Soap Making (Lye) Calculator
Calculate lye and water amounts for soap recipes using oil weights and lye concentration.
Lye Calculator
Results
Data Source and Methodology
The calculations are based on industry-standard practices and data from authoritative sources in soap making.
All calculations performed by this tool are strictly based on the provided formulas and data from these sources.
The Formula Explained
Lye Needed: Lye Amount = Oil Weight × (Lye Concentration / 100)
Glossary of Variables
- Oil Weight: The total weight of oils used in grams.
- Lye Concentration (%): The percentage of lye concentration in the solution.
How It Works: A Step-by-Step Example
For a practical example, if you have 500 grams of oil and a desired lye concentration of 30%, the calculation would be as follows:
Example Calculation: 500g × (30 / 100) = 150g of Lye
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is lye used for in soap making?
Lye is used to saponify oils, turning them into soap.
Is lye dangerous?
Lye is caustic and should be handled with care, using appropriate safety gear.
Can I change the lye concentration?
Yes, the lye concentration can be adjusted according to the recipe and desired soap hardness.
Why is accurate measurement important?
Accurate measurements ensure the safety and quality of the final soap product.
Can this calculator be used for any type of oil?
Yes, but ensure the oil's saponification value is suitable for the calculation.
Formula (LaTeX) + variables + units
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Lye Needed: Lye Amount = Oil Weight × (Lye Concentration / 100)
- No variables provided in audit spec.
- NIST — Weights and measures — nist.gov · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures - FTC — Consumer advice — consumer.ftc.gov · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://consumer.ftc.gov/
Last code update: 2026-01-19
- Initial audit spec draft generated from HTML extraction (review required).
- Verify formulas match the calculator engine and convert any text-only formulas to LaTeX.
- Confirm sources are authoritative and relevant to the calculator methodology.