Lung Capacity Calculator
HealthEstimate predicted total lung capacity (TLC) from height and sex using a simplified reference regression formula. An educational estimate, not a spirometry test.
Predicted Total Lung Capacity
5.43
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.
How to use this Predicted Lung Capacity calculator
- Enter your height in centimetres.
- Select your sex.
- Read the Predicted Total Lung Capacity instantly.
- Compare against actual spirometry testing results if you have them, understanding this calculator provides only a general reference estimate.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This calculator expresses total lung capacity in litres (L), the standard unit used in pulmonary function reporting.
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.
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