DIY Electrolyte Drink vs LMNT, Liquid IV, and Gatorade
Field note #553 · 2026-05-30 · 4 min read
Rapid answer
A DIY electrolyte drink with 1,000mg sodium costs roughly $0.10 to $0.15 per serving. LMNT is $1.50. Liquid IV is $1.50. Nuun Sport is $0.75. For high-volume training where you drink 2 to 4 servings per session, DIY saves $3 to $5 per workout.
Electrolyte products are marketed as performance essentials. The ingredients are industrial commodities. Here is what you are actually buying.
Cost comparison: DIY vs major brands (per serving, matched to 1,000mg sodium)
To make a fair comparison, all products are normalized to 1,000mg of sodium per serving, which is the bottom of the moderate-high replacement range for endurance athletes in heat. Brands with less sodium per serving require multiple packets to match.
| Product | Sodium per serving | Servings to reach 1,000mg | Cost per 1,000mg sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (table salt, NoSalt) | 1,000mg (adjustable) | 1 | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| LMNT | 1,000mg | 1 | $1.50 |
| Precision Hydration 1000 | 1,000mg | 1 | $1.00 |
| Nuun Sport | 300mg | 3.3 | $2.48 |
| Liquid IV | 500mg | 2 | $3.00 |
| Gatorade Endurance | 310mg (per 12 oz) | 3.2 | $1.30 (bottle) |
| SaltStick capsule | 215mg | 4.7 | $1.88 |
Prices are approximate retail/Amazon prices as of 2026.
What you get with each brand
LMNT (1,000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, 60mg magnesium)
LMNT markets toward a ketogenic and low-carb audience. It contains no carbohydrates. For endurance athletes using it during exercise, the lack of carbs means you need a separate fueling strategy. The electrolyte ratio is well-formulated. The price is the main objection.
DIY equivalent: 0.9g salt + 0.3g NoSalt + 0.15g magnesium glycinate. Cost: under $0.15.
Precision Hydration (electrolyte-only, tiered sodium options)
Precision Hydration sells a range of products from PH 250 to PH 1500, tiered by sodium concentration for different sweat profiles. The 1000 tablet is a reasonable value at $1.00. It is the most functionally honest brand for endurance use: it does not oversell benefits, and the sodium tiers reflect real sweat variation.
Liquid IV (sodium + carbs, aggressive marketing)
Liquid IV uses a cellular transport technology marketing angle. The actual mechanism is the same as any isotonic oral rehydration solution: a small amount of glucose aids sodium absorption via the SGLT1 transporter. The 500mg sodium per serving is lower than what hard-working endurance athletes need. At $1.50 per packet and 500mg sodium, you are paying premium prices for a sub-optimal dose.
Nuun Sport (electrolytes, minimal carbs)
Nuun is a popular option because the tablets are convenient and taste good. At 300mg sodium per tablet, it is underdosed for athletes losing 900 to 1,500 mg/h. Most salty sweaters in heat need 3 to 4 Nuun tablets per hour to match their losses, which pushes the cost to $2.25 to $3.00 per hour.
When to use commercial products vs DIY
Commercial products are worth paying for in specific situations:
- Convenience during races: Pre-made tablets or packets are easier than measuring powders at 3am before a race.
- Travel: Bulk powders are impractical when flying.
- Testing palatability: Before committing to a DIY recipe, commercial products let you identify which flavors and formulations your gut tolerates.
For home training and long rides where you are already making your own bottles, DIY matches or exceeds commercial options at a fraction of the cost.
The homemade electrolyte drink calculator generates a complete recipe matched to your sweat profile, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium in physiologically meaningful ratios.
Frequently asked questions
Is LMNT worth the price compared to homemade?
LMNT is well-formulated: 1,000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, and 60mg magnesium per serving, which is a good electrolyte ratio for endurance use. The price is $1.50 per packet. A DIY version with the same electrolyte profile costs under $0.15 using table salt, potassium chloride (NoSalt), and magnesium glycinate from bulk suppliers. For athletes drinking 2 to 4 servings per session, the DIY version saves $3 to $5 per workout. LMNT is worth paying for in race conditions or travel where measuring powders is impractical.
What is the cheapest way to make electrolyte drinks?
The cheapest DIY electrolyte base is table salt (sodium chloride) plus potassium chloride (sold as NoSalt or Nu-Salt at most grocery stores). A batch with 1,000mg sodium and 200mg potassium costs roughly $0.05 to $0.10 per serving when bought in standard grocery quantities. Adding bulk maltodextrin and fructose for carbohydrates brings the full sports drink cost to $0.10 to $0.20 per serving. That is 8 to 15 times cheaper than LMNT and 10 to 20 times cheaper than Liquid IV.
Does homemade electrolyte drink taste as good as LMNT?
Most DIY recipes taste different from LMNT, which is flavored with natural fruit extracts and has a distinctive tartness. A plain salt, NoSalt, and water mixture tastes salty and flat. Palatability improves significantly with a small amount of citric acid (lemon juice or powder), which adds the tartness that makes LMNT appealing. Adding a carbohydrate source like maltodextrin or a small amount of sugar also rounds out the flavor. With those adjustments, most athletes find the taste acceptable and often prefer it for training because it is less sweet.
How do I make a sugar-free homemade electrolyte drink?
Combine water, table salt for sodium, potassium chloride (NoSalt) for potassium, and a small amount of magnesium glycinate or magnesium malate for magnesium. Add citric acid or fresh lemon juice for flavor. Avoid sugar alcohols like sorbitol or erythritol, which can cause GI distress during exercise. This produces a zero-carbohydrate electrolyte drink similar to LMNT at a fraction of the cost. It is most appropriate for low-intensity sessions under 60 to 90 minutes where carbohydrate fuel is not needed.