# [Capacitors in Parallel Calculator](https://blog.hirnschall.net/tools/capacitors-in-parallel/)

author: [Sebastian Hirnschall](https://blog.hirnschall.net/about/)

meta description: Calculate the total capacitance of capacitors in parallel. Add as many capacitors as needed. Includes formula explanation and practical use cases.

meta title: Capacitors in Parallel Calculator — Total Capacitance

date published: 01.04.2025 (DD.MM.YYYY format)
date last modified: 22.04.2025 (DD.MM.YYYY format)

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Calculator
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Enter the capacitance of each capacitor in parallel. Add more capacitors with the button below. The total capacitance is calculated from all filled fields.

* Capacitor 1 (C1):
* F
  mF
  µF
  nF
  pF

* Capacitor 2 (C2):
* F
  mF
  µF
  nF
  pF

Enter at least two capacitance values.

Add Capacitor
Calculate



Capacitors in Parallel — Explanation
------------------------------------

When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is simply the sum of all individual capacitances:
\[
C\_{\text{total}} = C\_1 + C\_2 + \cdots + C\_n
\]
This is the opposite of the series case — parallel connection always yields a total capacitance greater than any individual capacitor.

The reason is straightforward: all capacitors in parallel share the same voltage \( V \) across their plates. The total charge stored is therefore the sum of the charges on each capacitor:
$$
\begin{align}
Q\_{\text{total}} &= Q\_1 + Q\_2 + \cdots + Q\_n \\
&= C\_1 V + C\_2 V + \cdots + C\_n V \\
&= (C\_1 + C\_2 + \cdots + C\_n) \cdot V
\end{align}
$$
Dividing both sides by \( V \) gives \( C\_{\text{total}} = C\_1 + C\_2 + \cdots + C\_n \) directly. This mirrors the formula for resistors in series — again, a useful analogy.

When to Use Capacitors in Parallel
----------------------------------

Parallel combinations are common in practice for two reasons. First, to reach a target capacitance that is not available as a standard component value — for example, combining a 10 µF and a 4.7 µF to get 14.7 µF. Second, to reduce effective ESR (equivalent series resistance): multiple capacitors in parallel divide the ESR, which matters in switching power supplies and high-frequency bypass applications.

More info
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