Calculate capacitance, charge, energy storage, and series/parallel combinations for capacitors. Supports multiple unit conversions with step-by-step solutions for physics and electronics.
Where C = capacitance (F), Q = charge (C), V = voltage (V)
ε₀ = 8.85×10⁻¹² F/m, εᵣ = relative permittivity, A = area (m²), d = separation (m)
E = energy (J), C = capacitance (F), V = voltage (V), Q = charge (C)
Total capacitance is less than the smallest individual capacitor
Total capacitance is the sum of all individual capacitors
Problem: A capacitor stores 0.002 C of charge when connected to a 10 V battery. What is its capacitance?
Problem: Two parallel plates have an area of 0.01 m² separated by 1 mm of air (εᵣ = 1). What is the capacitance?
Problem: A 100 μF capacitor is charged to 12 V. How much energy is stored?
Problem: Three capacitors (10 μF, 22 μF, 47 μF) are connected in series. What is the total capacitance?
Dielectric constants (relative permittivity) of common materials at room temperature.
| Material | Dielectric Constant (εᵣ) | Dielectric Strength (V/mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum | 1.0000 | — |
| Air (dry) | 1.0006 | 3,000 |
| Paper (dry) | 3.5 | 16,000 |
| Mica | 3.0–6.0 | 100,000 |
| Glass (pyrex) | 4.7 | 14,000 |
| Porcelain | 5.0–7.0 | 10,000 |
| Bakelite | 4.5–5.5 | 12,000 |
| Polyethylene | 2.3 | 50,000 |
| Polystyrene | 2.5 | 25,000 |
| PVC | 3.5 | 40,000 |
| Teflon (PTFE) | 2.1 | 60,000 |
| Silicon Dioxide | 3.9 | 500,000 |
| Aluminum Oxide | 8.5 | 300,000 |
| Tantalum Pentoxide | 27 | 50,000 |
| Ceramic (Class 1) | 10–100 | 10,000–50,000 |
| Ceramic (Class 2) | 100–10,000+ | 5,000–20,000 |
| Distilled Water | 80 | — |
| Titanium Dioxide | 85–170 | 5,000 |
Note: Dielectric constants may vary with temperature, frequency, and material composition. Dielectric strength is the maximum electric field the material can withstand without breakdown.
Use the mode buttons to select your calculation type. Choose between C = Q / V (capacitance from charge and voltage), Parallel Plate (geometric capacitance), Energy Storage (energy in a capacitor), or Series/Parallel (combined capacitance).
Fill in the required input fields for your chosen mode. For the series/parallel mode, enter comma-separated capacitor values (e.g., "10, 22, 47"). Select appropriate units from the dropdown menus.
Press the Calculate button to compute your result. The answer will be displayed with the formula used, including unit conversions and step-by-step details.
Switch between the Calculator, Formula, Examples, and Dielectrics tabs to access formulas, worked examples, and a comprehensive table of dielectric materials.
Capacitors smooth out voltage ripple in power supplies. After rectification, large electrolytic capacitors filter the AC ripple to produce clean DC voltage for electronic devices.
RC timing circuits use capacitors and resistors to create time delays. The charge/discharge time constant τ = RC determines the timing in oscillators, blinkers, and pulse generators.
Capacitors store electrical energy for rapid release. Applications include camera flashes (discharge in milliseconds), defibrillators, pulsed lasers, and regenerative braking systems in electric vehicles.
Capacitors block DC while allowing AC signals to pass. Used for inter-stage coupling in amplifiers and decoupling power supply noise from sensitive ICs. Typical values range from 0.1 μF to 10 μF.
Large capacitor banks are used in industrial power systems to correct power factor, reducing reactive power and improving energy efficiency. This saves money on electricity bills and reduces line losses.
Variable capacitors are used in LC tank circuits for tuning radios, filters, and oscillators. The resonant frequency f = 1/(2π√(LC)) determines which frequencies are selected or rejected.
Our capacitance calculator is a comprehensive tool designed for students, engineers, electronics hobbyists, and anyone who needs to perform capacitance-related calculations quickly and accurately. Whether you're studying physics, designing circuits, or working on electronics projects, this calculator provides everything you need.
Capacitance is a fundamental property in electronics and physics. Understanding how capacitors store charge and energy, and how their geometry and dielectric materials affect performance, is essential for circuit design, power systems, and countless engineering applications.
Important Note: Capacitance values can vary based on temperature, frequency, manufacturing tolerance, and aging. While our calculator provides accurate theoretical calculations, always verify critical circuit parameters with datasheets and calibrated instruments. This tool is for educational and general reference purposes.