How to Make Your Own Electrolyte Drink Mix (3 Recipes + Full Shopping List)

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A single serving of LMNT costs $1.50. Liquid IV runs about $1.25. Over a summer of daily use, that's $45–$90/month on flavored salt water.

Here's the thing: you can make the exact same thing at home for about $0.10 per serving. The ingredients are simple, the science is straightforward, and once you dial in your recipe, you'll never go back to overpriced packets.

This guide gives you three DIY electrolyte recipes (basic, performance, and endurance), a full shopping list with Amazon links, and the science behind why each ingredient matters.

Why DIY? The Math

That's a 10x savings — and you control exactly what goes in. No artificial sweeteners, no mystery "natural flavors," no fillers.

The Science: What Your Body Actually Needs

Electrolytes are minerals that carry electrical charges in your body. When you sweat, you lose them. The big three that matter most:

Sodium (the #1 priority)

• Why: Regulates fluid balance, nerve signaling, and muscle contraction
• Loss rate: 500–2,000mg per hour of exercise in heat
• Target per serving: 500–1,000mg

Potassium

• Why: Works with sodium to maintain fluid balance; prevents cramping
• Loss rate: 150–300mg per hour
• Target per serving: 200–400mg

Magnesium

• Why: Muscle relaxation, sleep quality, recovery
• Loss rate: Lower than sodium/potassium, but most people are already deficient
• Target per serving: 50–100mg

Common mistake: Drinking plain water when you're sweating heavily. This dilutes what's left in your blood without replacing what you lost — making the problem worse (called hyponatremia in extreme cases).

The Shopping List (Everything You Need)

Here's every ingredient and tool, with links. Total startup cost: ~$35–$50, which makes 200+ servings.

Core Ingredients

1. Sea Salt or Himalayan Pink Salt (sodium source)

• Redmond Real Salt (26oz) — ~$15. Unprocessed, contains 60+ trace minerals. The gold standard for DIY electrolyte mixes.
• Alternative: any unrefined sea salt works. Avoid regular table salt (stripped of minerals, contains anti-caking agents).

2. Potassium Citrate Powder (potassium source)

• NOW Foods Potassium Citrate Powder (12oz) — ~$12. Pure, no fillers. 1/4 tsp = ~350mg potassium.
• Alternative: Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) from any grocery store — 1/4 tsp = ~250mg potassium.

3. Magnesium Citrate Powder (magnesium source)

• Natural Vitality CALM Magnesium Powder (16oz) — ~$23. Dissolves easily, good taste, well-absorbed form (citrate).
• Alternative: Doctor's Best Magnesium Glycinate Powder — ~$18. Better for nighttime (more calming, less laxative effect).

4. Citrus (flavor + vitamin C)

• Fresh lemons or limes (grocery store) — juice of 1/2 lemon per serving
• Alternative: True Lemon Crystallized Lemon packets (100-count) — ~$7. Convenient, travel-friendly, no sugar.

5. Optional sweetener

• Raw honey: 1/2 tsp per serving (adds ~3g sugar + trace minerals)
• Stevia drops: SweetLeaf Stevia Drops — ~$10. Zero calories, 2–3 drops per serving.

Tools

6. Measuring spoons (precision matters)

• Spring Chef Magnetic Measuring Spoons (set of 8) — ~$13. Includes 1/8 tsp for precise sodium dosing.

7. Glass shaker/pitcher

• BOTTLED JOY 32oz Glass Water Bottle with Time Markers — ~$16. Mix, shake, drink, repeat.
• Or any 24–32oz bottle you already have.

Recipe 1: The Daily Basic (best for most people)

This covers your baseline electrolyte needs for a moderately active day or light exercise.

