Tie-Dye Calculator
Calculate how much dye, soda ash, and water you need for tie-dye projects.
Plan supplies by number of shirts.
Supplies Needed
Tie-dye supplies depend on the number of items, sizes, and dye method.
Fiber-reactive dye (Procion MX) ratios:
- Dye powder: 2–4 teaspoons per shirt (for bold colors)
- Soda ash (fixer): 1 cup per gallon of soak water
- Squeeze bottle mix: 1–2 tsp dye per 8 oz (240 ml) water
Soda ash soak:
- 1 cup (250g) soda ash per 1 gallon (3.8 L) warm water
- Soak shirts for 15–20 minutes before dyeing
- This step is essential — dye will not bond without it
Water amounts:
- Soak water: ~1 gallon (3.8 L) per 3–4 shirts
- Squeeze bottles: 8–16 oz (240–480 ml) per color
- Rinse water: plenty of cool then warm water
Items per dye bottle (8 oz / 240 ml):
- Small T-shirt: 1 bottle covers ~2 shirts (one color)
- Large T-shirt: 1 bottle covers ~1 shirt (one color)
- Most designs use 3–6 colors
Tips:
- 100% cotton works best for fiber-reactive dye
- Let dyed items cure 12–24 hours for best color
- Wash separately for the first 2–3 washes