Impedance Matching
Impedances
Enter source and load; the required match, efficiency and reflection appear live.
Match status
How to use this calculator
Impedance matching sets the source (or output) impedance equal to the load so that maximum power is transferred and reflections are minimized: Zout = ZL (the complex conjugate when either side is reactive). Enter Zs and ZL and the tool reports whether they're matched, the required output impedance, the resistive efficiency, and the reflection coefficient |Γ| = |ZL−Zs|/(ZL+Zs).
What it means in a real circuit
Matching is critical in two very different regimes. In RF, a mismatch reflects power back toward the source, causing standing waves (high VSWR) and lost signal — hence the universal 50 Ω system. In audio, "impedance bridging" (load ≥ 10× source) is usually preferred for voltage transfer, while a true conjugate match is used where power to a specific load matters. This calculator quantifies how far your pair is from either goal.