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PPM Calculator

PPM calculator: parts per million to mg/L, percent, ppb, mg/kg and mg/m3, plus mass of solute for a target ppm and a dilution mode.

Created by Muhammad Asif Zaheer
Reviewed by CalculatorPlanet Editorial Team

Published

Last updated

Concentration
250.0000 ppm
Concentration
250,000.00 ppb
Concentration
0.025000%
In water
250.0000 mg/L
In water
250,000.00 ug/L
In water
0.25000 g/L
By mass
250.0000 mg/kg
Solute mass
5,000.000 mg
Solute mass
5.00000 g

How the PPM Calculator Formula Works

Parts per million says how many parts of a substance there are in a million parts of the whole. By mass it is milligrams of substance per kilogram of sample, so 3 mg in 2.5 kg is 1.2 ppm. Multiply a fraction by 1,000,000 to get ppm, or a percentage by 10,000.

In dilute water solutions one litre weighs about one kilogram, so 1 ppm is also 1 milligram per litre. This calculator uses that assumption of exactly 1 kg per litre for the water modes, which is accurate to a fraction of a percent for most drinking and cleaning water and a few percent for seawater. It also works out how many milligrams or grams you need for a target ppm and volume.

The dilution mode uses C1 x V1 = C2 x V2 to find how much stock to measure and how much water to add. The gas mode converts ppm by volume to mg per cubic metre using the molar volume R T / P at the temperature and pressure you enter, and the molarity mode converts mol per litre to ppm with the molar mass.

ppm = (mass of solute / mass of sample) × 1,000,000 = mg/kg; in water: ppm = mg / litres; 1% = 10,000 ppm; gas: mg/m3 = ppm × M / Vm; dilution: C1 V1 = C2 V2
What goes in, what comes out
  • ppmmg/kgParts per million, the mass of solute per million parts of sample.
  • m soluteug, mg or gMass of the dissolved or mixed substance.
  • m sampleg, kg or lbTotal mass of the sample or solution.
  • VmL, L or US galVolume of water or final solution.
  • Mg/molMolar mass, for the gas and molarity modes.
  • + 1 more input below
Concentration
250
Values shown are from the worked example below
ppm
mg/kg
Parts per million, the mass of solute per million parts of sample.
m solute
ug, mg or g
Mass of the dissolved or mixed substance.
m sample
g, kg or lb
Total mass of the sample or solution.
V
mL, L or US gal
Volume of water or final solution.
M
g/mol
Molar mass, for the gas and molarity modes.
Vm
L/mol
Molar volume of a gas, R T / P, 24.465 L/mol at 25 C and 1 atm.

Using the PPM Calculator

  1. Enter what do you want to do?

    Choose from ppm of a solute in water (mass per volume), ppm from mass of solute and mass of sample, Mass of solute needed for a target ppm, Convert ppm, ppb, percent, mg/L, mg/kg, Dilute a stock to a target ppm, Gas: ppm to mg/m3 and back, Molarity to ppm and back.

  2. Enter mass of solute

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  3. Enter solute mass unit

    Choose from micrograms (ug), milligrams (mg), grams (g).

  4. Enter volume of water

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  5. Enter water volume unit

    Choose from millilitres (mL), litres (L), US gallons.

  6. Enter mass of solute

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  7. Enter solute mass unit

    Choose from micrograms (ug), milligrams (mg), grams (g).

  8. Enter mass of the whole sample

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  9. Enter sample mass unit

    Choose from grams (g), kilograms (kg), pounds (lb).

  10. Enter target concentration (ppm)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  11. Enter volume of water

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  12. Enter water volume unit

    Choose from millilitres (mL), litres (L), US gallons.

  13. Enter value to convert

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  14. Enter unit of that value

    Choose from ppm, ppb, percent (%), mg/L (water), ug/L (water), mg/kg, g/L (water).

  15. Enter stock concentration

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  16. Enter stock unit

    Choose from ppm, percent (%).

  17. Enter target concentration (ppm)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  18. Enter final volume wanted

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  19. Enter final volume unit

    Choose from millilitres (mL), litres (L), US gallons.

  20. Enter convert

    Choose from ppm (by volume) to mg/m3, mg/m3 to ppm (by volume).

