Current divider calculator

Find the current through each of two parallel resistors from the total input current.

Schematic

Loading CircuitSim schematic…

Results

Current through R16.88 mA68.75 % of the total current

Network results
Current through R2	3.13 mA
Total current	10 mA
Voltage across branches	6.88 V
Equivalent resistance	687.5 Ω

Advanced results

Individual resistor results
R1 voltage	6.88 V
R1 current	6.88 mA
R1 power	47.27 mW
R2 voltage	6.88 V
R2 current	3.13 mA
R2 power	21.48 mW

The smaller resistance carries more current. Both branch currents add up to the source current.

How current division works

Current splits between parallel paths in inverse proportion to their resistance. The smaller resistor carries more current. Both resistors have the same voltage across them, and their branch currents add up to the input current.

I_1 = I_T \frac{R_2}{R_1 + R_2}

The source supplies the total current I1. The probes labeled I(R1) and I(R2) measure the individual branches. Equal resistors split the current equally; doubling one resistance halves that branch’s current relative to the other branch.

Edit the component values on the canvas, or choose Try in CircuitSim to simulate your circuit.

Do the math

Selected input values
R1	1 kΩ
R2	2.2 kΩ
I1	10 mA

Equivalent resistance: $\frac{1}{R_T} = \sum_i \frac{1}{R_i}$
Substitute the selected values:
$\left(\frac{1}{1\,\mathrm{k\Omega}} + \frac{1}{2.2\,\mathrm{k\Omega}}\right)^{-1}$
≈ 687.5 Ω
Current through R1: $I_1 = I_T \frac{R_T}{R_1}$
$= 10\,\mathrm{mA} \times \frac{687.5\,\mathrm{\Omega}}{1\,\mathrm{k\Omega}}$
≈ 6.88 mA
Current through R2: $I_2 = I_T \frac{R_T}{R_2}$
$= 10\,\mathrm{mA} \times \frac{687.5\,\mathrm{\Omega}}{2.2\,\mathrm{k\Omega}}$
≈ 3.13 mA

Explore CircuitSim calculators →

Current divider calculator

Configure

Schematic

Results

How current division works

Explore more calculators

Voltage divider

Ohm’s law & power

Series resistance

Learn more