What this calculator does
Minute ventilation works out the total volume of air moved in and out of the lungs in one minute. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.
The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.
The formula
FormulaMinute ventilation = Tidal volume × Respiratory rate
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Tidal volume (mL) | A number, measured in mL. Starts at 500. |
| Respiratory rate (breaths/min) | A number, measured in breaths/min. Starts at 14. |
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the answer changes with tidal volume
Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while tidal volume varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.
How the answer changes with tidal volume