Urine pH
Urine pH measures how acidic or alkaline your urine is, on a scale where lower numbers are more acidic and higher numbers are more alkaline. It reflects how your kidneys manage the body's acid-base balance.
Your kidneys help keep your blood chemistry steady by adjusting the acid they release into urine, so pH shifts with diet, hydration, and metabolism. It also influences which types of crystals or stones may form. Tracking pH can offer context for kidney function and, in some cases, guide dietary or treatment choices your clinician recommends.
More alkaline (higher) urine can follow a vegetarian diet, certain medications, or time since a meal, and occasionally reflects factors a clinician may want to understand, such as certain infections or how the kidneys are handling acid.
More acidic (lower) urine can follow a high-protein diet or fasting and is often a normal variation. Very acidic readings are usually benign but are interpreted alongside your diet and other results.
Urine pH commonly ranges from about 4.5 to 8, with roughly 6 being typical. Diet and time of day shift it naturally, so your clinician reads pH in context rather than as a standalone value.
Sources
Educational context only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex; always discuss your results with a clinician.