Mix any dilution ratio (1:10, 1:99, 1:128), solve C1V1, convert ratio to dilution factor, percent and ppm, plan serial dilutions, and find the true cost per gallon of diluted cleaner — with label-verified presets for bleach, Roundup, Simple Green, and Zep.
You have concentrate on hand — how much finished mix can it make?
One ratio, four notations: a:b, dilution factor, percent (v/v), ppm.
Example: 1:99 (concentrate : water) = dilution factor 100 = 1% = 10,000 ppm.
Filling several identical containers, e.g. spray bottles or mop buckets.
A dilution ratio a:b is read two ways. Concentrate : water (the convention on Simple Green labels): a parts concentrate plus b parts water, dilution factor (a+b)/a. Concentrate : total: a parts concentrate in b parts of finished mix, dilution factor b/a.
Dilution factor = total volume / concentrate volume. Percent (v/v) = 100 / dilution factor. ppm = 1,000,000 / dilution factor. C1V1 = C2V2 conserves solute when only diluent is added.
Product presets use label ratios verified against primary sources (see the FAQ): CDC bleach directions, the EPA-registered Roundup label, Simple Green label strengths, and the Zep floor cleaner label. Always confirm against your own bottle — labels change.
Pick the ratio and the total volume you want, then split it by parts. Here is how to dilute concentrate at any ratio. For a 1:10 mix (1 part concentrate + 10 parts water, 11 parts total) and 1 US gallon (128 fl oz) of finished mix: concentrate = 128 × 1/11 = 11.64 fl oz (344.13 mL); water = 128 × 10/11 = 116.36 fl oz. The Mixer tab above does this for any ratio and any unit.
It depends on the convention, and labels differ, so this calculator lets you pick. 'Concentrate : water' (the Simple Green label convention): 1 part concentrate + 10 parts water = 11 parts total, dilution factor 11 (9.09% v/v). 'Concentrate : total': 1 part concentrate in 10 parts total, dilution factor 10 (10% v/v). Either way, a 1:10 dilution ratio is the workhorse of household cleaning. Always check which one your product label uses.
The CDC directions for surface disinfection are 5 tablespoons (2.5 fl oz) of regular bleach per gallon of water (at least 1,000 ppm sodium hypochlorite, 1 minute contact time) — this is how to dilute bleach for disinfection. For 2 gallons of water that is 5.0 fl oz of bleach (10 Tbsp). The dilution factor is 52.2. Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner.
The EPA-registered Roundup mixing ratio for Weed & Grass Killer Super Concentrate is 2.5 fl oz per gallon of water for tough weeds (perennials, brush, vines) and 1.5 fl oz per gallon for general annual weeds — that is how much concentrate per gallon the label calls for, so use this pesticide mixing calculator with the preset above. A 35.2 fl oz bottle at the 2.5 fl oz/gal rate makes 14.36 gallons of spray (0.275 gal × 52.2), enough for about 4,307 sq ft at the label rate of 300 sq ft per gallon.
The Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner label gives three strengths: heavy duty at full strength to 1:1, general cleaning up to 1:10, and light cleaning up to 1:30. Example: a 32 fl oz spray bottle of 1:10 general-purpose mix needs 32 × 1/11 = 2.91 fl oz of concentrate plus 29.09 fl oz of water.
C1V1 = C2V2 conserves the amount of solute: stock concentration × stock volume = target concentration × target volume. This c1v1 calculator solves any one of the four. Example: make 500 mL of 10% from 50% stock: V1 = C2V2/C1 = 10 × 500/50 = 100 mL of stock, then add 400 mL of diluent. The C1V1 tab solves for any one of the four values.
Divide into the dilution factor first: this dilution factor calculator turns one ratio into every notation. A 1:99 mix (concentrate : water) has dilution factor 100, which is 1% v/v, which is 10,000 ppm. In general: ppm = 1,000,000 / dilution factor, so a 1:99 bleach ratio (1 part bleach + 99 parts water) is 10,000 ppm. Going from ppm to ratio: dilution factor = 1,000,000 / ppm, then water parts = factor - 1. The Converter tab shows ratio, dilution factor, percent, and ppm together.
Multiply the per-step dilution factors: this serial dilution calculator chains them. Three sequential 1:10 steps (concentrate : water) give a per-step factor of 11 and a cumulative factor of 1,331, so the final tube holds 0.0751% of the starting concentration. The Serial tab lists every step of the plan.
Use the Reverse tab: enter what you have and the ratio — this reverse dilution calculator works it backwards. Example: 16 fl oz of concentrate at 1:32 makes 4.125 gallons of finished mix (528 fl oz total), which needs 4 gallons of water.
Divide the bottle price by the gallons of finished mix it yields: bottle gallons × dilution factor. Example: a $12.99 gallon of concentrate used at a 1:128 dilution (dilution factor 129) yields 129 gallons, so the cost per gallon diluted is $0.10. The Cost tab compares bottles this way.
No. Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner: it can release chloramine/chlorine gas that injures lungs and eyes. The CDC also warns to check that your bleach is intended for disinfection (5%–9% sodium hypochlorite), is not expired, and to ventilate the area. This calculator does mixing math only — always follow the product label.
Use the right specialist: alcohol-by-volume mixing belongs to our Alcohol Dilution calculator; cell concentrations and hemocytometer serial dilutions belong to Cell Dilution; percent weight/weight, weight/volume, and volume/volume solutions belong to Percent Solution; full ppm/ppb/ppt unit conversion belongs to PPM to PPT. This calculator covers ratio notation (a:b), product-label mixes, C1V1, and dilution cost.
Dilution Ratio Calculator — free, private, runs entirely in your browser. Safety: never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner; follow the product label. Mixing math only, not safety or medical advice. More: Alcohol Dilution · Cell Dilution · Percent Solution · PPM to PPT.