Yield Rate Calculator
Calculate the yield from the input and the good output, or work out the input needed to get the good output you require.
This is a production yield, not a chemistry "percent yield"
This calculator is for production yield: the good output divided by the amount put into a process. It is not the "percent yield" of a chemical reaction (actual yield divided by theoretical yield). If you are looking for a chemistry calculation, this is a different one.
Formulas
- Yield (%) = good output ÷ amount put in × 100
- Defect rate (%) = 100 − yield (the share of the amount put in that did not become good output)
- Input needed = good output needed ÷ yield (the yield as a fraction)
These are the definitions this tool uses, worked out from the idea that the yield is the share of the input that becomes good output. They were not copied from a published formula.
The defect rate and the uplift on good output are different
The same yield can be written as two different percentages, because they divide by different amounts.
| Yield | Defect rate (of the input) | Uplift on the good output | Input needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90% | 10% | about 11.11% | about 1.111 times the good output |
| 80% | 20% | 25% | 1.25 times the good output |
| 50% | 50% | 100% | 2 times the good output |
- The defect rate is the loss divided by the input.
- The uplift is the extra input divided by the good output you need. The "allowance for waste" in the Paint Calculator and the Tile Calculator is this kind of percentage (needed = net × (1 + allowance)).
- They are related by: 1 ÷ yield = 1 + uplift, and defect rate = uplift ÷ (1 + uplift).
A yield of 80% can be called a "20% defect rate" or a "25% uplift". They are different numbers, so check what a quoted "waste rate" is a percentage of.
Pieces and quantities
- Pieces (whole number). The input needed is a whole number. Choose round up (the default), round to nearest or round down. The rounding is done once, from the unrounded value. The tool also shows the good output you can expect from the rounded input.
- Quantity (decimal). The input needed is rounded to 0 to 4 decimal places (default 2).
Rules for the input
- If the good output is more than the amount put in, the tool shows an error, because the yield is taken to be at most 100%. Check that both are counted the same way and in the same unit.
- If the amount put in is 0, the yield cannot be calculated. If the good output is 0, the yield is 0%.
- A yield of 0% gives no answer for the input needed.
Examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| Put in 100, good output 80 | Yield 80%, defect rate 20% |
| 100 good pieces needed at 80% yield | Input needed: 125 pieces |
| 100 good pieces needed at 90% yield (pieces, rounded up) | 111.11… → 112 pieces |
What is not included
Combined yield across several steps (the product of each step's yield), a breakdown of defects by cause, costing and statistical process control are not covered.
Sources
The idea of yield as the good output divided by the input is general; no source was checked for this page. The formulas on this page are the definitions of this tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can the yield be more than 100%?
Not in this tool. If the good output is higher than the input, check that both are counted in the same way and unit.
What is the difference between yield and waste rate?
The yield is the good output as a share of the input. A waste rate may be a share of the input or an uplift on the good output, so check what it is divided by.
Is this the same as percent yield in chemistry?
No. This is a production yield. Percent yield in chemistry compares the actual with the theoretical product.