New
Washing Cost Calculator
Total washing cost per piece — labour, chemicals, water, fuel, overhead.
CostNest Calculator
Chemical Consumption Calculator for Garment Washing
Calculate chemical dosage and total cost per kg of fabric for any wash recipe — normal wash, enzyme wash, stone wash, or bleach wash. Reduce waste and accurately cost your wet processing operations. No account needed — numbers update as you type.
Step By Step
How to Use This Calculator
5 steps
- Select or enter your wash type (normal, enzyme, stone wash, denim finish, etc.).
- Enter the fabric or garment weight per machine load in kg.
- Input the dosage rate for each chemical (in g/L or % on weight of fabric).
- Enter the machine bath volume (litres) or liquor ratio.
- Add the price per kg for each chemical to get the chemical cost per piece.
Worked Example
Enzyme Wash Recipe Example
Use this sample to sanity-check your inputs and understand what the final result represents.
- 1Fabric Load: 100 kg | Liquor Ratio: 1:10 → Bath = 1,000 L
- 2Detergent: 1 g/L → 1,000 g = 1 kg @ BDT 120/kg = BDT 120
- 3Enzyme: 1.5 g/L → 1,500 g = 1.5 kg @ BDT 850/kg = BDT 1,275
- 4Softener: 2 g/L → 2,000 g = 2 kg @ BDT 180/kg = BDT 360
- 5Acetic Acid: 0.5 g/L → 500 g = 0.5 kg @ BDT 90/kg = BDT 45
Final Result
Total Chemical Cost: BDT 1,800 per load | Per kg fabric: BDT 18 | Per piece (250g garment): BDT 4.50
Methodology
Chemical Dosage Formula
This section explains the calculation logic, assumptions, and source material used to make the result more trustworthy and easier to verify.
Bath Volume (L) = Fabric Weight (kg) × Liquor Ratio
Chemical Weight (kg) = Dosage (g/L) × Bath Volume (L) ÷ 1000
Chemical Cost per Load = Chemical Weight × Price per kg
Cost per kg fabric = Total Chemical Cost ÷ Fabric Load Weight
Cost per Piece = Cost per kg × Average Garment Weight
Practical Guidance
Chemical Dosage & Cost Tips
- 1Always measure chemical dosage by weight, not by volume — chemical densities vary significantly and volumetric dosing leads to inconsistent results.
- 2Most factories overdose detergent by 20–40%. Trial a 20% reduction in a controlled batch — you'll often see no quality difference.
- 3ZDHC-compliant chemicals cost more per kg but reduce buyer compliance risk. Factor in audit costs when comparing conventional vs compliant chemicals.
- 4Record every chemical batch number for traceability. Some buyer compliance programmes now require full chemical traceability back to raw material.
- 5Temperature directly affects enzyme activity — running at 5°C below the enzyme's optimum temperature can cut effectiveness by 30% and waste the entire enzyme cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is liquor ratio in garment washing?+
Liquor ratio is the ratio of water volume to fabric weight. A 1:10 ratio means 10 litres of water per 1 kg of fabric. A 1:5 ratio uses less water (more concentrated), which saves water and energy but requires accurate chemical dosing. Front-loading machines typically run at 1:4 to 1:6.
How do I convert g/L dosage to kg of chemical per load?+
Multiply the dosage in g/L by the bath volume in litres to get grams, then divide by 1,000 to get kilograms. For example, 2 g/L dosage in a 500-litre bath = 1,000 g = 1 kg of chemical.
What chemicals are used in a normal wash?+
A standard normal wash uses detergent (0.5–2 g/L), water softener (0.5–1 g/L), anti-creasing agent (0.5–1 g/L), and a neutralising agent such as acetic acid (0.3–0.5 g/L) in the final rinse. An enzyme wash adds cellulase enzyme (0.5–2 g/L) to achieve a bio-polished or faded look.
How do I calculate cost per piece from cost per kg?+
Measure the average weight of a finished garment (dry weight after wash and dry). Multiply cost per kg by the garment weight in kg. A 250 g T-shirt at BDT 20/kg chemical cost = BDT 5.00 in chemical cost per piece.
What is the ZDHC MRSL and does it affect my chemical costs?+
ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) MRSL is a list of restricted chemicals that must not be used or present above certain limits. Buyers like H&M, Inditex, Nike, and PVH require ZDHC compliance. ZDHC-approved chemicals can cost 10–30% more, but non-compliance risks losing major accounts.