How to Fart Less: A Gut Doctor Explains
Written by: Vincent Pedre M.D. | July 23, 2025 | Time to read 10 min
How Many Farts is Too Much?
Passing gas, or farting, is a natural bodily function that every person experiences. Whether it's in the middle of a conversation, at the gym, or while trying to impress a date, it’s a part of daily life, even when it happens at inconvenient times.
While it’s not something people usually like to talk about, it’s an essential process that helps the body eliminate waste gases from the digestive system. But how much farting is considered "normal"? And at what point does it become excessive or cause concern?
This blog post will explore the factors that influence farting frequency, volume, and when you might need to pay attention to your gut health. We'll dive into the research behind the phenomena of passing gas, how diet plays a role, and what excessive farting might mean for your health.
What is Normal When It Comes to Farting?
Farting, or flatulence, occurs when gas is produced in the stomach or intestines, most likely secondary to the fermentation of indigestible fibers by your gut microbiome, and is expelled through the rectum.
This gas typically comes from three sources: air swallowed while eating or drinking, gases produced by bacteria breaking down food in the gut, and gases produced during digestion itself. The frequency and volume of gas can vary from person to person, but research provides some general guidelines to help us understand what constitutes normal flatulence.
How Often is Too Often?
The first thing to note is that farting is completely natural. Everyone does it. In fact, healthy individuals pass gas around 10 times per day on average. The upper limit of normal is about 20 times a day, meaning that farting up to 20 times is typically considered within the bounds of normal, healthy behavior (Furne & Levitt, 1996)
Factors such as diet, lifestyle, and individual differences in gut bacteria contribute to how often a person will pass gas. Some people might notice they pass gas more frequently after eating a large meal, particularly one high in fiber or certain carbohydrates (like lentils or beans). Others may experience more frequent flatulence due to gut health issues or food intolerances.
It’s important to remember that everyone’s body is different. While 10 to 20 farts a day is typical for most, there’s no one-size-fits-all rule. For some, it could be a bit more or a bit less, and that’s okay. The key is paying attention to what feels normal for your body and not letting societal taboos make you feel embarrassed about something that is completely natural.
What About the Volume?
Another factor that can vary between individuals is the volume of gas. The average person expels anywhere from 476 to 1,491 milliliters (ml) of gas per day, with a median of 705 ml/day (Tomlin et al., 1991). It’s difficult to measure precisely how much gas we pass without specialized equipment, but studies have provided a general range that’s considered normal.
Factors such as diet play a significant role in the volume of gas. People who eat more fiber or fermentable carbohydrates—such as beans, vegetables, or foods with lactose—tend to pass more gas. The body cannot fully digest certain complex carbohydrates, so bacteria in the intestines break them down, producing gases as a byproduct. This can result in larger volumes of gas.
On the other hand, people who follow a fiber-free or low-carb diet may pass significantly less gas, as their digestive system doesn’t have as much leftover material for bacteria to break down (Tomlin et al., 1991). If you notice a significant change in the volume of gas you produce, it may be due to dietary changes, but if the volume is accompanied by other symptoms like pain or bloating, it’s worth consulting a healthcare professional about it.
Why Do Some People Fart More Than Others?
While it’s generally accepted that 10 to 20 farts per day is normal, there’s a lot of variation between individuals. One of the key factors that influence farting frequency is the unique composition of gut bacteria. Research shows that some people’s digestive systems ferment food residues more effectively than others, leading to a higher production of gas (Furne & Levitt, 1996).
Gut microbiota, or the bacteria in your digestive tract, play a crucial role in breaking down food and producing gas. If you have a higher concentration of gas-producing bacteria, you might experience more frequent flatulence. For example, if you have SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), you have too many bacteria higher up in your small intestine, where they will ferment the fibers in your food and produce gas, often leading to significant bloating. A dysbiosis (imbalance between good and bad bugs in the gut) can also lead to excess flatulence. These variations are why some people seem to have a “sensitive stomach” or a tendency to fart more often than others.
What causes these variations in gut microbiome inhabitants? Changes in gut bacteria can also be triggered by factors such as diet, stress, an acute gastroenteritis (like a traveler’s diarrhea) or even the use of antibiotics. When the balance of bacteria in the gut is altered, it can affect the frequency and nature of gas production.
The Impact of Diet on Flatulence
Diet is one of the most significant factors affecting farting. Some foods are known to be more likely to produce gas than others. Let’s take a closer look at the foods that can increase farting and why.
High-Fiber Foods
Fiber-rich foods, such as beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, are some of the most common culprits behind excessive gas. While fiber is an essential nutrient that promotes digestive health, it is not fully digested in the stomach or small intestine. Instead, it passes into the large intestine, where gut bacteria break it down, releasing gas as a byproduct. This process can lead to more frequent and larger volumes of flatulence.
For example, beans are notorious for causing gas. They contain a type of carbohydrate called oligosaccharides, which is difficult for the human digestive system to break down. As these carbohydrates are fermented in the large intestine, gas is produced, leading to the familiar bloating and farting.
Lactose and Dairy
Lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products, can also cause excessive gas in people who are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance occurs when the body does not produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to break down lactose. As a result, lactose passes undigested into the large intestine, where bacteria ferment it, producing gas.
This study found that the diet, which is low in lactose and wheat products, could minimize the quantity of carbohydrates delivered to the colonic bacteria. If you experience frequent farting or bloating after consuming dairy, you may be lactose intolerant (meaning your gut doesn’t have enough enzymes to break down the lactose sugar) , and reducing or eliminating dairy from your diet could alleviate symptoms.
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Sugary and Processed Foods
Processed foods high in sugar and artificial sweeteners can also increase gas production. Artificial sweeteners like erythritol, sorbitol, and mannitol, commonly found in sugar-free gum and candies, are not fully absorbed by the body. When they reach the large intestine, they are fermented by bacteria, resulting in gas production.
When is Too Much Farting a Problem?
While farting is generally a harmless and normal bodily function, there are cases where it could indicate an underlying health issue. If you notice a sudden and significant increase in the frequency or volume of your farts, or if the gas is accompanied by other symptoms like pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation, it’s time to consult a healthcare provider. Don’t let the symptoms go too long untreated before you seek help.
Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can cause excessive gas. If you suspect that your farting is linked to one of these conditions, seeking medical advice is important to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
So, How Many Farts is Too Much?
In summary, farting is a completely normal and healthy bodily function. On average, healthy individuals pass gas around 10 times per day, with an upper limit of about 20 times considered normal. The volume of gas expelled can vary from person to person, with the daily range being between 476 to 1,491 milliliters, depending on diet and gut health.
If you’re farting more than 20 times per day, that just might be too much. And if your excess gas is accompanied by other gut symptoms, then surely you have an underlying condition that needs to be investigated further.
Diet plays a significant role in the frequency and volume of gas, with fiber-rich foods and fermentable carbohydrates being common contributors to increased flatulence. If you notice a drastic change in your farting habits or experience other digestive issues, it could be worth exploring potential underlying causes, but for the most part, a few extra farts here and there are perfectly normal.
So, the next time you feel the urge to pass gas, rest assured—you’re simply doing what your body was designed to do!
