AQI Comparison

AQI 50 vs AQI 300

A one-step change in AQI category can translate into a meaningful jump in particle dose.

AQI 50

0.55

cigarettes per 24h

Good: Most people can keep their normal routine.

AQI 300

11.38

cigarettes per 24h

Very Unhealthy: This is an indoor-air-management problem, not just an outdoor comfort problem.

What changes between these two AQI values

Difference in PM2.5

238.4

µg/m³

Difference per day

10.83

cigarettes

Direction

AQI 300 is materially heavier exposure

Moving from AQI 50 to AQI 300 changes both dose and the protection plan.

Calculate AQI 50

Open the interactive calculator with AQI 50 loaded.

Calculate AQI 300

Use the interactive calculator to test a different duration.

See how the numbers are derived

Review the AQI-to-PM2.5 and PM2.5-to-cigarettes methodology.