Is a urine output of 914 liters in 9 hours normal?

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Last updated: January 11, 2026View editorial policy

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This is a Medical Emergency Requiring Immediate Evaluation

You cannot physically urinate 914 liters in 9 hours—this volume is physiologically impossible and represents either a critical measurement/documentation error or a life-threatening medical crisis if any substantial fraction of this is accurate.

Understanding the Impossibility

  • Normal 24-hour urine output ranges from 800-2000 mL (0.8-2 liters) per day in healthy adults 1, 2
  • The minimum acceptable urine output is approximately 0.5 mL/kg/hour, which equals roughly 840 mL/day for a 70 kg person 3, 1
  • Even severe polyuria (excessive urination) is defined as >3 liters per 24 hours 1
  • 914 liters would represent approximately 450 times the upper limit of normal daily output

Most Likely Explanations

1. Documentation or Measurement Error (Most Probable)

  • A case report documents how incorrect urinary volume input by laboratories can lead to catastrophic misinterpretation—in one case, 9750 mL was incorrectly entered instead of 975 mL 4
  • You likely urinated 914 milliliters (mL), not liters (L)—this would equal approximately 0.9 liters, which is completely normal for a 9-hour period
  • At 914 mL over 9 hours, this equals approximately 101 mL/hour, which is well within normal range 1, 2

2. If This Volume is Actually Accurate (Medical Emergency)

If you genuinely produced anywhere close to 914 liters, this would indicate:

  • Severe diabetes insipidus with complete inability to concentrate urine 5
  • Acute renal failure with massive fluid overload
  • Critical endocrine emergency requiring immediate hospitalization 5

Seek emergency medical care immediately if:

  • You are urinating continuously with large volumes
  • You have extreme thirst that cannot be satisfied
  • You are confused, weak, or experiencing altered mental status
  • You have consumed massive amounts of water (>10-15 liters) 5

What You Should Do

  1. Verify your measurement: Confirm whether you measured 914 mL (milliliters) versus 914 L (liters)
  2. If truly excessive urination: Seek emergency medical evaluation immediately
  3. If normal volume misreported: 914 mL over 9 hours is completely normal and requires no intervention 1, 2

References

Guideline

Normal Urine Output in Adults

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Guideline

Normal 24-Hour Urine Output in Healthy Adults

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Oliguria Definition and Clinical Significance

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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