MasterTool

Dilution Calculator

Calculate dilution instantly in your browser — the published formula, worked locally with no data sent anywhere.

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What this tool does

Calculate dilution instantly in your browser — the published formula, worked locally with no data sent anywhere. Both concentrations must use the same unit and both volumes the same unit. 'Solvent to add' means diluting up to the final volume in a volumetric flask, not adding that much solvent to the stock (volumes are not perfectly additive).

How to use the Dilution Calculator

  1. Enter or select mode.
  2. Enter or select solve for.
  3. Enter or select stock concentration c₁ (any unit, e.g. mol/l or %).
  4. Enter or select stock volume v₁ (ml).
  5. Enter or select final concentration c₂.
  6. Enter or select final volume v₂ (ml).
  7. Enter or select starting concentration.
  8. Enter or select dilution factor per step (e.g. 10 for 1:10).
  9. Enter or select number of steps.
  10. Read the calculated result; change any measurement to compare alternatives.

Formula

Conservation of solute: C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ — the amount taken from the stock equals the amount in the final solution. Serial dilution multiplies the per-step factor: final concentration = start ÷ factor^steps.
mode
Mode
solve
Solve for
c1
Stock concentration C₁ (any unit, e.g. mol/L or %)
v1
Stock volume V₁ (mL)
c2
Final concentration C₂
v2
Final volume V₂ (mL)
start
Starting concentration
factor
Dilution factor per step (e.g. 10 for 1:10)
steps
Number of steps

Both concentrations must use the same unit and both volumes the same unit. 'Solvent to add' means diluting up to the final volume in a volumetric flask, not adding that much solvent to the stock (volumes are not perfectly additive).

Worked example

For dilution calculator, the following measurements illustrate the exact method: Mode: standard; Solve for: v1; Stock concentration C₁ (any unit, e.g. mol/L or %): 5; Stock volume V₁ (mL): 50; Final concentration C₂: 0.5; Final volume V₂ (mL): 500; Starting concentration: 1; Dilution factor per step (e.g. 10 for 1:10): 10; Number of steps: 3.

Inputs

  • ModeSingle dilution (C₁V₁ = C₂V₂)
  • Solve forStock volume V₁
  • Stock concentration C₁ (any unit, e.g. mol/L or %)5
  • Stock volume V₁ (mL)50
  • Final concentration C₂0.5
  • Final volume V₂ (mL)500
  • Starting concentration1
  • Dilution factor per step (e.g. 10 for 1:10)10
  • Number of steps3

Result

  • Stock volume to use V₁ (mL)50
  • Solvent to add up to final volume (mL)450
  • Dilution factor10

Results explained

Stock volume to use V₁ (mL)
Stock volume to use V₁ (mL) from the formula above. Both concentrations must use the same unit and both volumes the same unit. 'Solvent to add' means diluting up to the final volume in a volumetric flask, not adding that much solvent to the stock (volumes are not perfectly additive).
Solvent to add up to final volume (mL)
Solvent to add up to final volume (mL) from the formula above. Both concentrations must use the same unit and both volumes the same unit. 'Solvent to add' means diluting up to the final volume in a volumetric flask, not adding that much solvent to the stock (volumes are not perfectly additive).
Dilution factor
Dilution factor from the formula above. Both concentrations must use the same unit and both volumes the same unit. 'Solvent to add' means diluting up to the final volume in a volumetric flask, not adding that much solvent to the stock (volumes are not perfectly additive).

Frequently asked questions

Conservation of solute: C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ — the amount taken from the stock equals the amount in the final solution. Serial dilution multiplies the per-step factor: final concentration = start ÷ factor^steps.

Both concentrations must use the same unit and both volumes the same unit. 'Solvent to add' means diluting up to the final volume in a volumetric flask, not adding that much solvent to the stock (volumes are not perfectly additive).

One part stock made up to ten parts total (1 part stock + 9 parts solvent) — a dilution factor of 10, so the concentration falls to a tenth. It does not mean 1 part stock plus 10 parts solvent, which would be a factor of 11.

Every field is labelled with its unit — enter values in exactly the labelled unit and read the result in the labelled output unit. Fields with a unit symbol also support the site-wide imperial/metric switch, which converts before the formula runs.

It uses double-precision arithmetic and the published constants and formulas named on this page. The last displayed digit may be rounded, and real conditions can differ from the idealized model described in the assumptions.

Yes. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser; nothing you enter is uploaded, stored or shared.