Hemocytometer Cell Counting Calculator

Determine cell density and total yield from grid counts. Ideal for mammalian cell culture, yeast suspensions, and general micro-organism counts.

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Grid Counts & Factors

Input your counting counts, grid squares, and dilution factor.

Cell Concentration

5.0e5 cells/mL

* Equal to 500,000 cells/mL.

Total Cells in Sample 2.50e6 cells
Average Cells per Square 50.0 cells
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Expert Tip

When counting, implement the "border rule" consistently: count cells touching the top and left borders of a square, but exclude cells touching the bottom and right borders.

Methodology & Grid Calculations

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Hemocytometer Formula

Under a standard Neubauer chamber (depth 0.1 mm), each large corner square holds exactly 0.1 mm³ or 10⁻⁴ mL of fluid. Therefore, concentration is:

cells/mL = (Total Cells / Squares) * 10,000 * Dilution Factor
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Neubauer Grid Dimensions

A standard hemocytometer contains 9 large squares (1 mm x 1 mm each):

  • Large Square Area: 1.0 mm²
  • Chamber Depth: 0.1 mm
  • Volume per Square: 0.1 mm³ (10⁻⁴ mL)

How to Calculate Cell Concentration with a Hemocytometer

Hemocytometers are standard grids used to count suspended cells under a microscope:

1

Count Cells in Grid Squares

Count total cells in the large outer corner squares (each represents a volume of 0.1 mm^3 or 10^-4 mL).

2

Calculate Average Cell Count

Divide total counted cells by the number of large squares counted.

3

Incorporate Dilution

Multiply the average by the dilution factor and by the volume factor of 10,000: Cells/mL = (Total Cells / Squares) × Dilution Factor × 10,000.

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