Serial Dilution Calculator
Calculate the concentration of each dilution step in a serial dilution series. Enter initial concentration, dilution factor, and number of steps.
Published by:
isCalculator Editorial Team
Reviewed by:
Review Board
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How to use this tool?
How to Use the Serial Dilution Calculator
- Enter Initial Concentration – Type the starting concentration (e.g., 1000). Use any positive number.
- Enter Dilution Factor – Provide the factor by which you dilute each step (e.g., 10 for a 1:10 dilution). Must be greater than 1.
- Enter Number of Steps – Specify how many dilution steps to calculate (e.g., 5). Must be an integer between 1 and 20.
- Optional: Unit – Add a unit like mg/mL, µM, or % (default is mg/mL). This is for display only.
- Click "Calculate Dilutions" – The table shows each step (starting at step 0) and its concentration.
What the Results Mean
- Step 0 is your initial concentration.
- Each subsequent step divides the previous concentration by the dilution factor.
- Formula:
Cn = C0 / (factor)n
Tips
- Use consistent units (metric or imperial) – the calculator does not convert.
- All inputs must be positive numbers; the dilution factor must be >1.
- Results are rounded to 4 decimal places for clarity.
Previous Results
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Frequently Asked Questions
A serial dilution is a stepwise dilution of a substance in solution, where the dilution factor is constant at each step.
The concentration at step n is C0 divided by the dilution factor raised to the power n (C0 / factor^n).
Any concentration unit (e.g., mg/mL, M, %). Ensure consistency across all inputs.