Calculators Overview

Overview

Formuley includes ten specialized calculators designed for cosmetics formulators and soap makers. Every calculator is free on all subscription tiers -- no upgrade required. You can find them in the sidebar under Tools / Calculators.

Each calculator accepts specific inputs relevant to its purpose and produces formatted results that you can reference, print, or save alongside your formulas.

Available Calculators

Lye Calculator

The Lye Calculator is built for soap makers. Enter your oils and butters, choose between NaOH (bar soap), KOH (liquid soap), or a dual-lye blend, set your superfat percentage, and configure your water ratio. The calculator returns the exact lye and water amounts needed, along with a per-oil breakdown and predicted soap qualities. See Lye Calculator for a detailed walkthrough.

Soap Quality Predictor

Analyze your soap recipe's predicted characteristics before you make a batch. The Soap Quality Predictor evaluates the fatty acid profile of your oil blend and predicts key quality metrics: hardness, cleansing, conditioning, bubbly lather, creamy lather, iodine value, and INS. Use these predictions to fine-tune your recipe before committing to a production run.

Fatty Acid Profile

Break down the fatty acid composition of individual oils and butters or an entire oil blend. This calculator shows percentages of lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and ricinoleic acids. Understanding fatty acid composition helps you predict how an oil will behave in your formulations.

HLB Calculator

The Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance calculator helps you formulate stable emulsions. Enter your oil phase ingredients along with their individual HLB requirements. The calculator determines the required HLB value for your oil phase and suggests an appropriate emulsifier blend to achieve that value.

Fragrance Load Calculator

Determine the safe fragrance percentage for your product based on product type and IFRA guidelines. Select the product category (leave-on, rinse-off, lip product, etc.), enter the total batch weight, and the calculator returns the maximum allowable fragrance load along with the recommended usage range.

Dilution Calculator

A straightforward dilution tool based on the C1V1 = C2V2 formula. Enter your starting concentration, starting volume, and desired final concentration. The calculator returns the total volume of solvent needed and the final solution volume. Useful for diluting essential oils, preservatives, surfactants, and other concentrated ingredients.

pH Adjustment Calculator

Calculate the amount of acid or alkali needed to reach your target pH. Input your current pH, target pH, buffer capacity, and select the acid or base type you plan to use (citric acid, lactic acid, sodium hydroxide, triethanolamine, etc.). The calculator returns the estimated amount of adjuster needed per kilogram of product.

SPF Estimation Calculator

Estimate the theoretical SPF of a sunscreen formula based on your UV filter concentrations. Enter each UV filter and its percentage, and the calculator returns an estimated SPF value. The tool includes FDA and EU maximum concentration limits for each approved filter so you can verify regulatory compliance.

Important: This calculator provides theoretical estimates only. Only in-vivo testing performed by accredited laboratories can determine the actual SPF of a finished product. Do not make SPF claims based solely on calculated values.

Preservative Calculator

Determine the correct dosage for your chosen preservative system. Select the preservative (Optiphen, Germaben II, Liquid Germall Plus, phenoxyethanol, etc.), enter the total batch weight, and the calculator returns the recommended amount based on the manufacturer's suggested usage rate. It also displays the acceptable usage range so you can adjust within safe limits.

Active Matter Calculator

Calculate the effective concentration of an active ingredient after dilution. This is particularly useful when working with raw materials that are supplied as diluted solutions (for example, a 50% active surfactant). Enter the active matter percentage of your raw material, the amount used, and the total batch size to determine the final active concentration in your product.

How to Access the Calculators

1. Open the sidebar in Formuley.
2. Navigate to the Tools / Calculators section.
3. Click the calculator you want to use.
4. Enter your inputs and click the calculate button.
5. Review your results on screen. Where applicable, you can save results to an existing formula or use them to create a new one.

Tips

• You can run multiple calculations in sequence without losing your previous results -- each calculator maintains its state until you clear the inputs.
• The Lye Calculator and Soap Quality Predictor pull SAP values and fatty acid data directly from your ingredient library, so keeping your ingredient data up to date improves accuracy.
• All calculators work on desktop and mobile, so you can run quick calculations from the bench or the office.