Capacitor Series and Parallel Calculator
Enter a list of capacitor values to get the total capacitance in series and in parallel. Add a voltage to see the stored energy, the charge, and how the voltage divides across capacitors in series.
Separate with commas, spaces or new lines. Suffixes p, n, u (µ), m are understood; plain numbers use the default unit.
For stored energy, charge and voltage per capacitor
How to use the Capacitor Series and Parallel Calculator
- Choose series or parallel.
- Type your capacitor values, separated by commas or spaces (e.g. 10u, 22u, 47u).
- Pick the default unit for plain numbers.
- Enter the voltage to see energy, charge and voltage sharing.
- Read the total and check the per-capacitor table.
Series and parallel capacitor formulas
| Parallel | Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Total capacitance | C = C₁ + C₂ + … | 1/C = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂ + … |
| Voltage | Same on every capacitor | Divides: Vᵢ = Q ÷ Cᵢ |
| Charge | Divides: Qᵢ = Cᵢ × V | Same on every capacitor |
| Two equal capacitors C | 2C | C ÷ 2 |
| n equal capacitors C | n × C | C ÷ n |
Note that capacitors combine the opposite way to resistors: resistors add in series, capacitors add in parallel.
Capacitor unit prefixes
| Prefix | Symbol | Farads | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| pico | pF | 10⁻¹² | 1,000 pF = 1 nF |
| nano | nF | 10⁻⁹ | 1,000 nF = 1 µF |
| micro | µF (uF) | 10⁻⁶ | 1,000 µF = 1 mF |
| milli | mF | 10⁻³ | 1,000 mF = 1 F |
Energy example: a 470 µF capacitor charged to 16 V stores ½ × 0.00047 × 16² ≈ 0.060 J. Large capacitors can hold a dangerous charge after power is removed, so discharge them safely before handling.
Frequently asked questions
How do you add capacitors in parallel?
Capacitors in parallel simply add: C = C₁ + C₂ + C₃ + …. Two 10 µF capacitors in parallel make 20 µF. Every capacitor sees the full voltage.
How do you add capacitors in series?
In series the reciprocals add: 1/C = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂ + …. For two capacitors C = (C₁ × C₂) ÷ (C₁ + C₂). Two 100 µF in series make 50 µF, and the total is always smaller than the smallest capacitor.
How much energy does a capacitor store?
E = ½ × C × V², in joules when C is in farads and V in volts. A 1,000 µF capacitor at 25 V stores 0.5 × 0.001 × 625 = 0.3125 J.
How is voltage shared between capacitors in series?
All capacitors in series carry the same charge Q, so each voltage is Vᵢ = Q ÷ Cᵢ. The smallest capacitor gets the largest voltage. Real capacitors leak differently, so balancing resistors are often added across series electrolytics and supercapacitors.
Why put capacitors in series?
To get a higher voltage rating than a single part, for example stacking 2.7 V supercapacitors, or to get a value you do not have. The total capacitance goes down, but the voltage is shared.
What do 104, 4n7 and 100nF mean?
100nF is 100 nanofarads (0.1 µF). 4n7 is 4.7 nF, with the letter used as the decimal point. 104 is a 3-digit code meaning 10 × 10⁴ pF = 100 nF; use the Capacitor Code Calculator to decode it.