VIA Capital

Biology

CO₂ Grow Room Calculator

Find how much CO₂ raises a sealed grow room from ambient to your target ppm.

Your inputs

Change any value — everything updates instantly.

Inside length of the sealed room.

Inside width.

Floor to ceiling.

Common enrichment targets are 1,000–1,500 ppm.

Outdoor air is roughly 400 ppm.

Try an example

CO₂ to add

0.512 ft³

This means about 14.5 litres of CO₂ lifts the room to your target.

640 ft³ room · ambient 400 ppm
CO₂ levelRoom
1,200 ppm target

What you are seeing

The green fill rises as CO₂ is released into the room.

The dashed line is ambient air at 400 ppm.

Reaching 1,200 ppm needs 0.512 ft³ of CO₂.

Room volume

640 ft³

Length × width × height.

CO₂ in litres

14.5 L

Same amount in litres.

Increase needed

800 ppm

Target minus ambient.

Per 100 ft³

0.08 ft³

CO₂ per 100 ft³ of room per 100 ppm... scales linearly.

Result explanation: CO₂ enrichment

0.512 ft³ (14.5 L) of CO₂.

Real-life comparison: A target of 1,500 ppm would need 0.704 ft³.

Low, normal or high? Within the commonly used enrichment range.

Graph and details

4007501,1001,4501,80000.450.9Target ppmCO₂ ft³

CO₂ needed against target ppm

How to read this chart: CO₂ rises in a straight line with the target. The red dot is your target.

What this calculator does

Multiplies the room volume by the ppm increase to find the CO₂ volume.

What your result means

0.512 ft³ of CO₂.

Works only in a sealed room — ventilation removes it quickly.

Plants use CO₂, so levels fall and need topping up.

The formulas

Room volume times the ppm increase, scaled by a million.

1. CO₂ volume

CO₂ (ft³) = room ft³ × (target − ambient) ÷ 1,000,000

Symbols

ppm
Parts per million ()
1,000,000
ppm to fraction ()

Why this formula works

1 ppm of a volume is one millionth of that volume.

Unit check

ft³ × ppm ÷ 1e6 = ft³ ✓

Worked example

  1. 640 ft³ room, +800 ppm
  2. 640 × 800 = 512,000
  3. ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.512 ft³

Common mistakes

  • Ignoring leaks and ventilation.
  • Using the room area instead of volume.

Working for your numbers

  1. Volume = 10 × 8 × 8 = 640 ft³
  2. Increase = 1,200 − 400 = 800 ppm
  3. CO₂ = 640 × 800 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.512 ft³

Add about 0.512 ft³ (14.5 L) of CO₂.

Frequently asked questions

Is CO₂ enrichment safe?

Levels under ~1,500 ppm are used in greenhouses, but occupied spaces need ventilation and monitoring.

Why does the level fall?

Plants consume CO₂ in light and any leak or fan removes it.

Do plants need CO₂ at night?

No — without light there is no photosynthesis.

Ambient ppm?

Outdoor air is roughly 400–420 ppm; indoor air can be higher.

Symbols and assumptions

V
Room volume (ft³)
ppm
Parts per million ()
  • Sealed room with no air exchange.
  • Even mixing of CO₂.

Sources and review

Reviewed 2026-09-25 · Next review 2027-09-25

Important limitation. Instant-fill estimate; ongoing consumption and leaks are not included.

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