Ace the Palmer PNLE Exam 2026 – Unleash Your Nursing Superpowers!

Normal urine output shows the kidneys are filtering and circulating enough fluid through the body. For adults, a standard guideline is about 0.5 mL of urine per kilogram of body weight per hour. That translates to roughly 30–60 mL per hour for many adults; for example, a 70 kg person would aim for about 35 mL per hour.

This rate helps gauge fluid status and kidney perfusion. If output falls well below 0.5 mL/kg/hr, it can indicate poor kidney perfusion from dehydration, bleeding, or shock. If output rises above this level, it can occur with diuretics, diabetes insipidus, or increased fluid intake, among other causes. Values can vary with individual factors, but 0.5 mL/kg/hr is the standard benchmark used in practice.