Local calculator
Cleaner dilution calculator
Translate a label ratio written as one part concentrate to a stated number of parts water into container-ready amounts.
Calculate a mix
Definition used here: 1 part concentrate : N parts water.
How the calculation works
A 1:N product-to-water ratio has 1 + N total parts. The calculator divides your chosen final volume by that total. One share is concentrate; the remaining N shares are water.
For example, a 1:10 ratio contains 11 total parts. A 1,000 mL final volume needs about 90.91 mL concentrate and 909.09 mL water.
Labels are not always written the same way. Some state an amount per litre or gallon, or define a percentage of the final solution. Use those exact instructions instead of translating them into this ratio tool.
Rounding and container size
The result is shown to practical precision, but household measuring cups and bottle markings may be much less precise. Choose a container that can hold the full final volume with headroom, and use the measuring device recommended by the product maker.
Safety limits
- Never mix cleaning products unless the product manufacturer explicitly instructs you to do so.
- Never combine bleach with acids, ammonia, or an unknown residue.
- Wear the protective equipment and provide the ventilation stated on the label.
- This tool does not determine whether a product is suitable for a surface or whether it disinfects at a chosen ratio.
The label controls. If the label gives a different quantity, sequence, contact time, or disposal method, follow the label.
Worked examples
The table below shows the arithmetic for three common product-to-water ratios. It is an example of the calculation, not a recommendation to use any particular ratio. Confirm that your product label uses the same ratio definition before measuring.
| Label ratio | 500 mL final | 1,000 mL final |
|---|---|---|
| 1:4 | 100 mL concentrate + 400 mL water | 200 mL concentrate + 800 mL water |
| 1:10 | 45.45 mL concentrate + 454.55 mL water | 90.91 mL concentrate + 909.09 mL water |
| 1:64 | 7.69 mL concentrate + 492.31 mL water | 15.38 mL concentrate + 984.62 mL water |
Read the label before entering a ratio
A label may say "1 part product to 10 parts water," "10 mL per litre," "make a 10% solution," or simply "dilute 1:10." Those statements are not automatically interchangeable. The calculator accepts only the first pattern: one part concentrate plus N parts water, where the final volume includes both.
If the label gives an amount per litre or gallon, use that amount directly. If it gives a percentage of the final solution, use the percentage method stated by the maker. When the wording is ambiguous, contact the manufacturer instead of guessing which side of the ratio is water.
Measure, mix, and record
- Confirm the product name, ratio definition, surface, ventilation, protective equipment, and required contact time.
- Choose a clean container that can hold the full final volume without overflowing and that the product label permits.
- Measure both amounts with a marked device suited to the volume. Do not estimate a small concentrate amount with an unmarked cup.
- Add and mix only in the sequence stated on the label. Keep the original container nearby in case the directions differ.
- Write the product, ratio, date, and discard instruction on the container if the label requires a prepared-solution record.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my answer not match a bottle's "per litre" instruction?
The bottle may be specifying a fixed dose or a percentage rather than a 1:N product-to-water ratio. Entering that number as N would create a different mixture. Follow the bottle's own unit and method.
Can I make a larger batch by multiplying the result?
Only when the label permits storage and the container, stability, and discard period are known. A larger batch does not make an unapproved product or surface combination safe.
What should I do if I measured the wrong amount?
Do not "correct" the mixture by adding another product. Set it aside safely, check the label's disposal guidance, and prepare a new batch only when the correct method and container are clear.