Short answer

Units = dose mg ÷ concentration (mg/mL) × 100 on a U-100 syringe, where concentration = vial mg ÷ water mL. Example: a 10 mg vial in 2 mL is 5 mg/mL, so 2 mg is 0.4 mL, or 40 units. Results round to 0.5 U and show the raw value. Arithmetic as of Oct 19, 2026; not dosing advice.

Units on U-100
40 U (raw 40)
Volume
0.4 mL
Concentration
5 mg/mL
Draws per vial
5
Vial of 10 mg in 2 mL (5 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.05 mg). Syringe drawn to 40 units of 100; nearest printed mark 40 units.123mL10 mg+ 2 mL water= 5 mg/mL5 draws00100.5201301.5402502.5603703.5804904.51005Umg2832364044485240
Vial of 10 mg in 2 mL (5 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.05 mg). Syringe drawn to 40 units of 100; nearest printed mark 40 units.123mL10 mg+ 2 mL water= 5 mg/mL5 draws0010201304025060370804901005Umg2832364044485240

Lands exactly on a printed mark: 40 U.

1 unit = 0.05 mg · 10 units = 0.5 mg at 5 mg/mL.

Drag the plunger, or focus the diagram and use the arrow keys, to set the amount by syringe mark.

Water volumes that put 2 mg exactly on a printed mark of this syringe:

Syringe filled to 40 of 100 units 0102030405060708090100 40 U
U-100 scale: 100 units = 1 mL, so 1 unit = 0.01 mL. Units round to the nearest 0.5 U.

10 mg ÷ 2 mL = 5 mg/mL. 2 mg ÷ 5 mg/mL = 0.4 mL × 100 = 40 U.

Math, parameters and sources: model card.

From vial to syringe: the default example (10 mg vial, 2 mL water, 2 mg) in three steps
  1. Vial and water

    10 mg + 2 mL

    The mg in the vial never changes; water only sets how spread out it is.

  2. Concentration

    10 ÷ 2 = 5 mg/mL

    Milligrams in every milliliter of solution.

  3. Units on a U-100 syringe

    2 mg ÷ 5 = 0.4 mL = 40 U

    100 units = 1 mL, so units = mL × 100 (rounded to 0.5 U).

Lookup matrix

Pre-calculated U-100 readings for common vial sizes and water volumes. Every cell uses the same formula as the calculator. Retatrutide is investigational; these are arithmetic tables, not preparation or administration instructions.

