What Is the LM358? Dual Op-Amp: Pinout, Operation and Uses
The LM358 is a low-cost IC with two independent operational amplifiers (op-amps) in one package that runs from a single supply (3–32 V). Because its input reaches down to ground (0 V), it is a default choice in battery-powered circuits with no negative rail. It is used for signal amplification, filtering and sensor interfacing; its output is not rail-to-rail (it cannot reach V+).
The LM358 is a low-cost, decades-old IC that packs two independent operational amplifiers (op-amps) into a single 8-pin package. Two properties make it so popular: it runs from a single supply, and its input range extends down to the negative rail (ground, 0 V). That means battery-powered circuits with no symmetric (±) supply need no extra negative rail. For how an op-amp works in general, see what is an op-amp.
What is the LM358 used for?
The LM358 amplifies, filters or buffers a weak analog signal. Because its two op-amps are independent, you can build two separate amplifier stages on one chip. It shows up most often in:
- Conditioning a sensor output to a level suitable for a microcontroller's ADC
- Inverting and non-inverting amplifier stages
- Active filters (low-pass / high-pass)
- Voltage followers / buffers (high input impedance)
- Simple voltage comparison and threshold detection
LM358 pinout (DIP-8 / SOIC-8)
The two op-amps are labelled "A" and "B"; the supply pins (4 and 8) are shared.
| Pin | Function |
|---|---|
| 1 | OUTPUT A (OUT1) |
| 2 | INPUT A − (inverting input) |
| 3 | INPUT A + (non-inverting input) |
| 4 | V− / GND (negative supply or ground) |
| 5 | INPUT B + (non-inverting input) |
| 6 | INPUT B − (inverting input) |
| 7 | OUTPUT B (OUT2) |
| 8 | V+ / VCC (positive supply) |
Key electrical specifications
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Number of op-amps | 2 (independent) |
| Supply voltage (single) | 3 V – 32 V |
| Supply voltage (dual) | ±1.5 V – ±16 V |
| Gain–bandwidth (GBW) | ~1.1 MHz |
| Slew rate | ~0.3 V/µs |
| Supply current | ~0.7 mA (total, typ.) |
| Input common-mode range | includes V− (ground) |
| Output swing | near ground; cannot reach V+ (not rail-to-rail) |
Always check the datasheet of the manufacturer you use for exact figures; the values above are common typicals.
Packages and order codes
The LM358 comes in different packages, indicated by the suffix of the order code — the chip is the same, only the body differs:
- DIP-8 (through-hole): suffix usually P or N (e.g. LM358P, LM358N) — for breadboards and through-hole boards.
- SOIC-8 (SMD): suffix usually D (e.g. LM358D, LM358DR) — surface mount.
- TSSOP-8 / VSSOP-8: smaller SMD bodies for compact designs.
Suffix letters vary slightly between manufacturers; verify the package table in the datasheet before ordering. On different suffixes of the same part: what is an MPN (manufacturer part number).
Which manufacturers make it?
The LM358 is not tied to a single brand; it is a multi-sourced (second-source) standard. Major makers include Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, onsemi and Diodes Incorporated. That is a supply-chain advantage: if one manufacturer has a stock or price problem, you can get the same function from another. To compare current price and stock from multiple sources on one screen, use the LM358 search.
Example circuits
1) Non-inverting amplifier
The most common use. The gain is set by two resistors:
Av = 1 + Rf / Rg
The input goes to the non-inverting input (+); Rg connects the inverting input (−) to ground and Rf connects the inverting input to the output. Example: Rf = 100 kΩ, Rg = 10 kΩ → gain = 1 + 100/10 = 11×. To compute the gain instantly, use our Op-Amp Gain Calculator.
2) Inverting amplifier
The input goes to the inverting input (−); the gain is Av = − Rf / Rin (the output is inverted). On a single supply, the reference is usually shifted to V+/2 with a divider (bias).
3) Voltage follower (buffer)
The output is tied directly to the inverting input (gain = 1). It gives high input impedance and low output impedance — used to isolate a sensitive source (e.g. a sensor) from its load.
4) Active low-pass filter
A first-order active filter is built with one R and one C; the cutoff frequency is fc = 1 / (2πRC). Commonly used to filter noise out of sensor signals.
LM358 compared with similar parts
| Feature | LM358 | LM324 | TL072 | MCP6002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Op-amps | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Single supply | 3–32 V | 3–32 V | not suited* | 1.8–6 V |
| Input senses ground? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (RRIO) |
| Rail-to-rail output | No | No | No | Yes |
| GBW | ~1.1 MHz | ~1.1 MHz | ~3 MHz | ~1 MHz |
| Slew rate | ~0.3 V/µs | ~0.3 V/µs | ~13 V/µs | ~0.6 V/µs |
| Strength | Cheap, versatile | 4 channels | JFET, audio | Low voltage, RRIO |
*The TL072 can run from a single supply, but its input does not reach ground, so it is not suited to single-supply ground-sensing use like the LM358.
Limitations and common mistakes
- Expecting the output to reach V+: the output nears ground but saturates about 1.5 V below the positive rail. If you need full swing, choose a rail-to-rail op-amp (e.g. MCP6002).
- Using it for hi-fi audio: the class-B output stage produces crossover distortion at the zero crossing; for quality audio use TL072 or NE5532.
- Expecting high frequency: a ~0.3 V/µs slew rate and ~1 MHz bandwidth are too low for fast signals.
- Using it instead of a comparator: for comparison, a dedicated comparator (e.g. LM393) is faster and more correct — see what is a comparator.
- Forgetting the bias on a single supply: when amplifying AC, if you do not shift the non-inverting input to a reference (usually V+/2), the output clips.
LM358 equivalents and alternatives
- LM324: the quad (4 op-amp) member of the same family — when you need more channels.
- LM2904: the automotive (AEC-Q100) grade counterpart of the LM358.
- TL072: JFET input, high input impedance, better for audio and high-impedance sources.
- MCP6002: rail-to-rail input/output, low voltage (1.8–6 V), low power.
- LMV358: the low-voltage, rail-to-rail version of the LM358.
Find it in our catalog
To compare current price and stock for the LM358 and its alternatives from multiple sources, use the LM358 search. For other classics that have appeared in circuits for decades, see the 8 most commonly used integrated circuits.