Dilution Ratio Calculator
How much concentrate and water to combine for a ratio like 1:10, at any total volume.
Any ratio, any volume
Enter the ratio and the amount you want to make — get the exact concentrate and water amounts.
Same unit out
Whatever unit you choose for the total, the concentrate and water come out in it too.
What is a dilution ratio?
Parts of concentrate to parts of water
A dilution ratio describes how many parts of water to add to one part of concentrate. A 1:10 ratio means one part concentrate to ten parts water. Cleaning products, garden chemicals, and coolants are often sold concentrated and must be diluted to a specified ratio so they work correctly and safely. The maths is just splitting your target volume into the right proportions.
Add the parts to get the total, then give each component its share of the volume.
concentrate = volume × parts ÷ total parts; water = the restFor a 1:10 ratio the total is 1 + 10 = 11 parts. The concentrate takes 1 of those 11 parts of the volume and the water takes the other 10. The same method works for any ratio and any unit, because a ratio is just a proportion.
You want to make a 32 fl oz spray bottle of cleaner at a 1:10 dilution.
Add the parts
1 part concentrate + 10 parts water = 11 total parts.Find the concentrate share
32 ÷ 11 = 2.9 fl oz of concentrate.Fill with water
32 − 2.9 = 29.1 fl oz of water.Mix
Add the water, then the concentrate, and the bottle holds 32 fl oz at the right strength.
The same mix can be described three ways, and it helps to switch between them.
Ratio
1:10 — one part concentrate to ten parts water.
Dilution factor
11× — the concentrate is one-eleventh of the final strength.
Percentage
≈ 9.1 % — concentrate ÷ total parts × 100.
Watch the convention: this calculator reads 1:10 as concentrate-to-water (11 total parts). Some labels mean "1 made up to 10", a stronger mix — always confirm which a product intends before you rely on a number.
The concentrate and water amounts add up exactly to your target volume, so you can measure the concentrate, top up to the total with water, and be confident the strength is right. The dilution factor tells you how diluted the final solution is relative to the concentrate. If your product specifies a target percentage instead of a ratio, convert it first: a 5 % solution is one part in twenty, a 1:19 ratio. Measuring in the same unit throughout keeps everything consistent.
The split is exact, but follow the product, not just the maths.
Follow the product label
This calculator assumes volumes simply add together, which holds for water-based dilutions but not perfectly for all liquids. It does not know your product's correct ratio, mixing order, or safety requirements — for acids and concentrated chemicals, the order of addition matters for safety. Always use the dilution ratio, mixing instructions, and protective equipment specified on the product label.