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Lung Capacity Calculator

Health

Estimate predicted total lung capacity (TLC) from height and sex using a simplified reference formula. An educational estimate, not a spirometry test.

Reviewed by the thecalcu.com team · Last updated July 13, 2026

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Predicted Total Lung Capacity

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This calculator computes your Predicted Total Lung Capacity from the values you enter.

Inputs
HeightSex
Outputs
Predicted Total Lung Capacity

What is a Predicted Lung Capacity?

The Lung Capacity Calculator estimates predicted total lung capacity (TLC) from height and sex, using a simplified reference regression formula commonly cited in general pulmonary physiology education. It is an educational estimate, not an actual spirometry test result.

For related pulmonary reference tools, see the Vital Capacity Calculator and FEV1/FVC Ratio Calculator.

Why Use a Lung Capacity Calculator?

Understanding the general relationship between height, sex, and expected lung volume is a useful starting point for learning about pulmonary physiology. This calculator applies a simplified reference formula instantly, illustrating how these factors relate to predicted lung capacity.

Who Should Use This Calculator?

  • Students of respiratory physiology or nursing learning how predicted lung volumes are estimated.
  • Fitness and sports science students exploring lung capacity reference concepts.
  • Educators demonstrating the relationship between height and predicted lung volume.
  • Anyone curious about how their height might relate to expected lung capacity.

What Insights Does the Lung Capacity Calculator Give You?

The Predicted Total Lung Capacity in litres is the sole output, calculated from your entered height and sex using a simplified reference regression formula, useful as an educational reference point, not a diagnostic measurement.

How to use this Predicted Lung Capacity calculator

  1. Enter your height in centimetres.
  2. Select your sex.
  3. Read the Predicted Total Lung Capacity instantly.
  4. Compare against actual spirometry testing results if you have them, understanding this calculator provides only a general reference estimate.
Show formula & methodology ↓Show less ↑

Formula & Methodology

Male: Predicted TLC (L) = 7.99 × Height (m) − 7.08

Female: Predicted TLC (L) = 6.60 × Height (m) − 5.79

Worked example, a man who is 178 cm (1.78 m) tall:

Predicted TLC = 7.99 × 1.78 − 7.08 = 7.14 L

Frequently Asked Questions

What is total lung capacity (TLC)?
Total lung capacity is the total volume of air the lungs can hold after a maximum inhalation, combining several individual lung volumes measured during pulmonary function testing.
How is predicted TLC calculated?
This calculator uses a simplified reference regression formula based on height and sex, reflecting the general relationship that taller individuals typically have larger lung volumes.
Why does sex affect predicted lung capacity?
On average, differences in chest cavity size and other physiological factors between sexes contribute to generally larger average lung volumes in men compared to women at a similar height, which is why separate reference formulas are commonly used.
Is this the same as an actual spirometry test result?
No, actual TLC is measured directly using specialized pulmonary function testing equipment. This calculator provides a predicted reference value based on height and sex only, useful for general education, not diagnosis.
Why doesn't this formula include age?
This calculator uses a simplified height-and-sex-based reference formula; more detailed clinical reference equations also incorporate age, since lung capacity can change over the adult lifespan, but this simplified version focuses on the primary height relationship.
What affects actual lung capacity beyond height and sex?
Actual lung capacity is also influenced by age, overall fitness, smoking history, altitude, and various respiratory conditions, none of which this simplified educational calculator accounts for.
How does this relate to Vital Capacity?
Total lung capacity includes vital capacity (the air that can be actively breathed in and out) plus residual volume (air that always remains in the lungs), see the [Vital Capacity Calculator](/vital-capacity-calculator/) for the actively exchanged portion specifically.
Can this calculator diagnose a lung condition?
No, this is an educational reference calculator only. Diagnosing any lung condition requires actual pulmonary function testing interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional, not a predicted formula-based estimate.
What unit is lung capacity measured in?
This calculator expresses total lung capacity in litres (L), the standard unit used in pulmonary function reporting.
How does this relate to the FEV1/FVC Ratio Calculator?
The [FEV1/FVC Ratio Calculator](/fev1-fvc-ratio-calculator/) works with actual measured spirometry values to compute a diagnostic ratio, while this calculator predicts an expected reference TLC value from height and sex alone, without requiring any test results.
Also known as
total lung capacity calculatorpredicted TLC calculatorlung volume estimatespirometry reference calculator