Fitra Calculator — Free Online Sadaqat al-Fitr Estimator

How to Use the Fitra Calculator

1. Enter your family size: Input the total number of people in your household for whom you are financially responsible. This includes yourself, your spouse, all children (including infants born before sunset on the last day of Ramadan), elderly parents under your care, and any other dependents. Each person counts as one Fitra unit. For example, a family with two adults and three children would enter 5.
2. Select a staple food type: Choose the type of staple food you want to base your Fitra on from the dropdown menu. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned wheat, barley, dates, and raisins. Rice is widely accepted as a modern equivalent, especially in regions where it is the primary dietary staple. The choice of food affects the total cost, as dates and raisins are typically more expensive than wheat or rice.
3. Adjust the price per kilogram: The calculator provides approximate default prices for each food type, but local prices vary significantly by region and season. Visit your local grocery store or market to find the current price of your chosen staple and enter it for the most accurate calculation. Prices tend to increase during Ramadan due to higher demand.
4. Review per-person and total amounts: The results panel shows the Fitra amount per person (based on 2.5 kg of the selected food), the total Fitra for your entire family, and the total weight of food to be distributed. You can use the monetary amount to either purchase the food for direct distribution or donate cash to a qualified organization that will distribute food on your behalf.

Adjust the values to compare costs across different staple foods and find the option that best serves both your budget and the needs of recipients in your community.

Fitra Formula and How It Works

Variables Explained

• Sa (Prophetic Measure): A Sa is an ancient Arabic unit of volume measurement used during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In modern weight equivalents, one Sa is approximately 2.5 to 3 kilograms depending on the density of the specific food. Most scholars use 2.5 kg as the standard weight for grains and 3 kg for dates due to their higher density. Our calculator uses 2.5 kg as the standard measure.
• Staple Food Type: The type of food determines the cost per kilogram. The Hadith mentions wheat, barley, dates, raisins, and dried cheese. Modern scholars include rice, corn, and other regional staples. Higher-quality or more expensive food choices are considered more meritorious but are not required. Choose the dominant staple of your region for the standard obligation.
• Price Per Kilogram: The current market price of the chosen staple food in your area. This varies significantly by location, season, and quality grade. Our calculator provides approximate defaults that you should adjust based on prices at your local market or grocery store.
• Family Size: The total number of individuals for whom you are financially responsible. This count determines the multiplier for the per-person Fitra amount. Every Muslim who has food exceeding their own needs for the day of Eid is obligated to pay Fitra for themselves and their dependents.

Step-by-Step Example

Suppose Mariam wants to calculate Fitra for her family of 5 using rice at $1.50 per kilogram:

1. Determine the weight per person: 1 Sa = 2.5 kg
2. Calculate cost per person: 2.5 kg x $1.50/kg = $3.75
3. Calculate total Fitra: $3.75 x 5 family members = $18.75
4. Calculate total food weight: 2.5 kg x 5 = 12.5 kg of rice

Mariam can either purchase 12.5 kg of rice and distribute it directly to the poor before Eid prayer, or donate $18.75 to an Islamic organization that will handle the food distribution on her behalf.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Hassan's Family Fitra with Wheat

Hassan lives with his wife and two children in a suburb of Chicago. His local grocery sells whole wheat flour at $0.50 per kilogram. He calculates Fitra for his family of 4:

• Staple food: Wheat at $0.50/kg
• Fitra per person: 2.5 kg x $0.50 = $1.25
• Total for family of 4: $1.25 x 4 = $5.00
• Total food: 2.5 x 4 = 10 kg of wheat

Hassan finds the wheat-based amount relatively modest. Many Islamic organizations in the US recommend a higher amount (around $12-$15 per person) to ensure meaningful assistance. Hassan decides to pay the higher recommended amount of $15 per person, totaling $60 for his family, donating to his local mosque's Ramadan food drive that provides meal packages to families in need.

Example 2: Aisha's Large Family Fitra with Dates

Aisha is responsible for Fitra for herself, her 3 children, and her elderly mother living with her. She chooses Medjool dates as her staple, which cost $8.00 per kilogram at her local market:

• Family size: 5 (herself + 3 children + mother)
• Staple food: Dates at $8.00/kg
• Fitra per person: 2.5 kg x $8.00 = $20.00
• Total Fitra: $20.00 x 5 = $100.00
• Total food: 2.5 x 5 = 12.5 kg of dates

Aisha's choice of dates results in a higher Fitra amount, which is considered more generous. She purchases 12.5 kg of dates in individual 2.5 kg portions and personally delivers them to five families in her neighborhood before the Eid prayer, ensuring each family receives a meaningful gift of high-quality food.

