# Percent Solution Calculator (w/v, w/w, v/v)

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/chemistry/percent-solution/
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> Work out the percent concentration of a solution as weight/volume (w/v), weight/weight (w/w) or volume/volume (v/v), or find how much solute you need to make a solution of a given percentage. Results also come in g/L and ppm.

## Inputs

- Calculate
- Mass of solute (g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lb)
- I know the mass of
- Mass of solution (g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lb)
- Mass of solvent (g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lb)
- Solute amount given as
- Volume of solute (L, mL, µL, m³, dm³, cm³, US gal, fl oz (US))
- Mass of solute (g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lb)
- Density of solute (g/mL, g/cm³, kg/m³, kg/L, lb/ft³)
- Target percentage (%)
- Volume of solution (L, mL, µL, m³, dm³, cm³, US gal, fl oz (US))
- Total mass of solution (g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lb)
- Show the solute in a volume of (L, mL, µL, m³, dm³, cm³, US gal, fl oz (US))

## Results

- Concentration (w/v)
- Mass per volume
- Parts per million (mg/L)
- Solute in the chosen volume
- Concentration (w/w)
- Mass of solvent
- Parts per million by mass
- Concentration (v/v)
- Volume of solute
- Solvent to make up to volume (approx.)
- Solute to weigh out
- Solute to weigh out
- Solvent to add
- Mass per volume

## Formula

```
w/v % = mass of solute (g) ÷ volume of solution (mL) × 100
w/w % = mass of solute ÷ mass of solution × 100
v/v % = volume of solute ÷ volume of solution × 100
Volume of solute = mass ÷ density
```

## Explanation

A percent solution tells you how much solute is in 100 parts of solution, but "parts" can mean three different things. Weight/volume (w/v) percent is grams of solute per 100 mL of solution – physiological saline is 0.9% w/v NaCl, 0.9 g in every 100 mL. Weight/weight (w/w) percent compares masses and is used for concentrated acids, alloys and foods. Volume/volume (v/v) percent compares volumes and is used for liquids dissolved in liquids – the alcohol content of drinks, for instance.

Mixing up the three is one of the commonest sources of error, because they only agree for dilute aqueous solutions with a density close to 1 g/mL. A 40% w/w sugar syrup is not 40% w/v, and 40% v/v ethanol is about 34% w/w because ethanol is lighter than water.

Choose the type you need. The calculator also shows the w/v result as g/L and parts per million, the amount of solute in any volume you choose, and – in the two preparation modes – the mass of solute to weigh out for a target percentage.

### How to use the Percent Solution Calculator

- **Calculate**
- **Mass of solute**
- **I know the mass of**
- **Mass of solution**
- **Mass of solvent**
- **Solute amount given as**
- **Volume of solute**
- **Mass of solute**
- **Density of solute**
- **Target percentage**
- **Volume of solution**
- **Total mass of solution**
- **Show the solute in a volume of**

Results update as you type, every field has its own unit menu, and everything is calculated in your browser.

### How it works

Pick the kind of percentage, then enter the amounts of solute and solution. Always use the total amount of solution (solute plus solvent) in the denominator, not the solvent alone. For v/v you can enter the solute volume directly or its mass and density, and the calculator converts mass to volume.

### Worked example

**w/v:** 12 g of glucose made up to 250 mL gives 12 ÷ 250 × 100 = **4.8% w/v**, or 48 g/L (48,000 ppm); 100 mL of it contains 4.8 g. **w/w:** the same 12 g in a 150 g solution is 12 ÷ 150 × 100 = 8% w/w. **v/v:** 31.56 g of ethanol (density 0.789 g/mL) is 40.0 mL; made up to 250 mL that is 16.0% v/v. **Preparation:** 500 mL of 0.9% w/v saline needs 0.9 × 5 = 4.5 g NaCl; 200 g of a 5% w/w solution needs 10 g of solute and 190 g of water.

