⚖️ Ratio Calculator

Simplify ratios like 12:18 to 2:3 (decimals and three-part ratios too), solve A:B = C:D for the missing value, or split a total in a given ratio.

✓ Free✓ No Signup Required✓ Browser-Based
Simplest form
2 : 3 : 5
PartShare of the wholePercent1 : n form
22/1020%1
33/1030%1.5
55/1050%2.5

What Ratio Calculator Does

This ratio calculator does the three things people need ratios for. Simplify reduces any ratio to its smallest whole numbers — 12:18:30 becomes 2:3:5, and decimal ratios like 1.5:2.25 are scaled up first so they come out as 2:3 — and shows each part as a share, a percentage and in 1:n form. Solve fills the missing value in a proportion A:B = C:D, whichever of the four it is. Split divides a total, such as money, ingredients or hours, in a given ratio.

Ratios compare quantities with each other: two parts sand to one part cement, a 16:9 screen, a 3:1 odds line. The calculator shows the working for each mode so you can check a homework answer or a mix before committing to it.

How to Use Ratio Calculator

  1. Choose simplify, solve a proportion or split a total
  2. Enter the ratio with colons, such as 12:18 or 1:2:3
  3. For proportions, fill three boxes and leave the unknown empty
  4. For splitting, enter the total and the ratio
  5. Read the answer with the working and percentages

Formula Used by Ratio Calculator

Simplifying

Divide every part by the greatest common divisor (GCD)

Worked example

12 : 18 : 30

  1. GCD(12, 18, 30) = 6
  2. 12 ÷ 6 = 2, 18 ÷ 6 = 3, 30 ÷ 6 = 5

Result: 2 : 3 : 5

Solving a proportion

A : B = C : D ⇔ A × D = B × C

Worked example

3 : 4 = 15 : x

  1. 3x = 4 × 15 = 60
  2. x = 60 ÷ 3

Result: x = 20

Splitting a total

Share = total ÷ (sum of parts) × part

Worked example

$1,200 in the ratio 3 : 2 : 1

  1. 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 shares
  2. $1,200 ÷ 6 = $200 per share

Result: $600, $400 and $200.

Everyday Ratios

RatioWhere it appears
16 : 9Widescreen TVs, monitors and video
1 : 2 : 3Concrete: cement, sand, gravel (a common general-purpose mix)
1 : 15–1 : 17Coffee to water by weight, a common brewing range
3 : 1Odds against (one win for every three losses)
1 : 1.618The golden ratio

How to Read Your Result

Order matters

A ratio of 2:3 is not the same as 3:2. Always check which quantity comes first — “sugar to flour 1:3” means three times as much flour. When solving a proportion, keep the same quantity in the same position on both sides.

Ratios, fractions and percentages

In a 2:3 mix, the first part is 2 of 5 total shares: 2/5, or 40%. Comparing the parts directly gives 2/3 ≈ 0.667 — the first is two thirds of the second. Both are correct answers to different questions, which is why the table shows each.

Limitations & Accuracy Notes

  • Negative numbers are not accepted in ratios.
  • Decimal results are rounded to 12 significant digits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you simplify a ratio?
Divide every part by their greatest common divisor. 12:18 has a GCD of 6, so it simplifies to 2:3. With decimals, first multiply all parts by 10, 100… to make whole numbers: 1.5:2.25 becomes 150:225, which simplifies to 2:3.
How do I solve a proportion?
Cross-multiply. In A:B = C:D, A × D = B × C. For 3:4 = 15:x, 3x = 60, so x = 20. Leave the unknown box empty and the calculator solves it.
How do I divide an amount in a ratio?
Add the parts to find the number of shares, divide the total by that, and multiply by each part. $1,200 in the ratio 3:2:1 is 6 shares of $200, so $600, $400 and $200.
How do I convert a ratio to a percentage or fraction?
Each part’s share of the whole is part ÷ sum. In 2:3 the sum is 5, so the first part is 2/5 = 40% and the second 3/5 = 60%. As a single fraction, 2:3 is 2/3 ≈ 0.667.
What is the difference between a ratio and a fraction?
A ratio compares parts with each other (2 cups flour to 3 cups water); a fraction compares a part with the whole (2 of the 5 cups are flour). 2:3 and 2/5 describe the same mix.
Can a ratio have more than two parts?
Yes. Concrete mixes, paint tints and recipes often use three: 1:2:3 cement, sand and gravel. The simplify and split modes both accept as many parts as you need.
By OnlineToolHubs Team • September 2026