Slew Rate Bandwidth Calculator
An amplifier can only change its output so fast. That limit, the slew rate, sets the highest frequency at which the amplifier can reproduce a large signal without distortion. For a sine wave the steepest part of the waveform has slope two pi f times the peak amplitude, so the full-power bandwidth follows directly from the slew rate and peak voltage. This calculator takes a slew rate in volts per microsecond and a peak output voltage, then returns the full-power bandwidth and the slew rate required to reproduce a given target frequency.
Slew rate and full-power bandwidth formula
Slew rate in SI = slew rate (V/us) * 1e6 V/s
Full-power bandwidth f = slew rate (V/s) / (2 * pi * Vpeak)
Required slew rate = 2 * pi * f_target * Vpeak (V/s)
Margin factor = available slew rate / required slew rate
The maximum slope of a sine wave Vpeak * sin(2*pi*f*t) is 2*pi*f*Vpeak. Equating this to the slew rate gives the highest frequency that fits inside the slew limit at full amplitude.
Slew rate facts
- Slew rate is independent of small-signal gain-bandwidth product.
- Doubling the peak amplitude halves the full-power bandwidth.
- A margin factor above 1 means the amplifier can reproduce the target signal.
- General-purpose op-amps span roughly 0.5 to hundreds of volts per microsecond.
- Slew-rate distortion turns a sine into a triangle when the limit is exceeded.
Slew rate: frequently asked questions
What is slew rate?
Slew rate is the maximum rate at which an amplifier's output voltage can change, usually quoted in volts per microsecond. If a signal demands a faster change than the slew rate allows, the output cannot keep up and the waveform distorts, becoming triangular instead of sinusoidal.
How is full-power bandwidth calculated from slew rate?
For a sine wave of peak amplitude Vp, the maximum slope is 2*pi*f*Vp. Setting this equal to the slew rate gives the full-power bandwidth f = slew rate / (2*pi*Vp). Above this frequency the amplifier cannot deliver the full peak swing without slew-rate distortion.
What slew rate do I need for a given signal?
The required slew rate is 2*pi*f*Vp, where f is the highest signal frequency and Vp is the peak output voltage. Choose an amplifier whose specified slew rate comfortably exceeds this, typically with margin for safety and component tolerance.
Why is full-power bandwidth lower than small-signal bandwidth?
Small-signal bandwidth is set by the amplifier's gain-bandwidth product at low amplitude. Full-power bandwidth is limited by slew rate at large amplitude. Because slew-rate distortion appears only when the output must swing far and fast, the full-power bandwidth is usually well below the small-signal gain-bandwidth product.
Does slew rate depend on the load?
Slew rate is primarily set by the amplifier's internal compensation capacitor and bias current, so the datasheet value applies under specified conditions. Heavy capacitive loads or large output currents can reduce the effective slew rate, so always check the amplifier's test conditions.
Official sources
- NIST: Physical Measurement Laboratory: signal and waveform metrics.
- IEEE: IEEE standards for operational amplifier terminology.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 16 June 2026. See our methodology.