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Calibration Error & Correction Calculator

Compare an instrument indication with a reference and distinguish signed error from additive correction.

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Your inputs

01 / Enter

These are editable examples, not recommended rates. Enter your own numbers.

Calculator inputs

The reference value in the selected measurement unit.

The indicated value, in the same unit as the reference.

All measurements use this same unit. Changing the label does not convert input values.

Select the denominator explicitly; signed error is divided by a nonnegative magnitude.

Your result

02 / Understand

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Show the math

Calculations retain numerical precision. Displayed quantities are rounded to significant digits, not to cents.

What this means

An indication above the reference has positive error. The additive correction has the opposite sign and would bring this indication to the reference under the simple comparison model.

Worked example

A reference of 100 V and indication of 100.2 V give +0.2 V error and −0.2 V correction. Using reference magnitude gives +0.2%. For a −50 V reference and −49 V indication, the same convention gives +1 V error and +2%.

How the math works

Error E = indication I − reference R. Correction C = R − I = −E. Absolute error = |E|. Selected percentage = 100×E/|R| or 100×E/user-entered span magnitude. No percentage is calculated unless a base is selected.

About this estimate

Both values use the same units and refer to the same quantity. Zero selected denominator leaves the percentage undefined. This is a pointwise additive comparison, not a calibration curve, uncertainty evaluation, traceability claim or pass/fail decision.

Reference conventions

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Formula v1.0.0 · Reviewed · Tool ID: calibration-error-correction