  21. Enter value (ppm or mg/m3)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  22. Enter molar mass of the gas (g per mol)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  23. Enter temperature (c)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  24. Enter pressure (kpa)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  25. Enter convert

    Choose from Molarity to ppm, ppm to millimolar.

  26. Enter molarity (used for molarity to ppm)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  27. Enter molarity unit

    Choose from mol per L (M), millimolar (mM), micromolar (uM).

  28. Enter ppm (used for ppm to millimolar)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  29. Enter molar mass (g per mol)

    Type the figure you already have, then press Calculate.

  30. Read the result

    Press Calculate to update the result. Until you do, the last result is dimmed and marked as out of date, so you always know which numbers belong to the values in the boxes.

A Real Worked Example

A water treatment test uses 5 g of a salt in 20 L of water. In the ppm in water mode, 5 g is 5,000 mg, so ppm = 5,000 / 20 = 250 ppm.

The same result is 250 mg per litre, 250,000 ppb, 0.25 g per litre or 0.025 percent. The water assumption is 1 kg per litre.

1
mode
inWater
2
iwSolute
5
3
iwSoluteUnit
g
4
iwVolume
20
5
iwVolumeUnit
L
6
fmSolute
3
7
fmSoluteUnit
mg
8
fmSample
2.5
9
fmSampleUnit
kg
10
mnPpm
200
11
mnVolume
5
12
mnVolumeUnit
gal
13
cvValue
1000
14
cvFrom
ppm
15
dlStock
10000
16
dlStockUnit
ppm
17
dlTarget
200
18
dlVolume
1000
19
dlVolumeUnit
mL
20
gsDirection
ppmToMg
21
gsValue
50
22
gsMolarMass
28.01
23
gsTempC
25
24
gsPressureKPa
101.325
25
mlDirection
molToPpm
26
mlMolarity
1
27
mlUnit
mM
28
mlPpm
100
29
mlMolarMass
58.44
This calculator returns250ppm250000ppb0.025percent250mgL250000ugL0.25gL250mgKg5000soluteMg5soluteG

ppm from masses: 3 mg in 2.5 kg of soil

Choose ppm from masses with 3 mg of solute in a 2.5 kg sample. ppm = 3 mg / 2.5 kg = 1.2 mg per kg, which is 1.2 ppm.

That equals 1,200 ppb or 0.00012 percent. mg per litre is not shown because a solid sample has no water volume.

mode: fromMassiwSolute: 5iwSoluteUnit: giwVolume: 20iwVolumeUnit: LfmSolute: 3fmSoluteUnit: mgfmSample: 2.5fmSampleUnit: kgmnPpm: 200mnVolume: 5mnVolumeUnit: galcvValue: 1000cvFrom: ppmdlStock: 10000dlStockUnit: ppmdlTarget: 200dlVolume: 1000dlVolumeUnit: mLgsDirection: ppmToMggsValue: 50gsMolarMass: 28.01gsTempC: 25gsPressureKPa: 101.325mlDirection: molToPpmmlMolarity: 1mlUnit: mMmlPpm: 100mlMolarMass: 58.441.2ppm1200ppb0.00012percent1.2mgKg3soluteMg0.003soluteG

Mass needed for 200 ppm in 5 US gallons

Choose mass of solute needed, with 200 ppm and 5 US gallons. Five gallons is 18.927 L, so mass = 200 × 18.927 = 3,785.412 mg.

That is 3.78541 g of the pure substance. If your product is not pure, use its strength in the dilution mode instead, and follow the label.

mode: massNeedediwSolute: 5iwSoluteUnit: giwVolume: 20iwVolumeUnit: LfmSolute: 3fmSoluteUnit: mgfmSample: 2.5fmSampleUnit: kgmnPpm: 200mnVolume: 5mnVolumeUnit: galcvValue: 1000cvFrom: ppmdlStock: 10000dlStockUnit: ppmdlTarget: 200dlVolume: 1000dlVolumeUnit: mLgsDirection: ppmToMggsValue: 50gsMolarMass: 28.01gsTempC: 25gsPressureKPa: 101.325mlDirection: molToPpmmlMolarity: 1mlUnit: mMmlPpm: 100mlMolarMass: 58.44200ppm200000ppb0.02percent200mgL200000ugL0.2gL200mgKg3785.412soluteMg3.78541soluteG

Convert 1,000 ppm to other units

Choose the converter and enter 1,000 ppm. The result is 1,000,000 ppb, 0.1 percent, 1,000 mg per litre, 1,000 mg per kg and 1 g per litre.

