Bleach Dilution Calculator

Calculate bleach dilutions for sanitization and disinfection. Enter your bleach concentration, target strength, and desired volume to find how much bleach and water to mix.

Usually 5-8.25% for household bleach

Diluted bleach working solution

Total diluted solution to make

BLEACH DILUTION FORMULA: V₁ × C₁ = V₂ × C₂ Rearranged: V₁ = (C₂ × V₂) / C₁ Where: - V₁ = Volume of concentrated bleach needed - C₁ = Concentration of bleach (%) - V₂ = Final volume after dilution - C₂ = Target concentration (%) IMPORTANT: - Always add bleach TO water, not water to bleach - Mix thoroughly - Use within 24 hours - Never mix with ammonia or acids
Example: Make 1 gallon of 0.5% sanitizer from 5% bleach V₁ = (0.5% × 1 gal) ÷ 5% = 0.5 ÷ 5 = 0.1 gal bleach = 12.8 oz Add: - 0.1 gal (12.8 oz) bleach - 0.9 gal (115.2 oz) water - Total: 1 gallon at 0.5% For 5 gallons at same dilution: V₁ = (0.5 × 5) ÷ 5 = 0.5 gal bleach + 4.5 gal water = 5 gallons total

What bleach concentration should I use?

Common household bleach is ~5-8.25% sodium hypochlorite. For sanitizing: 0.5% (1:10 dilution of 5%). For disinfecting surfaces: 1% (1:50). Higher concentrations (2-5%) for foul odors or mold. Always dilute—concentrated bleach damages surfaces and irritates lungs.

How do I dilute bleach safely?

Step 1: Calculate bleach volume = (Target% ÷ Current%) × Total volume. Step 2: Add bleach to water (NOT water to bleach—this prevents splashing). Step 3: Mix well. Step 4: Use within 24 hours—dilute bleach degrades rapidly. Never mix with ammonia or other cleaners.

Why use 0.5% bleach solution?

0.5% (5000 ppm chlorine) is EPA-registered for sanitization and many disinfecting uses. It effectively kills most pathogens while being safe for food contact surfaces when rinsed. Higher concentrations don't work better—they just waste bleach and can damage materials.

How long does diluted bleach last?

Diluted bleach solutions lose strength rapidly—about 50% in 3-6 months even when stored properly. At 1 week, loses ~20%. Make fresh solutions daily for critical uses (healthcare, food service). For home use, make weekly and discard after 1 month. Always check the " bleach odor"—if gone, it's ineffective.

Can I use this for pool chlorine?

Pool chlorine is usually calcium hypochlorite (65-70% available chlorine), different from sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach). The calculation is similar, but check pool product instructions for proper dilution ratios and concentrations.

What dilution ratio means 1:10?

1:10 dilution means 1 part bleach to 10 parts total (not 10 parts water!). For 1 gallon 5% bleach → 1:10 gives 0.5% and total 10 gallons. The ratio bleach:water is 1:9, bleach:total is 1:10. Our calculator works both ways.

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