Hemocytometer Cell Count Calculator
Calculate cell concentration and viability from hemocytometer counts: cells per mL, total cells, and the volume needed to seed a target number of cells.
How to use
- 1Enter the live (and dead) cells counted and how many large squares you counted.
- 2Enter the dilution factor (2 for a 1:1 mix with trypan blue) and your total suspension volume.
How it's calculated
Cells/mL = (cells counted ÷ squares counted) × dilution factor × 10⁴ (each large square holds 0.1 µL). Viability = live ÷ (live + dead).
Frequently asked questions
Why multiply by 10,000?
Each large corner square of a standard Neubauer hemocytometer is 1 mm × 1 mm × 0.1 mm = 0.1 µL, and 1 mL = 10,000 of those volumes.
What's a good number of cells to count?
Aim for roughly 100–300 cells in total across the squares; dilute or concentrate the sample if counts are far outside that.
What viability is acceptable?
Many protocols want above 90% viability for passaging and experiments.