How this is calculated

Every number comes from four simple steps. Here they are with the example on this page.

  • Cost of each ingredient = pack price ÷ pack size × amount used. The units are changed first: 1 lb is 453.6 g and 1 oz is 28.35 g. Olive oil at $29 for 7 lb (3,175 g), using 450 g, costs $29 ÷ 3,175 × 450 = $4.11.
  • Water is weighed in grams but often bought by the gallon. One gram of water is one millilitre, so 280 g from a $1.50 gallon (3,785 ml) costs $0.11.
  • Cost per batch = all ingredients + packaging for every bar + your time. In the example: $17.23 of ingredients, 12 labels at $0.15 ($1.80), and 60 minutes at $20 an hour ($20.00). Total: $39.03.
  • Cost per bar = cost per batch ÷ bars. $39.03 ÷ 12 = $3.25.
  • Cost per 100 g = cost per bar ÷ cured bar weight × 100. $3.25 ÷ 110 g × 100 = $2.96.
  • Suggested price = cost per bar ÷ (1 - margin). At a 60% margin: $3.25 ÷ 0.4 = $8.13.

The calculator never works out lye for you. Get the lye weight from a lye calculator and type it in. The cure time box is a reminder only. It does not change the cost.

Why your soap cost changes

Your recipe stays the same, but the prices do not. Oils go up, a supplier runs a sale, you buy a bigger jug. Each change moves the cost of every bar that uses it. A recipe written on paper does not tell you that. If you sell at markets, also remember that soap you make today sells in 4 to 6 weeks, so the money you spend on oils now comes back later.

Stockria keeps your recipe with your materials. When you make a batch, it takes the oils and lye off your shelf and adds the bars, and it shows what each bar really cost. See how it works for batch makers, or read the guide for candle and soap makers.

How to work out what a bar of soap costs

  1. Write down your recipe. List every oil, butter, lye, water and additive, with the weight you use in one batch.
  2. Find what each pack cost. For each ingredient, note the price you paid and the size of the bag, jug or box. Use the real price with shipping if you can.
  3. Work out the cost of what you used. Divide the pack price by the pack size, then multiply by how much you used. Change units first, so grams go with grams.
  4. Add packaging and your time. Add the label, box or wrap for every bar, and your time for the batch at an hourly rate.
  5. Divide by the bars you cut. Total cost of the batch divided by the number of bars is your cost per bar.
  6. Set your price. Divide the cost per bar by 1 minus your margin. For a 60% margin, divide by 0.4.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to make a bar of soap?

With the example prices on this page, a 110 g cold process bar costs about $1.59 in ingredients and a label. Add one hour of your time at $20 for a batch of 12 bars and it is about $3.25 a bar. Your cost depends on your oils, how much you buy at once, and your time, so put in your own numbers.

Why does this calculator not work out the lye?

Lye must be exact. The right amount depends on each oil and on how much extra oil you leave in the bar (the superfat). A mistake can make soap that burns skin. Use a lye calculator to get the weight, check it, then type that weight here so its cost is counted.

Should I count my time in the cost of soap?

Yes. If you leave your time out, your price only pays for oils and labels and you work for free. Count the time to make, cut, clean up and wrap one batch, then pick an hourly rate you would pay someone else. The calculator spreads it across the bars in the batch.

What margin should I use for handmade soap?

Margin is the share of the price you keep. A 50% margin means the price is twice your cost, and 60% means it is 2.5 times your cost. Shops that buy wholesale usually double the price they pay you, so if you plan to sell wholesale, check that half of your shop price still covers your full cost.

How do I work out the cost per 100 g of soap?

Weigh a bar after it has cured, because soap loses water while it cures. Then divide the cost per bar by that weight and multiply by 100. A $3.25 bar that weighs 110 g costs $2.96 per 100 g. This helps you compare bars of different sizes.

Does cure time change what my soap costs?

It does not change the cost of the ingredients, but it ties up your money and your shelf. Cold process bars cure for 4 to 6 weeks, so the oils you buy today come back as sales more than a month later. Plan to make stock at least 6 weeks before a market.

Can I save my soap recipe?

Yes. Click Save this as a recipe in Stockria. It is free for up to 250 items. Your oils, lye and packaging come in as materials, with your soap as a product made from them, so the cost per bar stays right when a price changes.

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