The water conversions assume 1 litre of solution weighs 1 kilogram.

mode: convertiwSolute: 5iwSoluteUnit: giwVolume: 20iwVolumeUnit: LfmSolute: 3fmSoluteUnit: mgfmSample: 2.5fmSampleUnit: kgmnPpm: 200mnVolume: 5mnVolumeUnit: galcvValue: 1000cvFrom: ppmdlStock: 10000dlStockUnit: ppmdlTarget: 200dlVolume: 1000dlVolumeUnit: mLgsDirection: ppmToMggsValue: 50gsMolarMass: 28.01gsTempC: 25gsPressureKPa: 101.325mlDirection: molToPpmmlMolarity: 1mlUnit: mMmlPpm: 100mlMolarMass: 58.441000ppm1000000ppb0.1percent1000mgL1000000ugL1gL1000mgKg

Dilute 10,000 ppm stock to 200 ppm for 1 litre

Choose the dilution mode with a 10,000 ppm stock, a 200 ppm target and 1,000 mL. V1 = 200 × 1,000 / 10,000 = 20 mL of stock.

Add 980 mL of water. The dilution factor is 10,000 / 200 = 50, a 1 to 50 dilution. Always follow the product label for real products.

mode: dilutioniwSolute: 5iwSoluteUnit: giwVolume: 20iwVolumeUnit: LfmSolute: 3fmSoluteUnit: mgfmSample: 2.5fmSampleUnit: kgmnPpm: 200mnVolume: 5mnVolumeUnit: galcvValue: 1000cvFrom: ppmdlStock: 10000dlStockUnit: ppmdlTarget: 200dlVolume: 1000dlVolumeUnit: mLgsDirection: ppmToMggsValue: 50gsMolarMass: 28.01gsTempC: 25gsPressureKPa: 101.325mlDirection: molToPpmmlMolarity: 1mlUnit: mMmlPpm: 100mlMolarMass: 58.44200ppm200000ppb0.02percent200mgL200000ugL0.2gL200mgKg20stockVolume980diluentVolume20stockMl980diluentMl50dilutionFactor

50 ppm carbon monoxide in air as mg/m3

Choose gas, enter 50 ppm, a molar mass of 28.01 g per mole, 25 C and 101.325 kPa. The molar volume is R T / P = 24.465 L per mole.

mg/m3 = 50 × 28.01 / 24.465 = 57.244 mg/m3, or 57,244.1 ug/m3. This is a unit conversion, not a safety limit.

mode: gasiwSolute: 5iwSoluteUnit: giwVolume: 20iwVolumeUnit: LfmSolute: 3fmSoluteUnit: mgfmSample: 2.5fmSampleUnit: kgmnPpm: 200mnVolume: 5mnVolumeUnit: galcvValue: 1000cvFrom: ppmdlStock: 10000dlStockUnit: ppmdlTarget: 200dlVolume: 1000dlVolumeUnit: mLgsDirection: ppmToMggsValue: 50gsMolarMass: 28.01gsTempC: 25gsPressureKPa: 101.325mlDirection: molToPpmmlMolarity: 1mlUnit: mMmlPpm: 100mlMolarMass: 58.4450ppm50000ppb0.005percent57.244mgM357244.1ugM324.465molarVolumeL

What Else to Know

What PPM Means and How to Calculate It

PPM stands for parts per million. It is a way to write a very small fraction: one part in a million. By mass, 1 ppm is 1 milligram of a substance in 1 kilogram of the whole, written mg/kg. Wikipedia's parts-per notation article lists it as a mass fraction of 2 mg/kg being 2 ppm.

PPM formula diagram: ppm equals mass of solute over mass of sample times one million, equal to mg per kg

The formula is ppm = (mass of substance / total mass) × 1,000,000. If 3 mg of a contaminant sits in a 2.5 kg sample, the answer is 3 / 2.5 = 1.2 ppm. To use percent, multiply by 10,000, since 1 percent is 10,000 ppm.

This parts per million calculator has seven modes for the usual jobs. Pick one, enter the numbers and the units, and the results show the ppm together with ppb, percent and mg per litre.

