Example: 1:10 means 1 part product to 10 parts water.
Example: 5% means 5% product in the total solution.
Amount of Concentrate:–
Amount of Water (Solvent):–
Total Solution:–
Instructions:
Understanding Dilution Rates and Ratios
Whether you are detailing a car, mixing agricultural fertilizers, preparing cleaning solutions, or managing industrial chemicals, understanding how to calculate dilution rates accurately is essential. Incorrect mixing can lead to ineffective results, wasted product, or even damage to surfaces and equipment.
This Dilution Rate Calculator simplifies the process of determining exactly how much concentrate (product) and solvent (usually water) are required to achieve a specific total volume of solution.
How to Read Dilution Ratios (1:X)
The most common way manufacturers specify dilution is through a ratio format, written as 1:X (e.g., 1:10, 1:100, 1:128).
First Number (1): Represents the parts of the chemical concentrate.
Second Number (X): Represents the parts of water (solvent).
For example, a ratio of 1:10 means that for every 1 cup of chemical, you add 10 cups of water. The resulting mixture consists of 11 total parts. This is slightly different from a "1 in 10" dilution, which would imply the chemical is 1 part of the final 10 parts.
The Formula:
Concentrate Required = Target Volume / (Part Chemical + Part Water)
Water Required = Target Volume – Concentrate Required
Dilution by Percentage
Sometimes instructions are given as a percentage, such as a "5% solution." This method is straightforward:
5% Solution: Means 5% of the total volume is concentrate, and the remaining 95% is water.
To calculate a 5% solution for a 1-liter bottle:
1000ml × 0.05 = 50ml of concentrate.
1000ml – 50ml = 950ml of water.
Common Dilution Scenarios
Different industries use standard ratios for specific tasks:
Auto Detailing (APC): 1:10 for interior cleaning, 1:4 for heavy degreasing.
General House Cleaning: 1:64 or 1:128 is common for floor cleaners and glass cleaners.
Pest Control / Agriculture: Often precise measurements like "2 ounces per gallon" are used. (Note: 1 gallon = 128 ounces, so 2oz/gal is effectively a 1:64 ratio).
Sanitization: Specific PPM (Parts Per Million) requirements often translate to very high dilution ratios like 1:500.
Why Accuracy Matters
Cost Efficiency: Over-concentrating a solution wastes expensive chemicals. If a 1:100 mix works, using a 1:10 mix uses 10 times more product than necessary.
Safety and Surface Protection: Strong acids or alkalis, if not diluted properly, can burn skin, etch glass, strip wax off cars, or damage delicate plant life.
Effectiveness: Interestingly, under-diluting some products (making them too strong) can leave sticky residues that actually attract more dirt, defeating the purpose of cleaning.
function toggleInputs() {
var method = document.getElementById('methodSelect').value;
var ratioSection = document.getElementById('ratioSection');
var percentageSection = document.getElementById('percentageSection');
if (method === 'ratio') {
ratioSection.classList.remove('hidden');
percentageSection.classList.add('hidden');
} else {
ratioSection.classList.add('hidden');
percentageSection.classList.remove('hidden');
}
}
function calculateDilution() {
// Get Inputs
var volume = parseFloat(document.getElementById('totalVolume').value);
var unit = document.getElementById('volumeUnit').value;
var method = document.getElementById('methodSelect').value;
// Output Elements
var resConcentrate = document.getElementById('resConcentrate');
var resWater = document.getElementById('resWater');
var resTotal = document.getElementById('resTotal');
var mixInstructions = document.getElementById('mixInstructions');
var resultsDiv = document.getElementById('results');
// Validation
if (isNaN(volume) || volume <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid total volume.");
return;
}
var concentrateAmount = 0;
var waterAmount = 0;
var partA, partB;
// Logic
if (method === 'ratio') {
partA = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ratioPartsChemical').value);
partB = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ratioPartsWater').value);
if (isNaN(partA) || isNaN(partB) || partA <= 0 || partB <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid ratio numbers.");
return;
}
// Formula: Total Parts = A + B
// Concentrate = (Total Vol / Total Parts) * A
var totalParts = partA + partB;
concentrateAmount = (volume / totalParts) * partA;
waterAmount = volume – concentrateAmount;
} else {
var pct = parseFloat(document.getElementById('percentageInput').value);
if (isNaN(pct) || pct 100) {
alert("Please enter a valid percentage between 0 and 100.");
return;
}
// Formula: Concentrate = Volume * (Pct / 100)
concentrateAmount = volume * (pct / 100);
waterAmount = volume – concentrateAmount;
}
// Formatting Results
// Determine precision based on magnitude to avoid "0.00" for small amounts
var precision = 2;
if (concentrateAmount 0) precision = 4;
var unitLabel = unit;
resConcentrate.innerHTML = concentrateAmount.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 0, maximumFractionDigits: precision}) + " " + unitLabel;
resWater.innerHTML = waterAmount.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 0, maximumFractionDigits: precision}) + " " + unitLabel;
resTotal.innerHTML = volume.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 0, maximumFractionDigits: precision}) + " " + unitLabel;
// Instructions Text
mixInstructions.innerHTML = "To make " + volume + " " + unitLabel + " of solution, add " +
concentrateAmount.toLocaleString(undefined, {maximumFractionDigits: precision}) + " " + unitLabel +
" of concentrate to a container, then add " +
waterAmount.toLocaleString(undefined, {maximumFractionDigits: precision}) + " " + unitLabel +
" of water/solvent.";
// Show Results
resultsDiv.style.display = 'block';
}