Enter capacity and C rating to instantly get the pack’s max continuous discharge current.
This LiPo C rating calculator turns your battery's capacity and C rating into the max continuous current the pack can safely deliver, and checks whether that C rating is enough for your quad. Choosing a battery, planning a build, or working out what a pack marked "100C" can actually push — the C rating is the spec every FPV pilot needs to read correctly, and this tool converts it to amps in a second.
The C rating tells you how hard a pack can be discharged relative to its own capacity. It isn't a current by itself — it's a multiplier: multiply it by the capacity in amp-hours to get amps. So the same 95C gives different amps on a 1300mAh pack versus a 1500mAh one. Packs often print two figures — continuous C and burst C. For headroom, always work from the continuous C rating; burst can only be held for a moment.
The formula is:max continuous current (A) = C rating × capacity (Ah). A 1300mAh (1.3Ah) pack rated 95C has a max continuous current of 95 × 1.3 ≈ 124A. That's the ceiling it can deliver without overheating or sagging badly. Compare it to your quad's real peak draw and you know instantly whether the pack can handle it.
| Capacity | C rating | Max continuous current |
|---|---|---|
| 450mAh | 80C | ~36A |
| 1300mAh | 95C | ~124A |
| 1500mAh | 100C | ~150A |
| 6000mAh | 25C | ~150A |
The rule: the pack's max continuous current should comfortably exceed your peak draw — leave at least 20% headroom. A 5-inch freestyle quad peaking around 90–110A wants a 1300mAh pack of roughly 95C or higher. Too low a C rating sags voltage at full throttle, runs the pack hot, and shortens its life — in the worst case it sags mid-air and drops the quad. Enter your peak current in the calculator and it tells you directly whether you have enough headroom. Not sure of your peak draw? Upload a log to tune or the motor health check to see your real current.
Not necessarily. A higher C rating gives more headroom and less voltage sag, but for the same capacity it's often heavier, and the printed number is sometimes optimistic marketing — plenty of "150C" packs test worse than an honest 95C. Enough headroom over your real draw matters more than the biggest number. Weigh C rating against weight and trusted brands. Once you've sorted the C rating, estimate how long it flies with the flight time calculator and how long it charges with the LiPo charge time calculator.
Max continuous current (A) = C rating × capacity in Ah. A 1300mAh (1.3Ah) pack rated 95C can deliver 1.3 × 95 = 123.5A continuously. The C rating printed on the pack tells you how hard it can be discharged relative to its capacity — multiply it by the capacity in amp-hours to get amps. Use the LiPo C rating calculator above for your exact pack.
Pick a C rating whose max current comfortably exceeds your peak draw — aim for at least 20% headroom. A 5-inch freestyle quad peaking around 90–110A wants a 1300mAh pack of roughly 95C or higher. Too low a C rating sags voltage, runs hot, and shortens battery life. Enter your peak current in the calculator to see if a pack has enough headroom.
Not always. A higher C rating gives more headroom and less voltage sag, but very high-C packs are often heavier for the same capacity and the printed number is sometimes optimistic marketing. Enough headroom over your real draw matters more than the biggest number — a realistic 95C pack can outperform an inflated 150C one. Balance C rating against weight and trusted brands.