Worked ppm example: 5 g of solute in 20 litres of water is 250 ppm, 250 mg per litre or 0.025 percent

Parts Per Million in Water: Mass per Volume and mg/L

For liquids, ppm is usually read as milligrams per litre. Water is close to 1 kilogram per litre, so a litre of dilute solution holds about 1 kg, and 1 mg in a litre is one part per million. Wikipedia notes it is common to equate 1 kilogram of water with 1 litre, so 1 ppm is 1 mg/L and 1 ppb is 1 microgram per litre.

The water modes make that assumption exactly: 1 litre equals 1 kilogram. The density table shows what it costs. Seawater averages about 1.025 kg per litre, so 100 ppm by mass is 102.5 mg/L, a 2.5 percent difference. For most drinking water, pool water or cleaning solutions the error is small, but for dense liquids, divide or multiply by the density yourself.

Bar chart of mg per litre for 100 ppm in pure water, seawater and denser or lighter solutions

To find the solute in a batch, multiply ppm by litres to get milligrams. The mass table lists common targets for 1 litre, 10 litres, a US gallon, 5 gallons and 100 litres.

Bar chart of milligrams of solute needed in one US gallon for target concentrations from 1 to 1,000 ppm

Convert Percent, ppb, mg/kg and Other Units

The converter mode takes a value in ppm, ppb, percent, mg/L, ug/L, mg/kg or g/L and shows all of them at once. The rules are simple. ppb is ppm times 1,000. Percent is ppm divided by 10,000. mg/kg equals ppm. mg/L and ug/L equal ppm and ppb in water, and g/L is ppm divided by 1,000.

So 1,000 ppm is 0.1 percent, 1 g/L and 1,000,000 ppb. 1 percent is 10,000 ppm. The percent ladder table runs from 100 percent down to 0.0001 percent, and the equivalents table shows 1 ppm and 250 ppm in every unit.

Conversion table from percent to ppm and ppb, from 100 percent down to 0.0001 percent

A ppm is a fraction, not a volume. 1 ppm is not 1 mL. The one-in-a-million table helps with the scale: 1 mL in 1,000 litres, 1 second in 11.6 days, or 1 centimetre in 10 kilometres.

Six ways to picture one part per million: 1 mg in 1 kg, 1 mL in 1,000 L, 1 second in 11.6 days and more

PPM Dilution: Making a Solution from Stock

To make a weaker solution from a stronger one, use the dilution formula C1 x V1 = C2 x V2. C1 is the stock concentration, V1 the stock volume you need, C2 the target concentration and V2 the final volume. Rearranged, V1 = C2 x V2 / C1.

For 1 litre at 200 ppm from a 10,000 ppm stock, V1 = 200 × 1,000 / 10,000 = 20 mL. Add water to reach 1,000 mL, which means 980 mL of water. The dilution factor is the stock divided by the target, 50. The dilution table lists eight common targets for a 1 litre batch.

Bar chart of mL of 10,000 ppm stock needed per litre to make solutions from 10 to 2,000 ppm

The dilution mode accepts a stock in ppm or percent and gives stock and water in your chosen unit and in millilitres. Use it as a planning guide, and follow the label and safety data sheet for any real product. Never mix chemicals unless the label says it is safe.

PPM in Air: Converting to mg/m3 and ug/m3

In air, ppm usually means parts by volume, such as millilitres of gas in a cubic metre. Converting to mass per volume needs the molar mass and the molar volume of the gas. mg/m3 = ppm x M / Vm, where Vm = R T / P.

At 25 C and 101.325 kPa, Vm is 24.465 litres per mole. At 0 C it is 22.414. For carbon monoxide at 28.01 g per mole, 1 ppm is 1.145 mg/m3 at 25 C. The gas table lists eight common gases. To go the other way, ppm = mg/m3 x Vm / M, and a microgram per cubic metre value must be divided by 1,000 first.

Bar chart of mg per cubic metre for 1 ppm of ammonia, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, CO2, NO2 and SO2

The molar volume comes from the ideal gas relation, so very high pressures or unusual temperatures lower accuracy. Enter your actual temperature in Celsius and pressure in kPa. Exposure limits come from health agencies, not from this calculator.

