# Capacitors in Series Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/physics/capacitors-in-series/
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> The capacitors in series calculator finds the total capacitance of up to ten capacitors connected in series, and the charge and voltage on each for a given applied voltage.

## Inputs

- Capacitor 1 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 2 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 3 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 4 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 5 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 6 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 7 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 8 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 9 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Capacitor 10 (µF, nF, pF, mF, F)
- Applied voltage (optional) (V, mV, kV, µV, MV)

## Results

- Total capacitance
- Charge on each capacitor
- Voltage across C1
- Voltage across C2
- Voltage across C3

## Formula

```
1/C_total = Σ 1/C_i,  Q = C_total·V,  V_i = Q/C_i
```

## Explanation

Capacitors in series behave like resistors in parallel: the total is smaller than the smallest one. Series connection raises the voltage rating – useful for high-voltage banks and supercapacitor packs.

### How to use the Capacitors in Series Calculator

- **Capacitor 1**
- **Capacitor 2**
- **Capacitor 3**
- **Capacitor 4**
- **Capacitor 5**
- **Capacitor 6**
- **Capacitor 7**
- **Capacitor 8**
- **Capacitor 9**
- **Capacitor 10**
- **Applied voltage (optional)**

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

### How it works

Enter the capacitances (leave unused fields at 0) and optionally the applied voltage.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterCapacitor 1Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 2Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 3Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 4Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 5Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 6Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 7Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 8Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 9Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FCapacitor 10Units: µF, nF, pF, mF, FApplied voltage (optional)Units: V, mV, kV, µV, MV

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Capacitor 1** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Capacitor 1 (µF)Total capacitance (µF)53.74917.54.9984105.997712.56.8152157.4964208.5667

## Worked example

Inputs — Capacitor 1: 10 µF; Capacitor 2: 22 µF; Capacitor 3: 47 µF; Capacitor 4: 0 µF; Capacitor 5: 0 µF; Capacitor 6: 0 µF; Capacitor 7: 0 µF; Capacitor 8: 0 µF; Capacitor 9: 0 µF; Capacitor 10: 0 µF; Applied voltage (optional): 12 V.

Results — **Total capacitance = 5.99768 µF**; Charge on each capacitor = 71.97216 µC; Voltage across C1 = 7.1972 V; Voltage across C2 = 3.2715 V; Voltage across C3 = 1.5313 V.

## Key terms

- **Series connection**: Components connected end to end.

## FAQ

**Is series capacitance larger or smaller?**
Smaller than the smallest capacitor.

**Why connect capacitors in series?**
To increase the voltage rating.

**Do all capacitors have the same charge?**
Yes – in series, Q is the same for all.

**Why add balancing resistors?**
Leakage differences can unbalance the voltages.


## Sources

- [OpenStax – University Physics Volume 2](https://openstax.org/details/books/university-physics-volume-2)
- [HyperPhysics (Georgia State University)](http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html)