How to use this calculator
- Enter or choose find.
- The answer updates as you type. Use Copy result or Share to keep it.
Method
Liquor ratio x = Bath volume (L) ÷ Fabric weight (kg); Bath = Fabric × x; Fabric = Bath ÷ x
- x
- litres of liquor per kg of fabric, written 1 : x
Worked example
- x = 400 L ÷ 50 kg = 8.
- So the liquor ratio is 1 : 8.
50 kg of fabric in 400 litres of bath is a liquor ratio of 1 : 8.
What the result means
Lower ratios use less water, chemicals and heat, but the machine and fabric must still circulate freely; stay within the machine maker’s rated range.
Assumptions and limits
- 1 litre of bath is treated as 1 kg (water-based liquor).
- Water held in wet fabric at loading is not included.
Questions
Is 1:8 the same as 8:1?
In dyeing, both usually mean 8 litres per kg of fabric; the fabric is the “1”.
Does liquor ratio change the dye amount?
Not for dyes dosed as % owf, but it changes the amount of salt and alkali dosed in g/L.