Compare actual output against theoretical output — for tablets, powder, granules, bottles, or unit packs — to get percentage yield and process loss.
Percentage yield is one of the most routinely checked figures in pharmaceutical manufacturing, because it's usually the fastest way to spot that something went wrong in a process step. Comparing the actual quantity recovered against the theoretical quantity expected from the batch formula tells you, in a single number, how much material was lost along the way — whether that's tablets, powder, granules, filled bottles, or packed unit packs.
This calculator lets you choose the quantity type that matches the process step you're checking, and for weight-based outputs like powder or granules, pick the SI unit you're actually recording in, rather than forcing everything into one fixed unit.
As a general guide, yields in the high 90s are usually considered normal for most solid dosage processes, while anything noticeably lower is typically treated as a trigger for an investigation — checking for spillage, equipment holdup, sampling losses, or a genuine process deviation, depending on where in the process the shortfall shows up.
Percentage yield is usually the single number that determines whether a batch closes cleanly or triggers a deviation investigation. Comparing theoretical yield vs actual yield across tablets, powder, granules, bottles, or unit packs gives a quick read on where material was lost.
Yields in the high 90s (commonly 95–100%) are generally considered acceptable for most solid dosage processes, though thresholds vary by company and product.
Common causes include spillage, equipment holdup, sampling losses, and rejected units during in-process testing.