Per 24oz (3 cups) water:

• 1/4 tsp Redmond Real Salt (~500mg sodium)
• 1/4 tsp potassium citrate powder (~350mg potassium)
• 1/8 tsp magnesium citrate powder (~50mg magnesium)
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 2–3 drops stevia (optional, for taste)

Instructions:

1. Add all powders to your bottle
2. Add a splash of warm water and swirl to dissolve
3. Fill with cold water
4. Squeeze in lemon, add stevia if desired
5. Shake and drink

Electrolyte profile: ~500mg sodium, ~350mg potassium, ~50mg magnesium
Cost per serving: ~$0.08
Best for: Daily hydration, office work, light activity, hot days

Recipe 2: The Performance Mix (for training)

Higher sodium for workouts lasting 30–90 minutes, especially in heat.

Per 32oz water:

• 1/2 tsp Redmond Real Salt (~1,000mg sodium)
• 1/4 tsp potassium citrate (~350mg potassium)
• 1/4 tsp magnesium citrate (~100mg magnesium)
• Juice of 1 full lemon
• 1/2 tsp raw honey (quick energy — optional)

Electrolyte profile: ~1,000mg sodium, ~350mg potassium, ~100mg magnesium
Cost per serving: ~$0.12
Best for: Gym sessions, outdoor runs, sports, anyone sweating heavily

Pro tip: Drink 16oz 30 minutes before exercise, and the remaining 16oz during. Don't wait until you're thirsty — by then you're already behind on replacement.

Recipe 3: The Endurance Formula (for 90+ min efforts)

Maximum replacement for long runs, hiking, cycling, or manual labor in summer heat.

Per 32oz water:

• 3/4 tsp Redmond Real Salt (~1,500mg sodium)
• 1/2 tsp potassium citrate (~700mg potassium)
• 1/4 tsp magnesium citrate (~100mg magnesium)
• Juice of 1 lemon + 1 lime
• 1 tbsp raw honey (glucose for sustained energy)
• Pinch of baking soda (buffers lactic acid — optional for extreme efforts)

Electrolyte profile: ~1,500mg sodium, ~700mg potassium, ~100mg magnesium
Cost per serving: ~$0.15
Best for: Endurance training, long hikes, outdoor labor, double sessions

How to Batch-Prep (Make a Week at Once)

Pre-mixing the dry ingredients saves time. Here's how to make 7 days of the Daily Basic in advance:

Dry mix jar (7 servings):

• 1 3/4 tsp Redmond Real Salt
• 1 3/4 tsp potassium citrate
• 7/8 tsp magnesium citrate

Mix in a small jar. Each morning, scoop out ~1/2 tsp of the blend into your water bottle, add lemon + sweetener, done. Takes 30 seconds.

Storage: Keep the dry mix in an airtight jar at room temperature. It doesn't expire — these are minerals.

Troubleshooting

Safety Notes

• Start low. Begin with the Daily Basic recipe and increase only if you're exercising intensely or sweating heavily.
• Kidney conditions: If you have kidney disease or are on potassium-sparing medications, consult your doctor before supplementing potassium.
• Blood pressure: If you're on a sodium-restricted diet, stick to the Daily Basic (500mg) and check with your doctor.
• Not a meal replacement. Electrolytes replace minerals — they don't replace food or calories (except the endurance formula with honey).

The Full Shopping Cart (Total: ~$45 for 200+ servings)

Total startup: ~$45–$50. After that, you're refilling salt and potassium for ~$25/year. Compare that to $540/year on LMNT packets.

Start today

You don't need the full kit to begin. If you have salt and lemon in your kitchen right now, you can make a basic version immediately:

• Quick start: 1/4 tsp salt + juice of 1/2 lemon + 24oz water. That's it. You already have a better electrolyte drink than most sports drinks on the shelf.

Then order the potassium and magnesium to round it out — and you'll have a complete, custom electrolyte system for pennies.

For more on optimizing your daily hydration and energy, see our guides to Hydration Hacks: What Most People Miss and 3 Simple Habits That Boost Energy Naturally.