Lung Capacity Estimator
Estimate your predicted lung capacity based on age, height, and gender.
Compare to normal spirometry values.
Estimated Lung Capacity
Lung capacity (Forced Vital Capacity or FVC) is the maximum amount of air you can forcefully exhale after taking a deep breath.
Predicted FVC formulas (widely used reference equations):
Men:
FVC (liters) = (0.0576 × height in cm) - (0.0269 × age) - 4.34
Women:
FVC (liters) = (0.0443 × height in cm) - (0.0261 × age) - 2.89
Normal ranges:
- Healthy adults: 80–120% of predicted value
- Below 80%: May indicate restrictive lung disease
- Above 120%: Often seen in athletes and tall individuals
Average total lung capacity:
- Men: 6.0 liters (about 1.6 gallons)
- Women: 4.7 liters (about 1.2 gallons)
Factors that affect lung capacity:
- Height (taller people have larger lungs)
- Age (capacity decreases with age)
- Fitness level
- Smoking history
- Altitude of residence