How much water should I use for wudu?

Use only as much water as you need to wet each part properly, ideally around half a litre to a litre. The Prophet ﷺ made wudu with about one mudd of water, roughly two-thirds of a litre. Wasting water is disliked, even at a running tap.

The Prophet's example

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet ﷺ made wudu with one mudd and took a full bath with one sa' up to five mudds (Sahih al-Bukhari 201). A mudd is the amount that fills two cupped hands of an average man, about 0.6–0.75 litres. A sa' is four mudds, around 2.5–3 litres. So a whole ghusl used less water than a short modern shower. See How do I do ghusl?

This wasn't a strict limit. Scholars agree that the minimum is simply enough water to flow over each part that must be washed. If you need a little more to make sure it reaches everywhere, that's fine.

Wasting water is disliked

Islam teaches moderation in everything, including worship:

وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ "...and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess." Quran 7:31

Scholars of all four schools say using more water than needed in wudu is disliked (makruh). A well-known narration also says that washing each part more than three times goes beyond the Sunnah. Three washes is the full sunnah; once is enough for a valid wudu.

Practical ways to use less

Turn the tap down to a gentle flow, or off between steps.
Use a jug or cup instead of letting the tap run.
Wipe over your socks instead of washing your feet when you can.
Rub as you wash, so a little water spreads further.

These tips also help at work or school, where you don't want to flood the sink. See How do I make wudu in a school bathroom?

Worried you didn't use enough?

Some people keep washing again and again because they doubt whether the water reached everywhere. That's often waswas (intrusive doubt). The rule is: once you've washed each part, move on. If a spot was clearly left dry, wash just that spot. See What is waswas and how do I deal with it?

Key points

The Prophet ﷺ used about one mudd (around 0.6–0.75 litres) for wudu.
Any amount that wets each part fully is valid.
Wasting water in wudu is disliked, even when water is plentiful.
Wash each part once to three times, no more.

Tip: Try a fun experiment: make wudu once with a 750 ml bottle instead of the tap. You'll see it's more than enough, and you'll never look at a running tap the same way again.

How much water should I use for wudu?

The Prophet's example

Wasting water is disliked

Practical ways to use less

Worried you didn't use enough?

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