 lb 12 1/2 lb
1% dust/granules 50 lb 100 lb 300 lb 500 lb
1 1/2% dust/granules 33 lb 67 lb 200 lb 333 lb
2 1/2% dust/granules 20 lb

40 lb

120 lb 200 lb
5% dust/granules 10 lb 20 lb 60 lb 100 lb

EC = emulsifiable concentrate (liquid) WP = wettable powder

Use of Tablespoons (Dry materials only)

The number of tablespoons per ounce, or cups per pound, of dry insecticides and fungicides varies greatly with different products because some materials are light and fluffy; others compact and heavy. In general, there are from 2 to 6 level tablespoons per ounce of these dry materials.

When a material is to be used repeatedly, it is much better to weigh out the amount needed and place it in some convenient container which can be easily marked. If this cannot be done, it is usually safe to assume that 1 lb per 100 gal is equal to 1 level Tbsp/gal. (For example, Sevin - 2 lb/100 gal = 2 Tbsp/gal.)

Area Conversion

Amount per acre ÷ 44 (or 43.5) = amount needed per 1,000 sq ft