Total Lung Capacity (TLC) Calculator

Total lung capacity is the maximum amount of air the lungs can hold after a full inhalation, combining vital capacity with whatever air remains after a full exhale.

Calculate Total Lung Capacity

L
Max air exhaled after max inhale.
Enter a value between 1 and 8.
L
Air left after full exhale.
Enter a value between 0.3 and 4.
Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
6.00
L
Total lung capacity
VC
4.8 L
RV
1.2 L

How It's Calculated

Formula
TLC = Vital Capacity + Residual Volume

TLC = VC + RV

Everything the lungs can hold: the usable vital capacity plus the residual volume that always stays behind.

RVVC

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a low TLC suggest?

A restrictive pattern — seen in pulmonary fibrosis or significant chest-wall or neuromuscular disease that limits how much the lungs can expand.

What is a normal total lung capacity?

Roughly 6 L in an average adult male, scaled by height and sex. It's the sum of everything the lungs can hold after a full inhalation.

How is TLC measured?

Because it includes residual volume (which can't be exhaled), TLC needs body plethysmography, helium dilution, or nitrogen washout — simple spirometry can't measure it.

Can TLC be high?

Yes — hyperinflation in emphysema raises TLC and especially residual volume, the opposite of the restrictive pattern.

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