Calculator
Choose a mode, set your surface, then compute totals and volumes.
Formula used
1 Base total cells = Target density × Surface area (or user-supplied total).
2 Viability adjustment = Base total ÷ Viability fraction.
3 Overage adjustment = Adjusted × (1 + Overage fraction).
4 Stock volume = Total cells to prepare ÷ Stock concentration.
5 Media to add = Final total volume − Stock volume.
How to use
- Pick a mode: start from density or total cells.
- Select a plate preset, or enter a custom area.
- Enter wells/replicates to scale the total surface.
- Add viability and overage to match your workflow.
- Enter your stock concentration and final volume per well.
- Press Calculate and use the shown stock and media volumes.
- Download CSV or PDF for your notebook or batch record.
Example data table
| Mode | Plate | Wells | Area (cm²) | Target density | Total (base) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density → Total | 6-well | 1 | 9.6 | 50,000 | 480,000 |
| Density → Total | 12-well | 3 | 11.4 | 30,000 | 342,000 |
| Total → Density | 96-well | 8 | 2.56 | — | 200,000 |
Preset areas are typical values and can vary by manufacturer.
FAQs
1) Why include viability in the calculation?
Only viable cells attach and grow. Dividing by viability increases the prepared cell count so the effective seeded viable cells match your target density.
2) What overage percentage should I use?
Common values are 5–15%. Use higher overage for small volumes, viscous mixes, or when using multi-channel pipettes where loss can be greater.
3) Are plate preset areas exact?
They are typical growth areas for standard plates. Different brands and well geometries can vary. For precision work, switch to custom area and enter the datasheet value.
4) How do I seed multiple conditions per plate?
Run the calculator once per condition. Change the number of wells for that condition, then combine totals if you want one pooled cell suspension.
5) What if my stock is in cells/µL?
Convert to cells/mL by multiplying by 1000. For example, 2,000 cells/µL equals 2,000,000 cells/mL.
6) Why does the dilution factor matter?
It tells you how much the stock is diluted to reach the final seeding volume. Very large dilution may reduce mixing accuracy; consider making an intermediate dilution.
7) Can this be used for 3D scaffolds or bioreactors?
Yes, if you use custom area or an effective surface estimate. For volume-based systems, compute an equivalent area or use total cells mode for a direct target.
8) What is a good sanity check before seeding?
Verify units, confirm the total volume matches your wells, then back-calculate expected density. If the stock volume is tiny, plan an intermediate dilution.