ToolsConductScience tool
General LabFree in-browser calculator

Plate Map Designer.

Design plate maps for 96-well and 384-well plates. Click to assign conditions, apply templates for standard curves and serial dilutions, export to CSV. Data never leaves your browser.

PrivateData stays in your browser
LiveNo sign-up required
Validated2026-04-05
CitableMethods and citation included

Calculator

Results update in place

Conditions

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

Plate Summary

Total Wells
96
Assigned
0
Empty
96

When to use

  • Design plate layouts for ELISA, qPCR, cell-based assays, and drug screens
  • Plan standard curves with duplicate/triplicate wells
  • Create serial dilution layouts across rows or columns
  • Export plate maps for import into plate reader software or LIMS
  • Document experimental plate layouts for lab notebooks

Do not use for

  • Plate reader data analysis — use the ELISA Curve Fitter or Kinetic Assay Analyzer
  • 1536-well or higher density plates — not yet supported

Edge wells evaporate faster

Outer wells (especially corners) lose more volume to evaporation. Fill edge wells with buffer or use them for controls. If you must use them for samples, use a humidified incubator.

Plate orientation matters

Always note which corner is A1 (usually top-left with the notch). Rotating the plate 180° swaps all well assignments. Mark the orientation on the plate.

Systematic vs random layouts

Systematic layouts (all controls in row A) are easy to read but introduce position bias. For publication-quality data, randomize sample positions and include plate position as a covariate in analysis.

1

Method

Interactive 96/384-well grid with click and drag-to-select. Condition assignment by color-coded categories. Pre-built templates for common assay layouts. Export to CSV (well, row, column, condition) or JSON.

2

Validated

Last validated 2026-04-05. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.

3

How to cite

How to Cite

ConductScience 96/384 Well Plate Map Designer (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/plate-map-designer

Plate Layout Best Practices

A well-designed plate layout minimizes systematic bias and maximizes statistical power:

Edge effects: Avoid placing critical samples in edge wells (row A, row H, column 1, column 12) where evaporation is highest. Use these for blanks or controls. • Randomization: Randomize sample positions to avoid position-dependent bias. Avoid placing all controls in one corner. • Replicates: Use at least triplicates for quantitative assays. Distribute replicates across different plate regions. • Standards: Place standards in duplicate or triplicate, spanning the expected concentration range. Include blank wells.

Frequently asked

325
Free tools
1,200+
Institutions
100%
Client-side
0
Uploads required