Enter the peak height and peak width (typically the full width at half-height / FWHM) into the Calculator. Choose the appropriate peak-shape model (or integrate raw data) to evaluate the Peak Area.

Peak Area Calculator

Enter peak height and width (FWHM) — pick the peak shape and get the area.

Height × Width
From data points
Enter a positive height and width.
Trapezoidal integration. Lines that aren’t numeric pairs are ignored.
Please paste at least two numeric x,y points.
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Peak Area Formula

PA \approx k \cdot h \cdot w_{1/2}

Variables:

  • PA is the peak area (signal × time, e.g., mV·s)
  • h is the peak height (signal units)
  • w1/2 is the full width at half-height (FWHM; time units in chromatography)
  • k is a dimensionless shape factor (for a Gaussian peak using FWHM, k ≈ 1.064467; for a Lorentzian peak, k = π/2 ≈ 1.570796)

Peak area is formally the area under the signal-vs.-time (or signal-vs.-x) curve above the baseline. For a single, well-behaved peak, it is often approximated by a shape factor times the height times the full width at half-height.

How to Calculate Peak Area?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Peak Area.

  1. First, determine the height. 
  2. Next, determine the width at half-height (FWHM). 
  3. Next, gather the formula from above (choose an appropriate shape factor): PA ≈ k · h · w1/2.
  4. Finally, calculate the Peak Area.
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

height = 50

width at half-height = 10

If the peak is approximately Gaussian (a common approximation in chromatography), then PA ≈ 1.064467 × 50 × 10 = 532.2335 (in height·time units).

FAQs

What is Peak Area in scientific terms?

In scientific terms, Peak Area refers to the area under a peak in a signal (typically the integral of the signal above baseline over time or over another x-axis variable). In chromatography and signal processing, peak area is often proportional to the amount of substance present or the total signal.

How do you determine the height and width at half-height for a peak?

The height of a peak is determined by measuring the maximum vertical distance from the baseline to the top of the peak. The width at half-height is measured as the full width of the peak at a vertical distance equal to half of the peak's height (FWHM).

Why is calculating Peak Area important?

Calculating Peak Area is important in various fields such as analytical chemistry, pharmacology, and environmental science, as it helps in quantifying the concentration of substances, analyzing the purity of compounds, and monitoring environmental pollutants.

Can Peak Area calculation be used for all types of peaks?

Peak area (as an integral) applies to any peak, but simplified formulas (such as using height and FWHM with a shape factor) are most accurate for well-defined, isolated, and approximately symmetric peaks. Irregular, overlapping, or strongly asymmetric peaks often require numerical integration or more advanced peak fitting.