Every oil needs a specific amount of lye to turn into soap — its saponification (SAP) value. Below are the SAP values for 47 common soap-making oils and butters (NaOH for bar soap, KOH for liquid). Click any oil for how much lye it needs at your batch size, its fatty-acid profile, and what it brings to the bar.
| Oil | SAP (NaOH) | SAP (KOH) | Typical % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aloe Butter | 0.171 | 0.24 | 1-10% |
| Apricot Kernel Oil | 0.139 | 0.195 | 5-20% |
| Argan Oil | 0.1362 | 0.191 | 2-10% |
| Avocado Oil | 0.1327 | 0.186 | 5-20% |
| Babassu Oil | 0.1748 | 0.245 | 5-25% |
| Beef Tallow | 0.1427 | 0.2 | 20-60% |
| Candelilla Wax | 0.0314 | 0.044 | 0.5-2% |
| Canola Oil, High Oleic | 0.1327 | 0.186 | 5-20% |
| Castor Oil | 0.1283 | 0.18 | 3-10% |
| Cocoa Butter | 0.1383 | 0.194 | 3-15% |
| Coconut Oil 76 | 0.1833 | 0.257 | 10-30% |
| Coconut Oil 92 | 0.183 | 0.257 | 10-30% |
| Corn Oil | 0.1369 | 0.192 | 3-20% |
| Cupuacu Butter | 0.137 | 0.192 | 3-15% |
| Duck Fat | 0.138 | 0.194 | 5-35% |
| Ghee | 0.162 | 0.227 | 2-10% |
| Goose Fat | 0.1369 | 0.192 | 5-35% |
| Grapeseed Oil | 0.1291 | 0.181 | 3-15% |
| Green Tea Seed Oil | 0.138 | 0.193 | 3-15% |
| Hemp Seed Oil | 0.1376 | 0.193 | 3-15% |
| Illipe Butter | 0.132 | 0.185 | 2-12% |
| Jojoba Oil | 0.0656 | 0.092 | 2-10% |
| Kokum Butter | 0.1355 | 0.19 | 2-12% |
| Lanolin | 0.0756 | 0.106 | 1-5% |
| Lanolin Liquid Wax | 0.0756 | 0.106 | 1-5% |
| Lard | 0.1412 | 0.198 | 15-50% |
| Lauric Acid | 0.2 | 0.28 | 1-10% |
| Macadamia Nut Oil | 0.139 | 0.195 | 3-15% |
| Mango Butter | 0.1362 | 0.191 | 3-15% |
| Mowrah Butter | 0.138 | 0.194 | 2-12% |
| Murumuru Butter | 0.196 | 0.275 | 3-20% |
| Olive Oil | 0.1355 | 0.19 | 15-70% |
| Olive Oil (Pomace) | 0.1341 | 0.188 | 10-60% |
| Palm Kernel Oil | 0.1761 | 0.247 | 5-20% |
| Palm Oil | 0.1419 | 0.199 | 15-40% |
| Palmitic Acid | 0.153 | 0.215 | 2-15% |
| Peach Kernel Oil | 0.1363 | 0.191 | 5-20% |
| Rice Bran Oil | 0.1333 | 0.187 | 10-30% |
| Sal Butter | 0.132 | 0.185 | 2-12% |
| Shea Butter | 0.1276 | 0.179 | 5-20% |
| Soy Wax | 0.137 | 0.192 | 5-20% |
| Stearic Acid | 0.1412 | 0.198 | 20-60% |
| Sunflower Oil | 0.1348 | 0.189 | 5-20% |
| Sweet Almond Oil | 0.139 | 0.195 | 5-20% |
| Tamanu Oil | 0.1483 | 0.208 | 2-8% |
| Tucuma Butter | 0.17 | 0.238 | 2-15% |
| Yellow Beeswax | 0.0671 | 0.094 | 1-3% |
Ready to formulate? Build a recipe in SoapCalc — it computes the exact lye from your oils at any superfat, then saves and scales it. See also the superfat calculator and the best soap calculator comparison.
Making soap to sell? Track batch costs, lots and pricing in one place. See maker plans →