5 mg vial: U-100 units to draw for each dose (1 mL = 5 mg/mL; 2 mL = 2.5 mg/mL; 3 mL = 1.667 mg/mL)
Dose1 mL water5 mg/mL2 mL water2.5 mg/mL3 mL water1.667 mg/mL
0.25 mg 5 U10 U15 U
0.5 mg 10 U20 U30 U
1 mg 20 U40 U60 U
2 mg 40 U80 U—
2.5 mg 50 U100 U—
4 mg 80 U——
5 mg 100 U——
6 mg ———
8 mg ———
9 mg ———
10 mg ———
12 mg ———
10 mg vial: U-100 units to draw for each dose (1 mL = 10 mg/mL; 2 mL = 5 mg/mL; 3 mL = 3.333 mg/mL)
Dose1 mL water10 mg/mL2 mL water5 mg/mL3 mL water3.333 mg/mL
0.25 mg 2.5 U5 U7.5 U
0.5 mg 5 U10 U15 U
1 mg 10 U20 U30 U
2 mg 20 U40 U60 U
2.5 mg 25 U50 U75 U
4 mg 40 U80 U—
5 mg 50 U100 U—
6 mg 60 U——
8 mg 80 U——
9 mg 90 U——
10 mg 100 U——
12 mg ———
15 mg vial: U-100 units to draw for each dose (1 mL = 15 mg/mL; 2 mL = 7.5 mg/mL; 3 mL = 5 mg/mL)
Dose1 mL water15 mg/mL2 mL water7.5 mg/mL3 mL water5 mg/mL
0.25 mg 1.5 U (raw 1.67)3.5 U (raw 3.33)5 U
0.5 mg 3.5 U (raw 3.33)6.5 U (raw 6.67)10 U
1 mg 6.5 U (raw 6.67)13.5 U (raw 13.33)20 U
2 mg 13.5 U (raw 13.33)26.5 U (raw 26.67)40 U
2.5 mg 16.5 U (raw 16.67)33.5 U (raw 33.33)50 U
4 mg 26.5 U (raw 26.67)53.5 U (raw 53.33)80 U
5 mg 33.5 U (raw 33.33)66.5 U (raw 66.67)100 U
6 mg 40 U80 U—
8 mg 53.5 U (raw 53.33)——
9 mg 60 U——
10 mg 66.5 U (raw 66.67)——
12 mg 80 U——
20 mg vial: U-100 units to draw for each dose (1 mL = 20 mg/mL; 2 mL = 10 mg/mL; 3 mL = 6.667 mg/mL)
Dose1 mL water20 mg/mL2 mL water10 mg/mL3 mL water6.667 mg/mL
0.25 mg 1.5 U (raw 1.25)2.5 U4 U (raw 3.75)
0.5 mg 2.5 U5 U7.5 U
1 mg 5 U10 U15 U
2 mg 10 U20 U30 U
2.5 mg 12.5 U25 U37.5 U
4 mg 20 U40 U60 U
5 mg 25 U50 U75 U
6 mg 30 U60 U90 U
8 mg 40 U80 U—
9 mg 45 U90 U—
10 mg 50 U100 U—
12 mg 60 U——
30 mg vial: U-100 units to draw for each dose (1 mL = 30 mg/mL; 2 mL = 15 mg/mL; 3 mL = 10 mg/mL)
Dose1 mL water30 mg/mL2 mL water15 mg/mL3 mL water10 mg/mL
0.25 mg 1 U (raw 0.83)1.5 U (raw 1.67)2.5 U
0.5 mg 1.5 U (raw 1.67)3.5 U (raw 3.33)5 U
1 mg 3.5 U (raw 3.33)6.5 U (raw 6.67)10 U
2 mg 6.5 U (raw 6.67)13.5 U (raw 13.33)20 U
2.5 mg 8.5 U (raw 8.33)16.5 U (raw 16.67)25 U
4 mg 13.5 U (raw 13.33)26.5 U (raw 26.67)40 U
5 mg 16.5 U (raw 16.67)33.5 U (raw 33.33)50 U
6 mg 20 U40 U60 U
8 mg 26.5 U (raw 26.67)53.5 U (raw 53.33)80 U
9 mg 30 U60 U90 U
10 mg 33.5 U (raw 33.33)66.5 U (raw 66.67)100 U
12 mg 40 U80 U—
40 mg vial: U-100 units to draw for each dose (1 mL = 40 mg/mL; 2 mL = 20 mg/mL; 3 mL = 13.333 mg/mL)
Dose1 mL water40 mg/mL2 mL water20 mg/mL3 mL water13.333 mg/mL
0.25 mg 0.5 U (raw 0.63)1.5 U (raw 1.25)2 U (raw 1.88)
0.5 mg 1.5 U (raw 1.25)2.5 U4 U (raw 3.75)
1 mg 2.5 U5 U7.5 U
2 mg 5 U10 U15 U
2.5 mg 6.5 U (raw 6.25)12.5 U19 U (raw 18.75)
4 mg 10 U20 U30 U
5 mg 12.5 U25 U37.5 U
6 mg 15 U30 U45 U
8 mg 20 U40 U60 U
9 mg 22.5 U45 U67.5 U
10 mg 25 U50 U75 U
12 mg 30 U60 U90 U
60 mg vial: U-100 units to draw for each dose (1 mL = 60 mg/mL; 2 mL = 30 mg/mL; 3 mL = 20 mg/mL)
Dose1 mL water60 mg/mL2 mL water30 mg/mL3 mL water20 mg/mL
0.25 mg 0.5 U (raw 0.42)1 U (raw 0.83)1.5 U (raw 1.25)
0.5 mg 1 U (raw 0.83)1.5 U (raw 1.67)2.5 U
1 mg 1.5 U (raw 1.67)3.5 U (raw 3.33)5 U
2 mg 3.5 U (raw 3.33)6.5 U (raw 6.67)10 U
2.5 mg 4 U (raw 4.17)8.5 U (raw 8.33)12.5 U
4 mg 6.5 U (raw 6.67)13.5 U (raw 13.33)20 U
5 mg 8.5 U (raw 8.33)16.5 U (raw 16.67)25 U
6 mg 10 U20 U30 U
8 mg 13.5 U (raw 13.33)26.5 U (raw 26.67)40 U
9 mg 15 U30 U45 U
10 mg 16.5 U (raw 16.67)33.5 U (raw 33.33)50 U
12 mg 20 U40 U60 U

