Mix cleaners, concentrates and chemicals right: enter a 1:X ratio and your container size to get exact concentrate and water volumes, or work the ratio out from volumes you already use.
Pick a direction, enter your numbers and the result updates as you type.
Concentrate needed per container size, in the 1 part concentrate : X parts water convention. Fill with water to the container's total volume.
| Ratio | 500 mL | 1 L | 5 L | 16 oz | 32 oz | 1 gal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:4 | 100 mL | 200 mL | 1,000 mL | 3.2 oz | 6.4 oz | 25.6 oz |
| 1:8 | 55.6 mL | 111 mL | 556 mL | 1.78 oz | 3.56 oz | 14.2 oz |
| 1:10 | 45.5 mL | 90.9 mL | 455 mL | 1.45 oz | 2.91 oz | 11.6 oz |
| 1:16 | 29.4 mL | 58.8 mL | 294 mL | 0.941 oz | 1.88 oz | 7.53 oz |
| 1:32 | 15.2 mL | 30.3 mL | 152 mL | 0.485 oz | 0.97 oz | 3.88 oz |
| 1:64 | 7.69 mL | 15.4 mL | 76.9 mL | 0.246 oz | 0.492 oz | 1.97 oz |
| 1:128 | 3.88 mL | 7.75 mL | 38.8 mL | 0.124 oz | 0.248 oz | 0.992 oz |
| 1:256 | 1.95 mL | 3.89 mL | 19.5 mL | 0.0623 oz | 0.125 oz | 0.498 oz |
This page uses the convention printed on cleaning and detailing products: 1:10 means 1 part concentrate plus 10 parts water, 11 parts in total. For a given container, the concentrate share is therefore total ÷ (X + 1) — not total ÷ X, the single most common mixing mistake.
An all-purpose cleaner at 1:10 in a 32 oz spray bottle: concentrate = 32 ÷ 11 ≈ 2.9 oz, then fill with water to 32 oz. The same bottle at 1:32 takes 32 ÷ 33 ≈ 0.97 oz — almost exactly one ounce per quart, which is why 1:32 is such a common label ratio.
A dilution ratio counts the added water; a dilution factor counts total parts. 1:10 in ratio terms is an 11× dilution, and a 10× dilution is 1:9 in ratio terms. Lab protocols usually speak in factors, product labels in ratios — make sure you know which one your instructions mean before mixing.
The chart lists the concentrate needed for common ratios across typical container sizes, computed with the same formula as the calculator. Measure the concentrate first, then top up with water to the container's total volume so the final volume is exact.
For a ratio of 1:X and a total volume V, the concentrate share is V ÷ (X + 1) and the diluent is the rest. In the other direction, X is simply the diluent volume divided by the concentrate volume. The chart applies the same formula to fixed ratios and container sizes.
The 1 part concentrate : X parts diluent convention follows product-label practice. If your instructions use the total-parts convention instead, subtract one from the stated ratio before entering it.
This calculator is for general household and workshop reference. Follow the product label and safety data sheet for hazardous chemicals.
Short answers to the questions people ask most about dilution ratios.