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Chemistry Tools · Updated October 21, 2026 · Reviewed by FormatFlow Editorial

Dilution Calculator

You can solve C1V1 = C2V2 for the stock volume, final volume or either concentration by leaving one field blank, with molar and mass concentration units converted consistently.

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C1V1 = C2V2Runs in your browser
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At a glance

Works with
C1V1 = C2V2
Processing
In your browser
Price
Free, no account
Updated
October 21, 2026
All Chemistry Tools

About Dilution Calculator

Diluting a stock solution is a proportion problem: the amount of solute stays the same while the volume grows, so concentration and volume trade off. That is the whole content of C1V1 = C2V2, and most dilution errors come from inconsistent units or an unfilled field rather than from the algebra.

This calculator solves the equation for whichever one of the four values you leave blank. Concentrations can be given in M, mM, g/L or mg/mL as long as both use the same basis, and volumes can be in liters or milliliters; the working shows the converted values and the rearranged equation so you can confirm the result.

What this tool does

The details that matter when you use Dilution Calculator for real work.

  • Leave one value blank

    The calculator detects the empty field and rearranges C1V1 = C2V2 for it, whether that is stock volume, final volume or a concentration.

  • Molar and mass concentration units

    Enter concentrations in M, mM, g/L or mg/mL; each is converted to a common base before solving and the conversion is written out.

  • Liters or milliliters

    Volumes can be entered in either unit, are converted to liters for the arithmetic and are returned in the unit you selected.

  • Dilution factor and both sides

    The summary shows the dilution factor C1/C2 and both sides of the equation, which should match if the inputs are consistent.

  • Mixed-basis guard

    Molar and mass concentrations cannot be mixed in one calculation; the tool explains why instead of producing a meaningless number.

  • Worked rearrangement

    The step panel substitutes the converted values into the rearranged equation, so the solved volume or concentration can be traced by hand.

How to use Dilution Calculator

No account, no installation — the whole job happens in this browser tab.
  1. 01

    Fill in three of four values

    Enter any three of C1, V1, C2 and V2, and leave the value you want to find blank.

  2. 02

    Choose matching concentration units

    Pick M or mM for both concentrations, or g/L or mg/mL for both; mixing molar and mass units is rejected.

  3. 03

    Pick volume units

    Set each volume field to L or mL independently; the calculator converts both to liters before solving.

  4. 04

    Read the solved value

    The headline result is in the blank field's unit, and the summary shows the dilution factor and both sides of the equation.

  5. 05

    Check the working

    The converted-values panel and the rearranged equation show exactly how the answer was obtained.

How this tool works

Works with
C1V1 = C2V2
Processing
Client-side, in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Requirements
Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari · JavaScript enabled

Limitations worth knowing

  • Assumes ideal mixing and a conserved solute; chemical reactions, association and dissociation are not modeled.
  • Molar and mass concentrations cannot be mixed in one calculation; convert with the solute's molar mass first.
  • Volumes are treated as additive for the equation's bookkeeping; real mixing can change the final volume slightly.

Privacy and file handling

The four values are processed only in this browser tab and are not uploaded, stored or logged. No network request is made by the calculator.

Read the full privacy policy

Dilution Calculator FAQ

Short, direct answers to the questions people ask before using this tool.
Which value should I leave blank in a dilution?
Leave blank the one value you need: stock volume V1 is the usual choice when you know the stock concentration, the target concentration and the final volume. Fill in the other three and the calculator rearranges C1V1 = C2V2 for the blank.
Can I mix M with g/L in one dilution calculation?
No. The equation compares concentrations directly, so both must be on the same basis: molar (M or mM) or mass (g/L or mg/mL). Converting M to g/L requires the solute's molar mass, which this calculator does not assume.
Is 1 mg/mL the same as 1 g/L?
Yes. One gram per liter is one milligram per milliliter, because 1 g = 1000 mg and 1 L = 1000 mL. The calculator converts both to grams per liter before solving.
Does the final volume include the stock volume?
Yes. V2 is the total final volume after dilution, so adding 10 mL of stock and making the flask up to 100 mL gives V2 = 100 mL. When volumes are additive, the water added is about V2 minus V1.
Why does my dilution not match the simple calculation?
Real solutions are not ideal: mixing can contract or expand, the solute may react or dissociate, and volumes measured at different temperatures differ. The equation assumes the solute is conserved and the final volume is prepared accurately, so make up solutions in volumetric glassware.
How do I do a serial dilution?
Repeat the calculation once per step, using the resulting concentration and volume of each step as the stock for the next. Each run solves one step, so record the solved value before starting the next one.
Can the calculator work the other way, for a concentration step?
The algebra is symmetric, so a concentration step uses the same equation with the more concentrated solution as stock. Physically you cannot concentrate a solution by diluting it, so the calculation then describes evaporating solvent or adding more solute, not ordinary dilution.

Background reading

Format guides that explain the trade-offs behind Dilution Calculator.