Example 3: Yusuf's Budget-Friendly Fitra with Rice

Yusuf is a graduate student on a limited budget. He needs to calculate Fitra for himself only. He chooses rice, the most affordable staple available at his local store at $1.50 per kilogram:

• Family size: 1 (himself only)
• Staple food: Rice at $1.50/kg
• Fitra per person: 2.5 kg x $1.50 = $3.75
• Total Fitra: $3.75
• Total food: 2.5 kg of rice

Even on a student budget, Yusuf fulfills his Fitra obligation with $3.75 worth of rice. He donates $15 to his university MSA's Eid food drive, which exceeds the minimum requirement and earns additional reward. The beauty of Fitra is that it is accessible to nearly every Muslim regardless of income level, as long as they have food beyond their own needs for the day.

Example 4: Noor's Comparison Shopping for Fitra

Noor wants to compare the Fitra cost across different staples for her family of 6 to choose the most appropriate option:

• Wheat at $0.50/kg: 2.5 x $0.50 x 6 = $7.50
• Rice at $1.50/kg: 2.5 x $1.50 x 6 = $22.50
• Dates at $8.00/kg: 2.5 x $8.00 x 6 = $120.00
• Barley at $0.40/kg: 2.5 x $0.40 x 6 = $6.00

Noor sees that the range varies dramatically from $6.00 (barley) to $120.00 (dates). She decides on rice at $22.50, which is a moderate amount that she can comfortably afford while providing meaningful staple food to recipients. She appreciates that Fitra allows flexibility in choosing the staple type to match both the giver's means and the recipient's needs.

Fitra Reference Table

Prices are approximate US averages. Actual prices vary by region and season. Consult a qualified Islamic scholar for rulings on acceptable staple foods in your area.

Tips and Complete Guide

Choosing the Right Staple Food

The choice of staple food for Fitra should balance your financial capacity with the needs of recipients in your community. Scholars recommend choosing a food that is commonly consumed in your region so recipients can make immediate use of it. In North America, rice and wheat are practical choices that most families can prepare. If you want to give more generously, dates are a prophetic tradition and are highly valued during Ramadan. The minimum obligation is fulfilled with the most affordable acceptable staple, but giving a higher-quality food is considered more meritorious in Islamic tradition. Some scholars recommend giving the monetary equivalent of the average quality food in your region to simplify the process while ensuring recipients receive adequate nourishment.

Timing Your Fitra Payment

The optimal time to pay Fitra is on Eid morning before the Eid prayer. However, it is permissible and often more practical to pay it one or two days before Eid so that charitable organizations have time to distribute the food to recipients. If you are donating through an organization that ships food internationally, consider paying earlier in Ramadan to allow for logistical processing. The important requirement is that the Fitra reaches the poor before the Eid prayer. Paying Fitra after the Eid prayer is considered late and is treated as regular sadaqah rather than Fitra, so plan ahead to meet the deadline.

Distributing Fitra Effectively

Fitra can be distributed directly to poor individuals and families in your community or donated to trusted Islamic organizations that specialize in food distribution. When distributing directly, ensure each recipient receives at least one Sa (2.5 kg) of food per Fitra payment. You can give multiple Fitra payments to one needy person or distribute each person's Fitra to a different recipient. Local distribution is generally preferred because it ensures the poor in your own community can celebrate Eid with adequate food. However, donating to international relief organizations is also acceptable, especially for communities in crisis where the need is greater.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Paying Fitra too late: The primary purpose of Fitra is to provide food for the poor on Eid day. Paying it after the Eid prayer defeats this purpose. Set a reminder during the last week of Ramadan to calculate and pay your Fitra with enough time for distribution.
• Forgetting to count all dependents: Every person in your household counts, including newborn babies born before sunset on the last day of Ramadan. Do an accurate headcount before calculating your total Fitra obligation.
• Using outdated food prices: Food prices fluctuate, and Ramadan-season prices may be higher than usual. Check current local prices rather than using last year's figures. Our calculator lets you input exact prices for maximum accuracy.
• Confusing Fitra with Fidyah: Fitra is paid at the end of Ramadan by everyone regardless of fasting status. Fidyah is a separate payment made by those who cannot fast due to chronic illness or old age. These are distinct obligations and one does not replace the other.
• Not making the proper intention: Like all acts of worship in Islam, Fitra requires a sincere intention (niyyah) that the payment is for Sadaqat al-Fitr. Simply donating money to charity without the intention of Fitra does not fulfill the obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions