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):
Soda ash is mixed to a concentration, not to the weight of the fabric. The standard soak is 1 cup of soda ash per gallon of warm water (about 250 g per 3.8 litres, or 65 g per litre). Pre-soak the fabric 15–20 minutes, then wring it out but do not rinse.
That is a much stronger solution than the “tablespoon per litre” figure that circulates online, and the strength matters: soda ash raises the pH so the dye can bond to the cellulose. Under-doing it is the most common reason colours rinse straight out and end up pastel when you wanted vivid.
One bucket of soak does several shirts, so the amount you mix follows the size of your bucket rather than the number of shirts. A gallon comfortably handles three or four adult tees.
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
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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