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Serial Dilution Calculator and Planner
For many quantification assays, a set of standards must be run alongside test samples in order to calibrate an experiment properly. These standards are used to create what is known as a calibration curve, or standard curve. From this curve, the quantity of target in a sample can be calculated.
Standards for the calibration curve are typically chosen such that they span the linearity of a given assay. This represents the range of quantities over which response values are directly proportional to changes in the target of interest. For many quantification assays, the linearity range is logarithmic in nature. Thus, when creating standards for a given assay, it is often necessary to prepare the standards using a serial dilution.
A serial dilution is a sequence of dilutions created using the same dilution factor. For instance, creating a two-fold dilution with a starting concentration of 10 µM yields the following concentrations: 10 µM, 5 µM, 2.5 µM, 1.25 µM, etc.
The tool below can be used to create a protocol for preparing a serial dilution from a stock solution.
Calculate serial dilution using
Stock solution name
Diluent name
Concentration of stock solution
Serial dilution initial concentration
Dilution factor
Final volume of each dilution
Number of dilutions
Number of replicates (optional)
Custom Protocol
The following protocol can be used to prepare a serial dilution of cAMP standard with Diluent buffer as the solvent. Values in the table indicate the reagent compositions per dilution.
NOTE!     You are attempting a serial dilution with very small volumes (ie. < 2 µL). For accuracy, it is recommended to do several intermediary dilutions with greater volumes or lesser dilution factors.
DilutioncAMP standard Volume (nL)SourceDiluent buffer Volume (nL)Concentration (nM)
12.24from 1 mM stock197.7611200
250from dilution 11502800
350from dilution 2150700
450from dilution 3150175
550from dilution 415043.75
650from dilution 515010.9375
750from dilution 61502.7344
Control0from Diluent buffer197.760
  • Pipette 2.24 nL of 1 mM stock into 197.76 nL of Diluent buffer . Mix well before continuing. Avoid generating bubbles.
  • Pipette 50 nL of dilution 1 (from step 1) into 150 nL of Diluent buffer to create dilution 2 . Mix well before continuing. Avoid generating bubbles.
  • Pipette 50 nL of dilution 2 (from step 2) into 150 nL of Diluent buffer to create dilution 3 . Mix well before continuing. Avoid generating bubbles.
  • Pipette 50 nL of dilution 3 (from step 3) into 150 nL of Diluent buffer to create dilution 4 . Mix well before continuing. Avoid generating bubbles.
  • Pipette 50 nL of dilution 4 (from step 4) into 150 nL of Diluent buffer to create dilution 5 . Mix well before continuing. Avoid generating bubbles.
  • Pipette 50 nL of dilution 5 (from step 5) into 150 nL of Diluent buffer to create dilution 6 . Mix well before continuing. Avoid generating bubbles.
  • Pipette 50 nL of dilution 6 (from step 6) into 150 nL of Diluent buffer to create dilution 7 . Mix well before continuing. Avoid generating bubbles. Discard 50 nL from dilution 7 to obtain the correct volume for the final dilution.
  • Create a blank control using 197.76 nL of Diluent buffer. This should be enough for 2 replicates.
  • Using the table in the protocol as a guide, pipette 73.88 nL of each standard into its corresponding well in the experimental microplate. Standards prepared with this protocol should be enough for 2 replicates. Use of a multi-channel pipette is highly recommended.
Feedback
Have a question or a feature request about this tool? Feel free to reach out to us and let us know! We're always looking for ways to improve!
References
This online resource may be cited as follows
MLA
"Quest Calculate™ Serial Dilution Calculator and Planner." AAT Bioquest, Inc., 26 Aug. 2026, https://www.aatbio.com/tools/serial-dilution.
APA
AAT Bioquest, Inc. (2026, August 26). Quest Calculate™ Serial Dilution Calculator and Planner. AAT Bioquest. https://www.aatbio.com/tools/serial-dilution.
BibTeXEndNoteRefMan

  • Select the method for calculating the serial dilution. Serial dilutions can be calculated either using a starting concentration and dilution factor OR a concentration range.
  • Enter the name of the stock solution.
  • Enter the name of the diluent (solution used to dilute the stock solution).
  • Enter the stock solution concentration and select the appropriate unit.
  • Enter the desired initial concentration. In a microplate format, this represents the desired concentration of the first well. For a series of test tubes, this is the desired concentration of the first test tube. Select the appropriate unit. Please note that the initial concentration value cannot exceed the concentration of the stock solution. The initial concentration can, however, be the same as the stock solution concentration.
  • If the unit of the stock solution is different than that of the initial concentration, the molar mass of the stock solution will be required.
  • Enter the desired final volume for the serial dilution. Please note that each serial dilution will have the same final volume. In a 96-well microplate format, the maximum volume for a single well is typically 300 µL. Select the appropriate unit. It is recommended to include excessive dilution volume to account for loss that may occur during pipetting.
  • Enter the dilution factor for the serial dilution.
  • Enter the number of times the serial dilution needs to be performed. For a 96-well microplate format, this number is typically 7 (if using a single column) or 11 if using a single row. The final well is usually filled with diluent to serve as a negative control.
  • Press the calculate button to display results.

  • Dilution Factor

    Calculate dilution factor given initial and final volumes

  • M1V1 = M2V2

    Solve for concentration or volume with a dilution

  • Serial Dilution

    Generates a serial dilution protocol based on dilution factor or concentration range