Baud vs Bit Rate Calculator
UART real throughput with framing overhead, or M-ary modulation bit rates — why 115200 baud moves only 11.5 kB/s.
At 8N1, “115200 baud” moves only 11 520 bytes/s — the start/stop framing taxes 20 %. Baud equals bit rate ONLY for binary signalling; a 256-QAM cable modem sends 8 bits every symbol, which is how kHz-class symbol rates carry Mbit/s. The trade: each doubling of M costs ~3 dB of SNR headroom.
Baud vs Bit Rate Calculator computes real UART throughput after framing — or M-ary modulation bit rates — free, instant and private in your browser. Firmware authors budgeting serial links and comms students separating baud from bps use it to skip the datasheet algebra: type your numbers, read the answer with the substituted formula shown step by step, and share an exact permalink of the calculation.
About Baud vs Bit Rate Calculator
Baud vs Bit Rate Calculator computes real UART throughput after framing — or M-ary modulation bit rates using the standard engineering relation: UART: throughput = baud·data/frame bits; M-ary: bitrate = baud·log₂M. Worked live: 115200-8N1 carries 11 520 bytes/s — the start and stop bits tax 20 %. The result recalculates on every keystroke, the worked-example panel shows your numbers substituted into the formula, and the Copy permalink button encodes the inputs in the URL so a colleague opens exactly your calculation. Everything runs client-side — nothing you type leaves your device.
How to use Baud vs Bit Rate Calculator
- 1Enter your values — the tool starts with realistic defaults for this exact use case, so the worked example is meaningful immediately.
- 2Read the live result and the worked-example panel, which substitutes your numbers into the formula step by step.
- 3Adjust any input to compare scenarios, then use Copy result or Copy permalink to share the calculation.
Why use Baud vs Bit Rate Calculator?
- ✓Implements the real formula — UART: throughput = baud·data/frame bits — with the substitution shown, not a black box
- ✓Built for firmware authors budgeting serial links and comms students separating baud from bps
- ✓Copy result and permalink buttons — share the exact calculation in a README, forum answer or design review
- ✓100% free, no sign-up, runs entirely in your browser (works offline once loaded)
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate baud vs bit rate?+
Real UART throughput after framing — or M-ary modulation bit rates follows UART: throughput = baud·data/frame bits; M-ary: bitrate = baud·log₂M. For example, 115200-8N1 carries 11 520 bytes/s — the start and stop bits tax 20 %. The calculator applies the same relation and shows the substituted arithmetic so you can verify every step.
Are baud and bits-per-second the same thing?+
Only for binary signalling. Baud counts SYMBOLS per second; each symbol can carry log₂M bits. A 2400-baud V.22bis modem moved 9600 bps with 16 levels; a 256-QAM cable channel moves 8 bits every symbol. Conflating them is the field's oldest confusion.
How fast can a UART realistically go?+
Classic 16550-class ports run reliably to ~1 Mbaud; MCU UARTs commonly do 2–6 Mbaud with clean short wiring, and USB-serial bridges like the CP2102 handle 1–3 Mbaud. The limits are clock-divider error (keep < 2 %) and cable capacitance, not the standard.
Is the Baud vs Bit Rate Calculator free and private?+
Yes — completely free with no sign-up or usage limits, and it runs entirely in your browser: the values you enter are never uploaded or stored on a server.
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