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Stock, Diluent & Total-Volume Dilution Ratios

Compare total-to-stock and diluent-to-stock ratios for positive volumes under an additive-volume assumption.

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How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the known values in the units shown. Results update as you type.
  2. Where results are editable, change one to solve backwards. Lock a value to hold it fixed.
  3. Use the worked example to check the method. Reset restores the starting fields.

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Formula and method

Adding 9 mL of diluent to 1 mL of stock gives 10 mL total: total-to-stock 10:1 and diluent-to-stock 9:1.

Final volume = stock + diluent; dilution factor = final / stock

Worked example

Enter these known values and leave the other values blank.

Stock aliquot volume
1 cm³
Added diluent volume
9 cm³
Final volume assuming additivity
10 cm³
Total volume to stock volume
10 :1
Diluent volume to stock volume
9 :1

Assumptions and limitations

  • Stock and added diluent volumes are positive; this mode models an actual dilution with a final-to-stock factor greater than one.
  • Volumes are assumed additive. Some mixtures contract or expand; for accurate preparation use the measured final volume appropriate to your procedure.
  • Total-to-stock and diluent-to-stock ratios differ by one. A tenfold dilution uses one part stock in ten total parts, or nine diluent parts per stock part.

Common questions

Does a 10:1 total-to-stock ratio mean ten parts diluent?

No. It means ten total parts for one stock part, so the diluent contribution is nine parts under the additive-volume assumption.

How do dilution factors combine across stages?

Multiply the final-to-stock factors of consecutive dilutions when each stage conserves the amount of the solute being tracked.

References

Bookify replaces the captured rounded US gallon with the exact 3.785411784-liter definition. The US fluid ounce uses one 128th of the exact US liquid gallon, replacing the rounded captured reciprocal factor.

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