Molarity to PPM, PPM in Manufacturing and PPM in Excel

To convert molarity to ppm in water, multiply the molarity in mol per litre by the molar mass in g per mole and by 1,000. A 1 mM sodium chloride solution, with a molar mass of 58.44 g per mole, is 58.44 ppm. The molarity table lists four compounds, using conventional atomic weights.

In manufacturing, ppm often means defective parts per million made. It is a rate, defects divided by units times 1,000,000, with no connection to concentration, but the same arithmetic of multiplying a fraction by a million applies.

In a spreadsheet, enter =A2/B2*1000000 for mass fractions, =A2*10000 to turn percent into ppm, and =A2/1000 for ppb to ppm. The formula table shows each calculator mode with an example, which is a handy check for your own sheet.

Limits and Safety Notes

The results are estimates for education and planning. They assume pure ingredients, a water-like density of 1 kg per litre, ideal gas behaviour and accurate measuring. For real products, follow the label and safety data sheet, wear the protective gear they require and never mix chemicals unless the label allows it. Exposure limits and drinking water standards are set by health and environmental agencies and are not provided here.

Limits of the ppm calculator: water density assumption, pure ingredients, ideal gas and an estimate only

For percent conversions and ratios, see the percentage calculator. If you test pool water, the pool salt calculator shows how much salt is needed for a target level. To convert temperatures for the gas mode, use the temperature converter.

Reference Tables

Percent, parts per million and parts per billion side by side
Percentppmppbmg per L in waterGrams per 100 g
1001,000,0001,000,000,0001,000,000100
10100,000100,000,000100,00010
110,00010,000,00010,0001
0.11,0001,000,0001,0000.1
0.01100100,0001000.01
0.0011010,000100.001
0.000111,00010.0001
Equivalent ways to write 1 ppm and 250 ppm (water-like solutions, 1 kg per litre)
Unit1 ppm250 ppm
mg per kg (mass fraction)1250
mg per L (in water)1250
ug per L (in water)1,000250,000
g per L (in water)0.0010.25
ppb1,000250,000
Percent0.0001 %0.025 %
Parts per million as a fraction1 in 1,000,0001 in 4,000
Milligrams and grams of solute for a target concentration (water, 1 kg per litre; US gallon = 3.785411784 L)
Target ppm1 L (mg)10 L (mg)1 US gal (mg)5 US gal (g)100 L (g)
11103.80.0190.1
555018.90.0950.5
101010037.90.1891.0
5050500189.30.9465.0
1001001,000378.51.89310.0
2002002,000757.13.78520.0
5005005,0001,892.79.46450.0
10001,00010,0003,785.418.927100.0
Making 1 litre from a 10,000 ppm (1 percent) stock: C1 x V1 = C2 x V2
Target ppmStock needed (mL)Water to add (mL)Dilution factor
101.0999.01,000.0
252.5997.5400.0
505.0995.0200.0
10010.0990.0100.0
20020.0980.050.0
50050.0950.020.0
1000100.0900.010.0
2000200.0800.05.0
mg per cubic metre for 1 ppm by volume of common gases at 25 C and 101.325 kPa (molar volume 24.465 L)
GasMolar mass (g/mol)mg/m3 per 1 ppmppm per 1 mg/m3
Carbon monoxide, CO28.0101.1450.8735
Carbon dioxide, CO244.0091.7990.5559
Nitrogen dioxide, NO246.0051.8800.5318
Sulfur dioxide, SO264.0582.6180.3819
Hydrogen sulfide, H2S34.0761.3930.7180
Ammonia, NH317.0310.6961.4365
Ozone, O347.9971.9620.5097
Formaldehyde, CH2O30.0261.2270.8148
Molarity to ppm in water for common compounds: ppm = mol per L x g per mol x 1,000
CompoundMolar mass (g/mol)1 mM in ppm10 mM in ppm100 ppm in mM
NaCl58.4458.44584.41.711
KCl74.5574.55745.51.341
CaCl2110.98110.981,109.80.901
NaOH40.0040.00400.02.500
How much 1 ppm by mass differs from 1 mg per litre as the solution gets denser (mg/L = ppm x density in kg per L)
LiquidDensity (kg per L)mg/L for 100 ppmDifference from 100
Pure water at 4 C1.000100.00 %
Seawater surface average1.025102.52.5 %
Example dense solution1.100110.010.0 %
Example light solution0.90090.0-10.0 %
What one part per million looks like
QuantityOne part per million is
Mass1 milligram in 1 kilogram
Volume of water1 millilitre in 1,000 litres, or 1 cubic metre
Time in seconds1 second in 11.6 days
Time in minutes1 minute in 1.90 years
Distance1 centimetre in 10 kilometres
Money1 cent in 10,000 dollars
Formulas behind each mode of the calculator
ModeFormulaExample
ppm from massesppm = solute mg / sample kg3 mg in 2.5 kg = 1.2 ppm
ppm in waterppm = solute mg / litres5 g in 20 L = 250 ppm
Mass neededmg = ppm x litres200 ppm x 18.93 L = 3,785 mg
Percent to ppmppm = percent x 10,0001 % = 10,000 ppm
DilutionC1 V1 = C2 V210,000 ppm to 200 ppm: 20 mL per litre
Gas ppm to mg/m3mg/m3 = ppm x M / Vm50 ppm CO = 57.24 mg/m3
Molarity to ppmppm = mol/L x g/mol x 1,0001 mM NaCl = 58.44 ppm
Common ppm mistakes
MistakeEffectFix
Treating ppm as a volume of liquid1 ppm is a mass fraction, not 1 mLUse 1 mg per kg, or 1 mg per L of water
Mixing ppm by mass and ppm by volumeDifferent numbers for gasesUse the gas mode for volume ppm in air
Using mg/L for a dense liquidOff by the densityDivide by the density in kg per L
Mixing up percent and ppmOff by a factor of 10,0001 percent = 10,000 ppm
Forgetting that mg/m3 depends on temperatureGas conversions shift a few percentEnter the real temperature and pressure

