Chemistry & Lab tools
Dilution series calculator
Plan a full serial dilution in one pass — concentration, transfer volume, and diluent volume at every single step.
Formula
Cn = C0 ÷ Factorn
Series setup
Starting concentration
Concentration before the first dilution step
mg/mL
Dilution factor
e.g. 2 for a 1:2 series, 10 for a 1:10 series
Number of steps
How many dilutions to perform
Volume per tube
Final volume at each step
mL
Final step concentration
0
Total dilution–
Transfer volume/step–
Diluent volume/step–
Concentration decay across steps
Each step takes one part of the previous tube’s solution and adds diluent to reach the same total tube volume again — the transfer volume shown is what to pipette forward, and the diluent volume is what to add on top of it to hit your target tube volume at every step.
Frequently asked questions
What is a serial dilution?
A series of sequential dilutions, each diluting the previous step by the same factor, used to reduce a concentrated solution through a wide range of concentrations in controlled steps.
How is concentration calculated at each step?
Concentration at step n equals starting concentration divided by the dilution factor raised to the power of n. A 1:10 series after 3 steps dilutes by a factor of 1000.
What’s the difference between a 1:2 and 1:10 series?
A 1:2 series halves concentration each step for finer resolution over a narrower range. A 1:10 series drops by a factor of ten each step, covering a wider range in fewer steps.
Is this dilution series calculator free to use?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, needs no account, and nothing you enter is stored or transmitted.