### Which percentage to use

TypeTypical useExamplew/vBiology and medicine, solids in water0.9% saline, 5% glucose infusionw/wConcentrated reagents, food, alloys37% HCl, 20% sugar syrupv/vLiquids in liquids40% ABV spirits, 70% isopropanol

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterCalculateChoose one: Weight/volume % (w/v), Weight/weight % (w/w), Volume/volume % (v/v), Solute needed for a w/v % solution …Mass of soluteUnits: g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lbI know the mass ofChoose one: the whole solution, the solvent onlyMass of solutionUnits: g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lbMass of solventUnits: g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lbSolute amount given asChoose one: Volume of solute, Mass and density of soluteVolume of soluteUnits: L, mL, µL, m³, dm³, cm³ …Mass of soluteUnits: g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lbDensity of soluteUnits: g/mL, g/cm³, kg/m³, kg/L, lb/ft³Target percentageIn %Volume of solutionUnits: L, mL, µL, m³, dm³, cm³ …Total mass of solutionUnits: g, mg, µg, kg, oz, lbShow the solute in a volume ofUnits: L, mL, µL, m³, dm³, cm³ …

### What each result means

- **Concentration (w/v)** = [Mass of solute]÷[Volume of solution]÷10
- **Mass per volume** = [Mass of solute]÷[Volume of solution]
- **Parts per million (mg/L)** = [Mass of solute]÷[Volume of solution]×1000
- **Solute in the chosen volume** = [Mass of solute]÷[Volume of solution]×[Show the solute in a volume of]
- **Concentration (w/w)** = [Mass of solute]÷[Mass of solution used]×100
- **Mass of solvent** = [Mass of solution used] - [Mass of solute]
- **Parts per million by mass** = [Mass of solute]÷[Mass of solution used]×1e6
- **Concentration (v/v)** = [Solute volume (L)]÷[Volume of solution]×100
- **Volume of solute** = [Solute volume (L)]
- **Solvent to make up to volume (approx.)** = [Volume of solution] - [Solute volume (L)]
- **Solute to weigh out** = [Target percentage]÷100×[Volume of solution]×1000
- **Solute to weigh out** = [Target percentage]÷100×[Total mass of solution]
- **Solvent to add** = [Total mass of solution] - [Target percentage]÷100×[Total mass of solution]
- **Mass per volume** = [Target percentage]×10

## Worked example

Inputs — Calculate: Weight/volume % (w/v); Mass of solute: 12 g; Volume of solution: 0.25 L; Show the solute in a volume of: 0.1 L.

Results — **Concentration (w/v) = 4.8 % w/v**; Mass per volume = 48 g/L; Parts per million (mg/L) = 48,000 ppm; Solute in the chosen volume = 4.8 g.

## Key terms

- **Solute**: The substance being dissolved.
- **Solvent**: The liquid that does the dissolving, usually water.
- **w/v percent**: Grams of solute per 100 mL of solution.
- **w/w percent**: Grams of solute per 100 g of solution.
- **v/v percent**: Millilitres of solute per 100 mL of solution.

## FAQ

**How do I make a 10% w/v solution?**
Dissolve 10 g of solute in some solvent and make the volume up to 100 mL (or 100 g in 1 L). Do not add the solute to 100 mL of solvent – the total volume must be 100 mL.

**How much salt is in 500 mL of 0.9% saline?**
0.9 g per 100 mL × 5 = 4.5 g of sodium chloride.

**What is the difference between w/v, w/w and v/v?**
w/v is grams per 100 mL of solution, w/w is grams per 100 g of solution, v/v is millilitres per 100 mL of solution.

**What is 7.8 g of sugar in 62 mL as a percentage?**
7.8 ÷ 62 × 100 = 12.58% w/v.

**How do I convert w/v % to ppm?**
1% w/v = 10 g/L = 10,000 mg/L, which is 10,000 ppm for dilute aqueous solutions.

**Why is my v/v result not the same as w/w?**
Liquids have different densities: 40% v/v ethanol in water is about 34% w/w because ethanol (0.789 g/mL) is lighter than water.

**Can the volumes in v/v be added?**
Not exactly – mixing ethanol and water shrinks the volume by a few percent, so always make up to the final volume.


## Sources

- [OpenStax – Chemistry 2e](https://openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e)
- [LibreTexts Chemistry](https://chem.libretexts.org/)
- [IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology (Gold Book)](https://goldbook.iupac.org/)