Insulin syringe sizes chart
The American Diabetes Association lists 1 mL, 0.5 mL and 0.3 mL as the most common sizes, holding up to 100, 50 and 30 units of U-100 insulin.[1] Most insulin syringes are made for U-100 insulin.[4]
| Barrel | Holds | One line equals | Volume per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 mL | 30 units | 1 unit, or ½ unit on some | 0.01 mL |
| 0.5 mL | 50 units | 1 unit | 0.01 mL |
| 1 mL | 100 units | 1 unit or 2 units, by model | 0.01 mL |
The line spacing comes from embecta's specification sheet: 0.3 mL and 0.5 mL syringes are made with 1-unit or ½-unit marks, and 1 mL syringes with 1-unit or 2-unit marks. In its product list, the ½-unit scale appears on 0.3 mL U-100 syringes.[2][3]
0.3 mL and 0.5 mL insulin syringes
A 0.3 mL insulin syringe holds 30 units and a 0.5 mL insulin syringe holds 50 units of U-100 insulin; both read 0.01 mL per unit.[1] The 0.3 mL barrel is the one made with ½-unit marks as well as 1-unit marks.[2]
Count before you measureTwo 1 mL syringes can look alike yet have different line values. Find two numbered lines, count the lines between them, and work out what one line is worth on the syringe in your hand.
The same dose on each size
0.3 mL · 30 units · 1-unit marks
0.5 mL · 50 units · 1-unit marks
1 mL · 100 units · 2-unit marks
Ten units is always 0.1 mL on a U-100 syringe, whatever the barrel size. What changes is how much of the barrel it fills and how many lines you count to reach it. The largest of the three, the 1 mL barrel, has its own guide: 100 unit insulin syringe. For what makes a syringe an insulin syringe at all, see insulin syringe; for general syringes from 1 to 50 mL, see the syringe sizes chart.
Needle length and gauge
embecta's U-100 insulin syringes come with one of five needles, given as length × gauge:[2]
| Length | Length in inches | Gauge |
|---|---|---|
| 12.7 mm | ½ in | 27G or 29G |
| 8 mm | – | 30G or 31G |
| 6 mm | – | 31G |
The 6 mm × 31G needle is the shortest syringe needle embecta offers.[3] embecta's injection guide states that a 6 mm insulin syringe (or a 4 mm pen needle) is the recommended length for all patients and all injection sites.[7] Which needle you use is a decision for your prescriber; the needle does not change the volume scale. Gauge diameters and lengths are compared in the needle gauge sizes chart.
Colour codes: U-100 and U-40
Under the ISO 8537 standard for insulin syringes, embecta covers the needle with an orange shield on U-100 syringes and a red shield on U-40 syringes.[2] BD's U-40 syringes for pets also have red scale marks, while its U-100 syringes have black marks.[5] Treat colour as a reminder only. Always read the “U-100” or “U-40” printed on the barrel and the box. See U-40 vs U-100 syringes.
U-40 and U-500 syringes
- U-40 syringes are scaled for 40 units per mL. BD's pet syringes come in 0.5 mL and 0.3 mL sizes with a 12.7 mm, 29-gauge needle.[5] On a U-40 scale those barrels hold 20 and 12 units.
- U-500: the dedicated U-500 syringe is a 0.5 mL syringe marked in 5-unit steps of U-500 insulin, up to 250 units, with a 6 mm × 31G needle.[6] See U-500 insulin syringe.
Which insulin syringe size holds your dose?
The barrel that holds a dose is the smallest one whose capacity is at least that many units: up to 30 units fits a 0.3 mL syringe, up to 50 a 0.5 mL, and up to 100 a 1 mL.[1] Your prescriber or pharmacist chooses the syringe; this table shows what fits.
| Dose | Volume | Smallest barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 8 units | 0.08 mL | 0.3 mL (30 units) |
| 25 units | 0.25 mL | 0.3 mL (30 units) |
| 30 units | 0.3 mL | 0.3 mL (30 units) |
| 35 units | 0.35 mL | 0.5 mL (50 units) |
| 50 units | 0.5 mL | 0.5 mL (50 units) |
| 65 units | 0.65 mL | 1 mL (100 units) |
| 100 units | 1 mL | 1 mL (100 units) |
Common insulin syringe reading mistakes
- Counting 2-unit lines as 1-unit lines on a 1 mL syringe halves the dose; count the lines between two numbers first.[2]
- Missing a ½-unit scale on a 0.3 mL syringe doubles the reading.
- Picking up a U-40 syringe for U-100 insulin; check the printed scale and shield colour (see U40 syringe).
- Reading the end of the rod instead of the plunger tip; see how to read an insulin syringe.
One syringe, one use
Insulin syringes are sterile, single-use devices.[2] The CDC's rule for injections is “One Needle, One Syringe, Only One Time”.[8] For safe disposal, see how to dispose of syringes.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes do insulin syringes come in?
The common sizes are 0.3 mL (30 units), 0.5 mL (50 units) and 1 mL (100 units) for U-100 insulin.
How many units does a 1 mL insulin syringe hold?
100 units of U-100 insulin. A 1 mL U-40 syringe holds 40 units of U-40 insulin.
Is each line on a 1 mL insulin syringe 1 unit or 2 units?
It depends on the model. 1 mL syringes are made with either 1-unit or 2-unit lines. Count the lines between two numbers on your own syringe.
Is a 1 mL syringe the same as 1 cc?
Yes. 1 mL and 1 cc are the same volume. See cc to mL.
How many units is a 0.5 mL insulin syringe?
50 units of U-100 insulin. Every unit is 0.01 mL, so 0.5 mL is the 50 mark.
What is a 30 unit insulin syringe?
The 0.3 mL insulin syringe on the U-100 scale. It holds up to 30 units and is made with 1-unit or ½-unit lines.
What are the diabetic syringe sizes?
Insulin syringes for diabetes come in 0.3 mL (30 units), 0.5 mL (50 units) and 1 mL (100 units) on the U-100 scale.
Sources
- 7. Diabetes technology: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022
- Technical data sheet: insulin syringes (Micro-Fine, Ultra-Fine)
- Insulin syringes with Ultra-Fine needle
- Giving an insulin injection
- BD extends longstanding expertise in diabetes management to benefit pets
- BD receives FDA clearance for new syringe designed for the administration of Humulin R U-500 insulin
- Injection technique guide: how to inject insulin with a syringe
- Preventing unsafe injection practices