Electrical · Free Calculator
Capacitor Series and Parallel Calculator
Find the total capacitance of up to six capacitors in series or in parallel. Leave unused boxes empty.
SeriesParallelUp to 6 capacitorspF, nF, µF
Parallel total32 µF
Series total6.875 µF
Capacitors counted2
How this result was calculated
- Parallel: C = C1 + C2 + … = 32 µF
- Series: 1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + … → C = 6.875 µF
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Capacitor Combination Formulas
Parallel: CT = C1 + C2 + …
Series: 1 ÷ CT = 1 ÷ C1 + 1 ÷ C2 + …
Series: 1 ÷ CT = 1 ÷ C1 + 1 ÷ C2 + …
Worked example
10 µF and 22 µF give 32 µF in parallel and 6.875 µF in series.
Key insight: capacitors combine the opposite way to resistors. In series the voltage divides unequally, so add balancing resistors when stacking electrolytic capacitors for higher voltage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do capacitors add in series or parallel?
They add directly in parallel. In series the total is less than the smallest capacitor.
Why connect capacitors in series?
To raise the voltage rating of the combination, at the cost of lower total capacitance.
What voltage rating does a parallel bank have?
The rating of the lowest rated capacitor in the bank.
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