Hydration Levels Explained: How Water Content Affects Your Pizza Dough
If you’ve ever wondered why some pizza doughs are soft and airy while others are dense and chewy, the answer often comes down to one key factor: hydration. Understanding hydration levels is essential for making better pizza at home. In this guide, we’ll break down what hydration means, why it matters, and how to adjust it to create the perfect dough for your style.
What is Pizza Dough Hydration?
In simple terms, hydration refers to the ratio of water to flour in your dough, expressed as a percentage. For example, a dough with 600g of water and 1000g of flour has a hydration level of 60%.
Hydration Formula: (Water weight ÷ Flour weight) x 100 = Hydration %
How Hydration Affects Pizza Dough
- Low Hydration (50-58%): Firmer, easier to handle dough. Produces dense, crisp crusts with less open crumb.
- Medium Hydration (60-65%): Balanced dough with good elasticity. Ideal for New York-style pizza and home ovens.
- High Hydration (65-75%+): Softer, stickier dough. Creates airy, open crumb and crisp exterior. Preferred for Neapolitan and artisan pizzas.
Benefits of Higher Hydration Dough
- Creates larger air pockets (open crumb)
- Results in a lighter, more airy crust
- Better crispness on the outside
- More flavor development during fermentation
Important: Higher hydration doughs are harder to handle and require more skill and technique.
Choosing Hydration Based on Pizza Style
| Pizza Style | Recommended Hydration |
|---|---|
| Neapolitan | 65-70% |
| New York-Style | 60-65% |
| Detroit-Style / Pan Pizza | 70-75% |
| Thin-Crust | 55-60% |
How to Adjust Dough Hydration
- Measure ingredients by weight using a kitchen scale for accuracy.
- Start with a manageable hydration (60-65%) before attempting higher levels.
- Use autolyse (resting flour & water) to improve gluten development in high-hydration doughs.
- Practice handling wetter doughs with bench flour and wet hands, not more dry flour.
Final Thoughts
Mastering hydration levels is one of the most impactful ways to improve your pizza dough. Whether you want a thin, crispy crust or a soft, airy base, adjusting your water-to-flour ratio is the key. Small tweaks can make a huge difference in texture and flavor.
Want to take your dough to the next level? Explore our Dough Mixers for consistent hydration mixing, and check out our Pizza Ovens for that perfect bake.