BioDeviceHub

Cell Dilution Calculator

Find how much cell suspension and how much medium to combine to reach a target cell concentration in a chosen final volume.

Formula

V1=C2V2C1V_1 = \dfrac{C_2 V_2}{C_1}
Vmedium=V2−V1V_{\text{medium}} = V_2 - V_1
C1C_1
concentration of the suspension you have, in cells/mL
C2C_2
target concentration, in cells/mL
V2V_2
final volume

How it works

The number of cells taken from the stock suspension equals the number in the diluted suspension, so C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ applies to cells exactly as it does to solutes.

If the target is more concentrated than what you have, dilution cannot reach it. Pellet the cells by centrifugation and resuspend them in a smaller volume.

Worked example

Dilute a suspension at 1.06 × 10⁶ cells/mL to 2 × 10⁵ cells/mL in 12 mL.

  1. V₁ = 2 × 10⁵ × 12 mL / 1.06 × 10⁶ = 2.264 mL.
  2. Medium = 12 mL − 2.264 mL = 9.736 mL.

Combine 2.26 mL of cell suspension with 9.74 mL of medium.

These are the values the calculator opens with, so you can check its output against this example.

Assumptions

  • The suspension is evenly mixed when the volume is drawn.
  • The measured concentration is current; cells settle within minutes.

Common mistakes

  • Pipetting from a suspension that has been standing. Resuspend gently before every draw.
  • Using total rather than viable concentration when the experiment depends on live cells.

Related tools

Hemocytometer Cell Counting CalculatorCells per mL from a hemocytometer countOpen calculatorCell Seeding CalculatorSuspension and medium for a plate of wellsOpen calculatorCells per cm² Seeding Density CalculatorCells needed for a vessel at a given seeding densityOpen calculatorDilution Calculator (C1V1 = C2V2)Stock and diluent volumes for any dilutionOpen calculator

Related equipment

Service documentation, failure modes and parts for the instruments this calculation is used with.