Peak-to-Peak Voltage Calculator
When you look at a waveform on an oscilloscope, the most natural thing to measure is the full height of the trace, from the bottom of the dip to the top of the crest. That total span is the peak-to-peak voltage, and it is one of the most commonly quoted figures in electronics. It differs from the plain peak voltage, which measures only from the center line out to one extreme: the peak-to-peak value covers both extremes at once. For any waveform that is symmetric about its center, like a sine wave riding on zero volts, the peak-to-peak voltage is simply twice the peak amplitude, because the signal swings an equal distance up and down. This calculator makes that conversion. Enter the peak voltage, the amplitude from center to one extreme, and the tool returns the peak-to-peak voltage by doubling it. Peak-to-peak matters when you are sizing the signal swing a circuit must handle, specifying ripple on a power rail, or reading a scope trace directly. The doubling rule assumes a symmetric signal; an offset or lopsided waveform needs its actual maximum minus its minimum instead. A worked example below reconciles exactly to the calculator default.
For a symmetric waveform, peak-to-peak voltage is double the peak amplitude: Vpp = 2 x Vpeak. A peak voltage of 170 V gives a peak-to-peak voltage of 340.00 V, the full swing of the wave.
Peak-to-peak voltage formula
Vpp = 2 x Vpeak
Vpeak = peak (amplitude) voltage
valid for a waveform symmetric about its center
rearranged: Vpeak = Vpp / 2
A symmetric wave reaches the same distance above and below its center line, so the total span from trough to crest is exactly twice the peak amplitude.
Worked example
A sine wave with a peak voltage of 170 V.
- Vpp = 2 x Vpeak.
- Vpp = 2 x 170.
- Vpp = 340.00 V.
These are the calculator's default inputs, so the result above matches the widget exactly.
Peak-to-peak voltage calculator: frequently asked questions
What is peak-to-peak voltage?
Peak-to-peak voltage is the full vertical span of a waveform, measured from its lowest point to its highest point. For a symmetric signal centered on zero, that span is twice the peak amplitude, because the wave swings the same distance above and below the center line.
How is it different from peak voltage?
Peak voltage is the distance from the center line to one extreme, the amplitude. Peak-to-peak voltage is the distance from one extreme all the way to the other. For a wave symmetric about zero, peak-to-peak is exactly double the peak. Oscilloscopes often display peak-to-peak directly.
When do I use peak-to-peak?
Peak-to-peak is convenient when reading a waveform on an oscilloscope, because you measure the total height of the trace. It is also used to specify ripple voltage, signal swing and the dynamic range a circuit must handle. It tells you the largest excursion the signal makes.
Does this assume a symmetric waveform?
The simple doubling rule assumes the waveform is symmetric about its center, so the positive and negative peaks are equal in size. For an asymmetric or offset signal, peak-to-peak is the actual maximum minus the actual minimum, which may not be twice the peak.
What is the peak-to-peak formula?
For a symmetric waveform, peak-to-peak voltage equals two times the peak voltage. Rearranged, the peak voltage equals the peak-to-peak voltage divided by two. A 170 V peak gives a 340 V peak-to-peak swing.
Official sources
- Electrical units, AC quantities and measurement standards: US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As at 25 June 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 25 June 2026. See our methodology. This is general information, not financial, tax, legal or investment advice.