Here’s How Much Water You Actually Need to Hydrate Properly in the New Year

Our wellness advice is expert-vetted. Our top picks are based on our editors’ independent research, analysis, and hands-on testing. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.Reviews ethics statement Nasha is a Managing Editor for CNET, overseeing our sleep and wellness verticals. She is a nutrition, mental health, fitness and sleep science enthusiast. Her passion for mindful and holistic practices transcends her personal life and profoundly influences her editorial approach, as she weaves evidence-based insights with practical advice to inspire readers to lead healthier, more balanced lives. Throughout her career, she's covered various topics including financial services, technology, travel and wellness. ExpertiseSleep | Mental health | Personal Care | Fitness | Nutrition | Medical | Wellness | Vitamins and Supplements | Vision Health | LongevityCredentials Sleep Science Coach Certification from The Spencer Institute. Dr. Omar Al-Heeti is an assistant professor of medicine at Southern Illinois University and practices internal medicine with a specialty in infectious diseases. He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois. His research and professional interests include viral infections in the immunocompromised, medical education and global medicine. Dr. Al-Heeti is the brother of CNET video producer Abrar Al-Heeti. ExpertiseInfectious diseases | Viral infections | Immunocompromised | Medical education | Global medicineEducation University of Illinois at Chicago, Doctor of Medicine University of Illinois at Chicago, Medical Residency Drinking eight glasses of water a day might not be enough for you. Getty Images As 2026 is rapidly approaching and you're considering your New Year's resolutions, don't overlook your hydration goals in favor of fitness or nutrition. Although the blazing summer sun and higher temperatures may prompt you to reach for your water bottle more often, it's still essential to ensure you're adequately hydrating your body in the winter -- and not simply by following the "8-by-8 rule," which involves drinking eight 8-oz glasses of water per day. Zooey Liao/CNET "The 8-by-8 rule can be a bit oversimplified for some," says Renee Fitton, registered dietitian and director of education at nutrition technology company L-Nutra. While it isn't necessarily dangerous, you should still determine exactly how much water you should drink each day. To help, Fitton provides the following advice. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. How much water should you drink per day? Fitton says various factors affect the amount of water one needs daily, including body size, medications, gender, physical activity, climate, health status and altitude. Most of us are also familiar with the old adage: Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. The 8-by-8 rule advises us to drink 64 ounces (approximately 1.9 liters) of water daily. Many of us have blindly followed this advice for our entire lives, without knowing its origin or the rationale behind the recommendation. Water is essential, so make sure you're consuming enough of it. Getty Images Apparently, the 8-by-8 rule came out of a void, because there's no scientific evidence to back it up. It's...

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