How to use (3 steps)
- Select a plate (or custom), then enter the number of wells and final volume (µL/well).
- Enter the target (cells/well or cells/cm²) and your stock concentration (cells/mL). Add viability (%) and overage (%) if needed.
- Click “Calculate” to see total prep volume and per-well volume (auto-calc updates on input).
Inputs (plate, wells, target, concentration)
Results (per well / total)
Per well
- Cell suspension
- —
- Media
- —
Total (with overage)
- Cell suspension
- —
- Media
- —
- Total volume
- —
Summary
| Vessel | — |
|---|---|
| Target | — |
| Required cells (total) | — |
| Final seeding mix concentration | — |
How it’s calculated
- Required cells (total) = target × used wells × (1 + overage)
- Cell suspension volume = required cells ÷ (stock concentration × viability)
- Media volume = total volume − cell suspension volume
- Per well = total ÷ used wells
FAQ
How much overage (dead volume) should I add?
Because you lose some volume during pipetting, around 10% is common as a guide. Adjust to your protocol.
It says the cell suspension exceeds the final volume.
Your stock concentration may be too low. Consider concentrating cells, increasing the final volume, or lowering the target density.
Why enter viability (%)?
It lets you seed based on live cells. Lower viability increases the required cell suspension volume.
When should I use cells/cm²?
Use it when you want to match seeding density by surface area. Plate area can vary by manufacturer, so adjust if needed.
Does the share URL include values?
Because this page has few inputs, the share URL includes input values (calculations run in your browser; data is not sent).
Related tools
- Hemocytometer
Check cells/mL (source for stock concentration)
- Biology hub
Other biology calculators
- Descriptive statistics
Understand variability (replicates and variance)
- Unit converter
Convert mL, µL, and more
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