Frequently Asked Questions About the PPM Calculator

How do you calculate ppm?

Divide the mass of the substance by the total mass and multiply by 1,000,000. Equivalent to mg per kg. For 3 mg in 2.5 kg, ppm = 3 / 2.5 = 1.2. For water solutions, divide milligrams by litres, so 5 g (5,000 mg) in 20 L is 250 ppm.

How does this parts per million calculator work?

Pick a mode: ppm from masses, ppm in water, mass needed, unit converter, dilution, gas ppm to mg per cubic metre, or molarity. Enter the numbers and units, and the results show ppm, ppb, percent and mg per litre together. It assumes 1 litre of water solution weighs 1 kilogram unless you are in gas mode.

What is 1 ppm equal to?

One part per million equals 1 milligram per kilogram, 0.0001 percent, 1,000 parts per billion and a fraction of 1 in 1,000,000. In dilute water, 1 ppm is 1 mg per litre and 1 microgram per millilitre. In air by volume it is 1 millilitre of gas in 1 cubic metre.

How to calculate 200 ppm?

Multiply 200 by the litres of water to get milligrams of the substance. For 5 US gallons, that is 200 × 18.927 L = 3,785.4 mg, or 3.785 g. Pure substance is assumed; for a stock or product with lower strength, use the dilution mode.

What is 1% of ppm?

One percent is 10,000 ppm. Multiply a percentage by 10,000 to get ppm, and divide ppm by 10,000 to get percent. So 0.1 percent is 1,000 ppm, 0.01 percent is 100 ppm and 0.0001 percent is 1 ppm. The percent ladder table lists these values.

Is 1 ppm equal to 1 ml?

No. A ppm is a fraction, not a volume. In water, 1 ppm means 1 milligram of substance in each litre, which is a very small amount, far less than 1 mL. Only for gas mixtures by volume does 1 ppm mean 1 mL of the gas in a cubic metre of air, which is 1 mL in 1,000 litres.

What is 1000 ppm equal to?

1,000 ppm is 0.1 percent, 1 gram per kilogram, 1 gram per litre in water, 1,000 mg per litre and 1,000,000 ppb. A 1,000 ppm solution is a common stock strength, and diluting it 10 to 1 gives 100 ppm.

How do I convert ppm to mg/m3?

For gases, mg/m3 = ppm x molar mass / molar volume. At 25 C and 101.325 kPa the molar volume is 24.465 L per mole. For 50 ppm of carbon monoxide at 28.01 g per mole, that is 50 × 28.01 / 24.465 = 57.24 mg/m3. At 0 C the volume is 22.414 L.

How do you convert parts per million to percent?

