The only international non-profit trade association promoting the benefits of handcrafted soaps and giving a voice to the handcrafted soapmaker.

Lye Calculator

The HSMG Lye Calculator is available for both members and non-members. The difference between this lye calculator and others is that you can see the actual Saponification Value (SAP Value) being used in the calculation. Members using the Advanced Lye Caluclator have the option of sepecifying the exact SAP value for the oils being used.

For more information about how to use the Lye Calculator, go to the Lye Calculator Help and Directions.

1

Recipe Specifications

Enter in the specifications for your recipe. This information is used for your information (name and notes) and for doing the actual calculations for the lye for your soap recipe.

Recipe Name:
Notes or Comments:
Unit Measurement: Ounces    Grams    Pounds
All numbers entered below will be calculated based on this unit of measurement.
Calculation Method: Total Amount of Oils Used
By Percentage of Oils
Lye Type: Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)

Ingredients

Choose the oils you are plan to use from the list provided. Additional oils, fats or butters may be added and will be included in the lye calculations if a SAP value is provided. Other ingredients or additives may be included and will be included in the printed version of the recipe for your reference, however they will not be used the calculate the lye amounts for your soap. For more information see the Lye Calculator Help and Directions.

2

Select Oils



Click an oil to add it to your recipe.

Almond Oil, Sweet

Apricot Kernel Oil

Avocado Oil

Babassu Palm Oil

Beeswax

Borage Oil

Brazil Nut Oil

Butterfat

Canola Oil (low erucic)

Cashew Nut Oil

Castor Oil

Cherry Kernel Oil

Cocoa Butter

Coconut Oil

Cod Liver Oil

Corn Oil

Cottonseed Oil

Emu Oil

Evening Primrose Oil

Ghee Butter (Buffalo Milk)

Goose Fat

Grape Seed Oil

Hempseed Oil

Horse Fat

Illipe Butter

JoJoba Oil (golden, unrefined)

Jojoba Oil (lite, refined)

Kokum Butter

Lard

Linseed Oil

Linseed Oil (low linolenic)

Mango Seed Oil

Meadowfoam Seed Oil

Mowrah Butter

Neem Oil

Neetsfoot Oil

Niger Seed Oil

Olive Oil

Olive Oil (pomace)

Olive Oil (refined)

Olive Oil (virgin)

Palm Kernel Oil

Palm Oil

Palm Olein

Palm Stearin

Papaya Seed Oil

Peach Kernel Oil

Peanut Oil

Pecan Nut Oil

Pine Nut Oil

Pistachio Nut Oil

Plum Kernal Oil

Poppyseed Oil

Pumpkin Seed Oil

Rapeseed Oil (low erucic)

Rapeseed Oil (unhybridized)

Rice Bran Oil

Safflower Oil (high linoleic)

Safflower Oil (high oleic)

Sesame Seed Oil

Sheanut Butter

Soybean Oil

Sunflower Seed Oil

Sunflower Seed Oil (high oleic)

Sunflower Seed Oil (mid-oleic)

Tall Oil

Tallow (beef)

Walnut Oil

Wheat Germ Oil

Your Recipe

2
Common Oils, Fats & Butters
Oil / Sap Range SAP Value Quantity
Click the oil(s) in the list at left to add them to your recipe.
Click the X to remove the oils from your recipe.
3
Additional Oils, Fats & Butters
Oils listed below will be included in the lye calculations if the SAP value is provided.
Click the + to add a line for another item.
+  Additional Oils SAP Value Quantity
4
Other Ingredients or Additives
Use the space below to record other ingredients or additives in your recipe.
Click the + to add a line for another item.
+  Ingredient / Additive Quantity
5

Disclaimer: The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. is providing this lye calculator to soapmakers free of charge. Every effort has been made to ensure that the SAP values used herein are accurate. However, even in the best case, the SAP values provided by reputable sources are only acceptable ranges for each oil. The actual SAP value being used in the calculations is the average of the highest and the lowest acceptable level for an oil and is generally considered the norm for calculating the lye necessary for soap. However, the actual SAP value of any batch of a particular oil may be somewhat higher or lower than the value used in the calculations here (even if it falls within the acceptable range). That all being said, the HSMG is not responsible for any injuries, losses or other damages that may result from using the information provided herein.