Units = dose mg ÷ (vial mg ÷ water mL) × 100, rounded to the nearest 0.5 U; the raw value is shown in brackets when rounding changed it. A dash means the draw would exceed a 100-unit syringe or the vial. Arithmetic only; not dosing advice.

Rounding, syringe size and dead space

Results round to the nearest 0.5 unit because U-100 syringes are marked in 1-unit (30 and 50 U) or 2-unit (100 U) steps; the raw value is always shown next to the rounded one. The calculator warns when a draw exceeds the chosen syringe or falls under 2 units, where a half-unit reading error is 25% or more of the amount. Dead space (liquid held in the hub and needle) does not change the units for one draw, but it lowers how many draws a vial yields.

Frequently asked questions

How many units is 2 mg of retatrutide?

It depends on the concentration. At 5 mg/mL (10 mg in 2 mL), 2 mg is 0.4 mL = 40 units; at 10 mg/mL (10 mg in 1 mL) it is 20 units. Units = mg ÷ (mg/mL) × 100.

What does U-100 mean?

A U-100 insulin syringe is marked so that 100 units equal 1 mL. One unit is therefore 0.01 mL. The unit marks measure volume only; how many mg a unit holds depends entirely on the concentration of the solution.

Why does the calculator warn under 2 units?

Small volumes are hard to read on a syringe scale. Below about 2 units, a half-unit reading error is 25% or more of the dose, so the tool flags it. A more dilute concentration gives a larger, easier-to-read volume for the same mg.

What is dead space?

Dead space is liquid left in the syringe hub and needle after a draw. It does not change the units for a dose but reduces how many draws a vial yields. Enter it in units to see the adjusted doses per vial.

Is retatrutide FDA approved?

No. As of Oct 19, 2026 retatrutide is investigational. Lilly reported Phase 3 results in 2026 and said it plans to submit to the FDA in the first quarter of 2027. It is legally available only to participants in Lilly clinical trials.

Sources

  1. Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered powerful weight loss in pivotal Phase 3 obesity trial. Eli Lilly and Company (via PR Newswire; also investor.lilly.com), May 21, 2026. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  2. Retatrutide, a Triple Hormone Receptor Agonist, for Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med (abstract via PubMed PMID 42814954; doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2604169), Sep 29, 2026. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  3. LY3437943, a novel triple GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptor agonist in people with type 2 diabetes: a phase 1b, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, multiple-ascending dose trial. The Lancet 2022;400(10366):1869-1881 (abstract via PubMed PMID 36354040; doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02033-5), Oct 27, 2022. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  4. Study Protocol J1I-MC-GZBF(b) for NCT04881760 (Prot_000.pdf). Eli Lilly and Company, hosted on ClinicalTrials.gov, Aug 29, 2022. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.