Tie-Dye Calculator
Calculate fiber reactive dye, soda ash, and water for tie-dye from shirt count and fabric weight.
Returns amounts in teaspoons and grams for any batch size.
Tie-dye dye quantity depends on the weight of fabric being dyed, the dye type, and the color intensity desired. Using too little dye produces washed-out colors; too much wastes expensive dye powder.
The Formula (Fiber Reactive / Procion MX Dyes):
Dye amount (grams) = Fabric weight (grams) × Depth of Shade (DOS)
Depth of Shade Reference:
| Effect | DOS (%) | Dye per 100g fabric |
|---|---|---|
| Pale / pastel | 0.5–1% | 0.5–1 g |
| Medium | 2–3% | 2–3 g |
| Deep / vibrant | 4–6% | 4–6 g |
| Very dark | 8–10% | 8–10 g |
Soda Ash (Activator) Formula:
Soda ash = Fabric weight × 10% (approximately 10g per 100g fabric)
Dissolve in water (1 tablespoon per 1 liter warm water) and pre-soak fabric for 15–20 minutes.
Urea (Humectant) for squeeze-bottle application:
Mix 1–2 tablespoons of urea per cup of water in your dye solution. Urea keeps the dye wet longer so it can bond to the fiber.
Worked Example:
Tie-dyeing 3 cotton T-shirts:
- Each shirt weighs ~200g → total fabric = 600g
- Desired: vibrant colors → DOS = 5%
Dye per color = 600 × 0.05 = 30g total divided across colors
If using 3 colors equally: 10g each
Mix each color into 250 mL warm water with 1 tbsp urea.
Practical Tips:
- Always use cotton or other cellulose fibers — Procion MX does not bond to polyester
- More folds and ties = more white space. Fewer = more color coverage
- Cure dyed fabric in a plastic bag for 12–24 hours before rinsing — this maximizes bond strength
- Rinse in cold water first, then warm, then hot to remove unbonded dye