PWM to Voltage Calculator

Convert duty cycle + high/low levels into an equivalent average voltage (ideal low-pass average).

How to Use

  1. Enter Duty Cycle (0–100%).
  2. Enter Vhigh (PWM high level) and optionally Vlow (PWM low level).
  3. (Optional) Enter Frequency to estimate how “filter-friendly” the PWM is.
  4. Open Show Work for the exact formula and steps.
Signal View
Ideal average voltage assumes PWM is filtered (or averaged by the load).
Duty
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Vhigh
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Vlow
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Vavg
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Smoothing: —
Vhigh Vlow Preview: High-time width ≈ duty cycle (single period illustration) Vavg
Inputs & Settings
Enter PWM levels + duty cycle to compute the ideal average voltage.
0% = always low, 100% = always high
Typical: 3.3V logic, 5V logic, 12V PWM
Usually 0V, but not always (some drivers float or offset)
Used for “smoothing” guidance (not required for Vavg)
Show Work (step-by-step)
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Work is shown in base units (V, Hz) and normalized duty (0–1) for clarity.

Formulas

The ideal average voltage of a PWM signal over one period is: Vavg = Vlow + D × (Vhigh − Vlow)

  • D = duty cycle as a fraction (0 to 1)
  • Vspan = Vhigh − Vlow
  • Period (optional) = T = 1 / f
This tool computes the time-average. Ripple and settling depend on your RC/LC filter and load.

FAQ

Why doesn’t my multimeter match Vavg exactly?

Many meters measure “average-responding” or “true RMS” differently depending on PWM frequency and waveform. Filtering and sampling behavior can skew readings.

Is Vavg the same as RMS?

No. Average voltage (DC component) differs from RMS. RMS relates to heating/power in resistive loads. This tool is for the average / DC-equivalent after filtering.

What if Vlow is not 0V?

That’s why Vlow is included. Some drivers have offsets, or you may be PWM’ing around a baseline.

How do I get a smoother analog voltage from PWM?

Use a low-pass filter (RC/LC) and choose a PWM frequency high enough relative to the filter cutoff. Higher PWM frequency generally makes filtering easier.

Tool Info

Last updated:

Updates may include unit support, edge-case handling, and improved smoothing guidance.