Parallel Plate Capacitance Calculator
Estimate capacitance of parallel plates: C = ε0 εr A / d. Default 0.01 m² area, 1 mm separation, εr = 1 uses vacuum permittivity. Informational lab math only.
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How to compute parallel plate capacitance
- Enter plate area and pick m², cm², mm², or in².
- Enter separation and pick a length unit. Default gap is 1 mm.
- Set relative permittivity εr. Use 1 for air or vacuum approximation.
- Read capacitance in pF and µF. Nothing is uploaded.
Parallel plate capacitor
C = ε0 εr A / d
| Epsilon zero | 8.8541878128×10⁻¹² F/m used in the engine |
|---|---|
| Area | Overlapping plate area after unit conversion |
| Separation | Distance d between plates |
| Epsilon r | Relative permittivity of the dielectric |
| Ideal model | Uniform field, no fringing correction |
| Approval | Informational. Not a part selector. |
Parallel plate formula
C = ε0 εr A / d. With A = 0.01 m², d = 1 mm, and εr = 1, C is about 88.5 pF before fringing. Real plates need edge corrections this page skips.
Relative permittivity
εr is 1 for vacuum, higher for ceramics and plastics. Type the material value you have from a datasheet, not a guess for safety clearance.
From C to charge
Once C is known, Q = C × V is on capacitance to charge. RC timing uses RC time constant.
Lab vs catalog parts
Catalog capacitors include ESR, tolerance, and package limits. This URL is the textbook parallel-plate geometry, not a BOM tool.
Limits
No fringing, no breakdown voltage check.
The formula runs in this tab. CZNull does not receive the numbers.
Informational only. Not wiring, code, or manufacturer approval. See the disclaimer.