Cell Seeding Calculator
V(suspension) = cells required / stock concentration
Cell suspension and medium volumes for a target seeding density, with wells, plates and replicates only counted when you enter them.
Inputs
From your haemocytometer or automated count.
Selecting a format fills the well count — you can still override it below.
Covers pipetting losses and dead volume. Applied only at the value shown.
Result
1.32 mL cell suspension
Add 11.88 mL medium for a total of 13.2 mL across 24 wells.
Calculation
Total wells
wells × plates × replicates (only those you entered)
24 wells
Total cells required
N = cells per well × wells × excess factor
N = 50000 × 24 × 1.1
N = 1.32000 × 10⁺⁶ cells
Cell suspension volume
V(stock) = N / c(stock)
V = 1.32000 × 10⁺⁶ cells / 1.00000 × 10⁺⁶ cells/mL
V(stock) = 1.32 mL
Total plating volume
V(total) = volume per well × wells × excess factor
13.2 mL
Medium to add
V(medium) = V(total) − V(stock)
11.88 mL
Inputs
- Stock concentration
- 1.00000 × 10⁺⁶ cells/mL
- Cells per well
- 50000
- Wells
- 24
- Plates
- —
- Replicates
- —
- Volume per well
- 500 µL
- Excess
- 10 %
Plates and replicates are only multiplied in when you enter them. The total well count used is shown above.
Cell counts carry counting error; the suspension concentration used here is the one you measured.
Plate layout
24-well
- Seeded wells
24 of 24 wells seeded at 500 µL per well, filled row by row from A1.
About this calculator
Given the concentration of your counted cell suspension and the number of cells you want per well, this calculator works out how much suspension to take and how much medium to add to reach the total plating volume.
Plates and replicates are optional multipliers that are applied only when you enter them, and the effective well count used is always shown. If the suspension is too dilute to deliver the requested cells in the available volume, the calculator says so rather than returning a negative medium volume.
LabReadyTools is provided as a calculation aid. Users remain responsible for verifying calculations, units, chemical compatibility, experimental procedures and applicable safety requirements before laboratory use.
Related calculators
Dilution
C1 × V1 = C2 × V2
Solve C1 × V1 = C2 × V2 for any missing variable.
OpenMaster mix
total = per reaction × n × (1 + excess)
Scale any per-reaction component list to a batch with explicit excess.
OpenCFU / plating
CFU/mL = colonies / (V × dilution fraction)
Colony counts to CFU/mL, with explicit dilution and plated volume.
Open