Capacitors in Series and Parallel Calculator
Type your capacitor values in microfarads, nanofarads or picofarads. You get the series and parallel totals, with the energy stored if you give a voltage.
Write values as 100n, 4u7, 10p or 0.001. The letters mean p = picofarad, n = nanofarad, u = microfarad and m = millifarad.
Worked examples
Parallel
100n and 4u7
4.8 microfarads in parallel
0.1 + 4.7 microfarads.
Series
10u and 10u
5 microfarads in series
Equal capacitors in series halve the value.
About Capacitors in Series and Parallel Calculator
Capacitors combine in the opposite way to resistors. In parallel, their capacitances simply add, as if the plates were joined into one larger plate. In series, the total is smaller than the smallest part, found from the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals. This calculator shows both totals for any list of values at once.
Enter values in the shorthand used on schematics and capacitor markings: 100n, 4u7, 10p or 0.001. The page also shows how a voltage divides between capacitors in series, where the smallest capacitor carries the largest share, and the energy stored at a voltage you choose. That matters when you join capacitors in series to reach a higher voltage rating.
How to use Capacitors in Series and Parallel Calculator
- Type the capacitor values, one per line or separated by commas.
- Use p for picofarads, n for nanofarads, u for microfarads and m for millifarads.
- Optionally enter the voltage across the network.
- Read the series and parallel totals, the energy stored and the voltage share table.
Common uses
- Building a larger capacitance from several parts in parallel
- Working out the total of two capacitors in series for a filter
- Checking the voltage across each capacitor in a series pair
- Revision for electronics and physics courses
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for capacitors in series?
The reciprocal of the total capacitance is the sum of the reciprocals of the parts: 1 / C = 1 / C1 + 1 / C2 + and so on. Two equal capacitors in series give half of one.
Why do capacitors in parallel add up?
Joining them in parallel effectively increases the plate area that stores charge, so the capacitance is the sum of the parts.
How does voltage divide between capacitors in series?
The charge on each is the same, so the voltage across each is inversely proportional to its capacitance. The smallest capacitor takes the biggest share, and can exceed its rating even when the total voltage is fine.
What do p, n and u mean?
They are the prefixes pico, nano and micro: 1 nF is 0.001 microfarad, and 1 microfarad is 1,000 nanofarads. Use u in place of the Greek letter mu.