Enter up to 10 capacitor values to calculate the total series capacitance. Input your capacitance values (C1 through C10) in microfarads (µF) and the tool returns the total equivalent capacitance for capacitors connected in series. Only C1 and C2 are required — leave the rest blank to exclude them from the calculation.
Total Series Capacitance
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Total Capacitance (nF)
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Total Capacitance (pF)
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Capacitors in Circuit
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Smallest Capacitor (reference)
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For capacitors connected in series, the reciprocal of the total capacitance equals the sum of the reciprocals of each individual capacitor: 1/C_total = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 + ... The total capacitance is always less than the smallest individual capacitor in the series chain.
In a series connection, each capacitor adds its own reciprocal (1/C) to the sum. Since you are summing reciprocals and then inverting, the result is always smaller than any individual capacitor value. This is the opposite behavior to resistors in series, and it mirrors how resistors behave in parallel.
Inputs are entered in microfarads (µF). The results are displayed in µF, nanofarads (nF), and picofarads (pF) so you can use whichever unit is most convenient for your circuit design. To convert: 1 µF = 1,000 nF = 1,000,000 pF.
This calculator supports up to 10 capacitors in series. Only C1 and C2 are required — any fields left blank are automatically excluded from the calculation. The tool counts how many capacitors are active and labels them in the breakdown table.
When capacitors are connected in series, the total voltage across the series combination is divided among the individual capacitors. Each capacitor shares the same charge (Q), so a smaller capacitor will have a higher voltage across it. This voltage distribution is important for selecting capacitors with adequate voltage ratings.
Capacitors are connected in series primarily to achieve a higher effective voltage rating than any single capacitor provides. For example, two 16V capacitors in series can handle up to 32V. However, this comes at the cost of reduced total capacitance. Parallel connections are used when you need higher capacitance.
For polarized capacitors such as electrolytic types, polarity must be respected — connecting them incorrectly can damage or destroy the capacitor. In AC or certain back-to-back series configurations, non-polarized capacitors are the safer choice. Ceramic and film capacitors are non-polarized and can be placed in any orientation.
In a series connection, capacitance decreases (1/C_total = sum of 1/C_n), while the voltage rating effectively increases. In a parallel connection, capacitances simply add together (C_total = C1 + C2 + ...) giving a larger total capacitance at the same voltage rating. Use series for voltage handling and parallel for capacitance boost.