Divide ppm by 10,000. For 250 ppm that is 250 / 10,000 = 0.025 percent. To go the other way, multiply percent by 10,000. For example 0.5 percent is 5,000 ppm. The same rule works whether the ppm is by mass or by volume.

How do I convert molarity to ppm?

Multiply the molarity in mol per litre by the molar mass in g per mole and by 1,000. A 1 mM sodium chloride solution at 58.44 g per mole is 0.001 × 58.44 × 1,000 = 58.44 ppm. In reverse, ppm divided by molar mass gives millimoles per litre: 100 ppm is 1.711 mM.

How do I convert ug/m3 to ppm?

Divide the microgram value by 1,000 to get mg/m3, then ppm = mg/m3 x molar volume / molar mass. For 100 mg/m3 of carbon monoxide at 25 C and 101.325 kPa, ppm = 100 × 24.465 / 28.01 = 87.35. Use the gas mode and pick mg/m3 to ppm.

What is the ppm dilution formula?

Use C1 x V1 = C2 x V2. The stock volume is V1 = C2 x V2 / C1. To make 1 L at 200 ppm from a 10,000 ppm stock, V1 = 200 × 1,000 / 10,000 = 20 mL, then add 980 mL of water. The dilution factor is 10,000 / 200 = 50.

How do I calculate ppm in Excel?

Put the solute mass in A2 and the total mass in B2, in the same unit, and enter =A2/B2*1000000. For mg in litres of water use =mg/litres. To convert percent to ppm, use =A2*10000. The calculator gives the same answers without a spreadsheet.

What does PPM mean in manufacturing?

In quality control, ppm is defective parts per million parts made: defects divided by units, times 1,000,000. If 12 parts fail in 40,000 made, the rate is 12 / 40,000 × 1,000,000 = 300 ppm. It is a defect rate, not the water concentration this calculator mainly handles.

How do I convert ppm to mg?

Multiply ppm by the litres of water. 25 ppm in 8 L is 200 mg. For a mass of material, use mg per kg: 25 ppm in 8 kg is also 200 mg. In US gallons, one gallon is 3.785 L, so 25 ppm in 1 gallon is 94.6 mg.

Why does 1 ppm equal 1 mg/L in water?

Water is close to 1 kilogram per litre, so a litre of dilute solution holds about 1 kg. A milligram in a kilogram is one part per million, hence 1 mg per litre. Dense liquids such as seawater, at about 1.025 kg per litre, differ by a few percent.

How do I convert ppm to ppb?

Multiply by 1,000. 1 ppm is 1,000 ppb, 0.5 ppm is 500 ppb and 250 ppm is 250,000 ppb. To go from ppb to ppm, divide by 1,000. In water, 1 ppb equals 1 microgram per litre, while 1 ppm equals 1 milligram per litre, so a ppb is a thousand times smaller.

What is the difference between ppm by mass and by volume?

By mass compares weights, as in mg per kg. By volume compares gas volumes, as in mL per cubic metre, and is used for air. They match only for ideal gases in specific cases, so use the gas mode to convert volume ppm to mg per cubic metre with the real temperature and pressure.

How do I make a 100 ppm solution?

Dissolve 100 mg of the pure substance in each litre of water, which is 378.5 mg per US gallon. Or dilute a stock: from 1 percent (10,000 ppm), use 10 mL of stock per litre and add 990 mL of water. Follow the product label and safety data sheet.

Is ppm the same as mg/kg?

Yes, for a mass fraction. 1 ppm is 1 mg of substance per 1 kg of sample, so soil, food and other solids use mg/kg. For liquids with a density near 1 kg per litre, mg/L is the same as ppm, but check the density for anything else.

How accurate are these ppm results?

The math is exact for the numbers you enter, but the water density assumption of 1 kg per litre, ideal gas behaviour and the purity of your material all affect real mixes. Treat results as estimates for education and planning, and follow product labels and safety data sheets.

References

  1. [1] Wikipedia contributors. “Parts-per notation.” Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-07.
  2. [2] Wikipedia contributors. “Molar volume.” Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-07.
  3. [3] Wikipedia contributors. “Molar concentration.” Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-07.
  4. [4] Wikipedia contributors. “Seawater.” Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-07.
  5. [5] Wikipedia contributors. “Standard atomic weight.” Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-07.