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Scale Factor Calculator

Work out scale factor instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Scale Factor Calculator

The scale factor is the ratio of a new length to the corresponding original length. Areas scale by k² and volumes by k³, because area involves two length dimensions and volume three.

Formula

Scale factor

k = new length / original length, area × k², volume × k³

Worked example

With the default values below, Scale Factor Calculator returns Linear scale factor of 2.50000000. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Original lengthminimum 0
8
New lengthminimum 0
20

Results

Linear scale factor
2.50000000
Area scale factor k²
6.25000000
Volume scale factor k³
15.62500000
Reverse scale factor 1/k
0.40000000

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Scale factor
  3. 3Linear scale factor= 2.50000000
  4. 4Area scale factor k²= 6.25000000
  5. 5Volume scale factor k³= 15.62500000
  6. 6Reverse scale factor 1/k= 0.40000000

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 8 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 becomes 20?

The scale factor is 2.5, so areas grow 6.25× and volumes 15.625×.

What does a factor below 1 mean?

A reduction. A factor of 0.5 halves every length and quarters every area.

Related Calculators

Scale Factor Calculator – Calculate Linear scale factor