Peptide LibraryHow many mL is 20 units on an insulin syringe?
20 units is 0.2 mL on a U-100 insulin syringe and 0.5 mL on a U-40 syringe. At 5 mg/mL (a 10 mg vial mixed with 2 mL), 20 units on a U-100 syringe holds 1 mg.
For research use only. Not medical advice. This page converts an amount; it does not recommend one.
What 20 U-100 units holds at common concentrations
| Vial and water | Concentration | Amount in that volume |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mg in 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 0.5 mg (500 mcg) |
| 10 mg in 3 mL | 3.33 mg/mL | 0.667 mg (667 mcg) |
| 10 mg in 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 1 mg (1,000 mcg) |
| 15 mg in 2 mL | 7.5 mg/mL | 1.5 mg (1,500 mcg) |
| 10 mg in 1 mL | 10 mg/mL | 2 mg (2,000 mcg) |
Concentration is the mg in the vial divided by the mL of water added. Units measure volume: 100 units fill 1 mL on a U-100 syringe.
Convert another amount
At 5 mg/mL on a U-100 syringe.
Draw 0.50 mL (≈ 50 units on a 0.5 mL syringe)
Common questions
Do insulin syringe units depend on the peptide?
No. Units are marks of volume: on a U-100 syringe, 100 units fill 1 mL. What changes between peptides is the concentration of the solution, which is the mg in the vial divided by the mL of water added.
What if my syringe is U-40?
A U-40 syringe has 40 marks per mL, so the same volume reads as 2.5 times fewer units. Read the scale printed on the syringe and use the matching column.