How to use the carbon-14 dating calculator
Estimate the age of a sample from its remaining carbon-14. Enter carbon-14 remaining in the field above; the estimated age is computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- p — Carbon-14 remaining (%)
Worked example
With carbon-14 remaining = 25 %, the calculator gives estimated age ≈ 11,460 years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the carbon-14 dating calculation?
Estimated age (years) = -5730 × ln(p / 100) / ln(2). Here p is carbon-14 remaining (%).
What inputs do I need for the carbon-14 dating calculator?
You need carbon-14 remaining in %. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.