# Average capacity of the human bladder?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-capacity-of-the-human-bladder/314980>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 31, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-capacity-of-the-human-bladder/314980 "2005-07-31T05:18:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Thin\_Lizzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@Thin\_Lizzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Lizzy)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-capacity-of-the-human-bladder/314980/1 "2005-07-31T05:18:53Z")

</div>

What is the average capacity of the human bladder? Can one increase their bladder capacity?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-capacity-of-the-human-bladder/314980/2 "2005-07-31T07:48:16Z")

</div>

Here ya go (quote below). Doubtless this varies between individuals but this should do as an average. I would assume your bladder size is your bladder size and not much can be done to increase its capacity but I don’t really know. More likely I think would be training yourself to go a bit longer before the urge to urinate strikes you. I’ve know some people who have to urinate frequently while I seem able to go much longer despite us both drinking the same amount of liquids (I’ve noticed this most on road trips when they keep telling me to pull over and I do not have to go at all). Whether this is due to some physiological difference that their bodies produce more urine than mine does or just a better ability on my part to “hold it” longer I couldn’t say.

> [@](#):
>
> Normal bladder capacity is somewhere between 400 to 600cc. The urinary bladder can normally hold 250 to 350cc of urine before the urge to void becomes conscious. Urinary continence is maintained as long as the pressure within the urethra (intra-urethral pressure) remains higher than the pressure within the cavity of the bladder (intravesical pressure).
> 
> SOURCE: [http://www.seekwellness.com/incontinence/how\_bladder\_works.htm](http://www.seekwellness.com/incontinence/how_bladder_works.htm)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-capacity-of-the-human-bladder/314980/3 "2005-07-31T08:47:57Z")

</div>

So, given what you quoted above and my own ability to, “hold it”, as you say, my own theory is that this has to do with muscle control of the urethra.

I have no evidence for this, just common sense and years with my johnson being ok when I could’ve ‘gone’. And this quote from post #2 above.

> [@](#):
>
> Urinary continence is maintained as long as the pressure within the urethra (intra-urethral pressure) remains higher than the pressure within the cavity of the bladder (intravesical pressure).