Home›Calculators›Health›Vital Capacity Calculator

Vital Capacity Calculator

Health

Estimate predicted vital capacity (VC) from height, age, and sex using a simplified reference formula. An educational estimate, not a spirometry test.

Reviewed by the thecalcu.com team · Last updated July 24, 2026

120210
1585

Predicted Vital Capacity

3.1

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

Inputs
HeightAgeSex
Outputs
Predicted Vital Capacity

What is a Predicted Vital Capacity?

The Vital Capacity Calculator estimates predicted vital capacity (VC) from height, age, and sex, using simplified reference regression equations in the style of commonly cited spirometry prediction formulas. It is an educational estimate, not an actual spirometry measurement.

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

Why Use a Vital Capacity Calculator?

Understanding the general relationship between height, age, sex, and expected vital capacity is a useful starting point for learning about pulmonary physiology. This calculator applies simplified reference regression equations instantly, illustrating how these factors combine into a predicted value.

Who Should Use This Calculator?

  • Students of respiratory physiology or nursing learning how predicted vital capacity is estimated.
  • Fitness and sports science students exploring lung function reference concepts.
  • Educators demonstrating age-and-height-based vital capacity prediction formulas.
  • Anyone curious about how age and height relate to expected vital capacity.

What Insights Does the Vital Capacity Calculator Give You?

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

How to use this Predicted Vital Capacity calculator

  1. Enter your height in centimetres.
  2. Enter your age.
  3. Select your sex.
  4. Read the Predicted Vital Capacity instantly.
  5. 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 VC (L) = (27.63 − 0.112 × Age) × Height (cm) ÷ 1000

Female: Predicted VC (L) = (21.78 − 0.101 × Age) × Height (cm) ÷ 1000

Worked example, a 35-year-old man, 175 cm tall:

Predicted VC = (27.63 − 0.112 × 35) × 175 ÷ 1000 = (27.63 − 3.92) × 175 ÷ 1000 = 23.71 × 175 ÷ 1000 = 4.15 L

Frequently Asked Questions

What is vital capacity?
Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air a person can exhale after taking the deepest possible breath in, representing the total actively exchangeable lung volume, distinct from the residual volume of air that always remains in the lungs.
How is predicted vital capacity calculated?
This calculator uses a simplified reference regression formula based on height, age, and sex, reflecting general population relationships between these factors and expected vital capacity.
Why does age reduce predicted vital capacity?
Respiratory muscle strength and lung elasticity generally decline gradually with age in adults, which is why most predicted vital capacity reference formulas include a downward adjustment as age increases.
Is this the same as an actual spirometry measurement?
No, actual vital capacity is measured directly during a spirometry test. This calculator provides a predicted reference value based on height, age, and sex only, useful for general education, not diagnosis.
What is the difference between vital capacity and total lung capacity?
Vital capacity is the air that can be actively breathed in and out, while total lung capacity also includes residual volume, the air that always remains in the lungs even after a maximal exhale. See the [Lung Capacity Calculator](/lung-capacity-calculator/) for total lung capacity specifically.
Why does sex affect predicted vital capacity?
On average, differences in chest cavity size and other physiological factors between sexes contribute to generally larger average vital capacity in men compared to women at a similar height and age, which is why separate reference formulas are commonly used.
What formula does this calculator use?
This calculator uses simplified versions of commonly cited reference regression equations (in the style of the Baldwin equations) that estimate vital capacity from height and age, with separate coefficients for men and women.
Can this calculator diagnose a lung condition?
No, this is an educational reference calculator only. Diagnosing any lung condition requires actual spirometry testing interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional, not a predicted formula-based estimate.
What unit is vital capacity measured in?
This calculator expresses vital 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 your own actual measured spirometry values, while this calculator predicts an expected reference vital capacity from height, age, and sex alone, without requiring any test results.
Also known as
predicted vital capacity calculatorVC spirometry calculatorlung function reference calculatorBaldwin equation calculator