Impact Factor Calculator
Calculate a journal's impact factor using citations received in a given year divided by the number of citable articles published in the previous two years. This metric helps assess a journal's influence in its field.
Total citations received in the target year
Articles published in the two preceding years
Year for which impact factor is calculated
How to Use This Calculator
- Find the number of citations the journal received in the target year (typically from Journal Citation Reports or journal websites).
- Determine the number of citable articles published in the two preceding years (e.g., for 2024 IF, count articles from 2022 and 2023).
- Enter the citations and article count into the calculator. The year field is optional but helps with record-keeping.
- Review the calculated impact factor and its category (Very High, High, Moderate, or Lower Impact).
Impact Factor Formula
The Journal Impact Factor is calculated by dividing citations received in a given year by the number of citable articles published in the previous two years:
Example: If a journal received 1,250 citations in 2024 and published 250 citable articles in 2022-2023, the 2024 Impact Factor is 1,250 ÷ 250 = 5.0.
Full Description
Journal Impact Factor (IF) is one of the most widely used metrics for assessing the influence and prestige of academic journals. Developed by Eugene Garfield and calculated by Clarivate Analytics, IF measures how frequently articles from a journal are cited by other researchers—indicating the journal's impact on its field.
Impact factors are crucial for researchers choosing where to publish, institutions evaluating research output, and funding agencies assessing grant applications. However, IF should be interpreted carefully: citation practices vary dramatically across fields, and newer journals may have lower IFs despite high quality.
This calculator uses the standard IF formula to help you understand how impact factors are calculated. While it provides accurate calculations based on the formula, official IFs are published annually by Clarivate Analytics in the Journal Citation Reports. Use this tool for educational purposes or to estimate IF when official data isn't immediately available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a journal impact factor?
Impact Factor (IF) measures how frequently articles from a journal are cited in other research. It's calculated by dividing citations received in a year by the number of citable articles published in the previous two years. Higher IF indicates greater influence in the field.
What is considered a good impact factor?
Impact factors vary significantly by field. In medicine, IF above 10 is excellent. In humanities, IF above 2 may be considered high. Always compare journals within the same field, as citation practices differ across disciplines.
Who calculates official impact factors?
Clarivate Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) calculates and publishes official Journal Impact Factors annually in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). This calculator provides a simplified estimation based on the same formula.
Can I use this to predict a journal's future impact factor?
This calculator uses the standard IF formula but cannot predict future values. Impact factors fluctuate based on citation trends, publication volume, and field dynamics. Use it to understand how IF is calculated, not to forecast future performance.