Maple Syrup Calculator: How Much Sap Do You Need?
Maple syrup calculator: enter your sap's sugar content (Brix) and the syrup you want to see how many gallons of sap to collect, from the revised Jones Rule.
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At 2 percent sugar (2 Brix), you need about 43 gallons of sap for each gallon of syrup. Utah State University Extension's revised Jones Rule gives the figure: 87.1 divided by the Brix reading, minus 0.32. Sweeter sap needs less; thin early or late-season sap needs more.
Enter your refractometer reading and how much syrup you want.
How much sap for your syrup?
Read with a refractometer; maple sap is often around 2
Sap to collect
43 gal
43.2 gallons of sap per gallon of syrup
Water to boil off
42 gal
Sap in minus syrup out
Utah State University Extension's revised Jones Rule: gallons of sap per gallon of syrup = 87.1 / Brix - 0.32, using the sap's sugar content from a Brix refractometer. University of Maine Extension's rule of thumb is 10 to 15 gallons of sap per quart of syrup (40 to 60 gallons per gallon). Finish syrup at 7.1 degrees F above the boiling point of water, which changes with elevation and weather.
The formula
Utah State University Extension: gallons of sap per gallon of syrup = 87.1 / Brix - 0.32, with Brix measured on a refractometer. University of Maine Extension's rough rule is 10 to 15 gallons of sap per quart of syrup, which is 40 to 60 gallons per gallon.
| Sap Brix | Sap per gallon of syrup |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | 57.7 gal |
| 2.0 | 43.2 gal |
| 2.5 | 34.5 gal |
| 3.0 | 28.7 gal |
Finishing
University of Maine Extension finishes syrup at 66 to 69 percent sugar, which is 7.1 degrees F above the boiling point of water; that boiling point changes with elevation and weather, so check it each day. Steps: how to make maple syrup.
Gear: tapping kits, evaporator pans. Tapping rules: how to tap maple trees.
Frequently asked questions
How much sap does it take to make a gallon of maple syrup?
About 43 gallons at 2 Brix by the revised Jones Rule (87.1 / Brix - 0.32); University of Maine's rule of thumb is 40 to 60 gallons.
What is the Jones Rule for maple syrup?
A formula for sap needed per gallon of syrup; Utah State's revised version is 87.1 divided by the sap's Brix, minus 0.32.
What is Brix?
Sugar content as a percentage, read with a Brix refractometer, per Utah State University Extension.
At what temperature is maple syrup done?
7.1 degrees F above the boiling point of water, per University of Maine Extension, which varies with elevation and barometric pressure.
How much syrup does one tap make?
It varies with the tree and season; measure your sap's Brix and use the calculator to turn gallons of sap into syrup.
Sources
- Maple Sap Collection and Sap Processing Systems (Utah Forest Facts 044), Utah State University Extension
- Bulletin #7036, How to Tap Maple Trees and Make Maple Syrup, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Related guides
Best Maple Syrup Evaporator Pans for Backyard Sugaring (2026)
Stainless boiling pans for a hobby sugarbush, sized by capacity.
Best Maple Tree Tapping Kits for Beginners (2026)
5/16 inch spouts, drops and filters to tap your first maples.
How to Make Maple Syrup at Home: Boiling and Finishing
From buckets of sap to bottled syrup, with the finishing temperature that matters.