Glaze Recipe Batch Scaling Calculator

How it works

Material weight = parts ÷ Σbase parts × batch weight; additions = % × batch weight; water (mL) = W_dry × (1/SG − 1/ρ) ÷ (1 − 1/SG), ρ ≈ 2.6 g/cm³ for most glaze materials

Glaze recipes are written as parts that add to 100, with colourants and suspenders listed as extra percentages on top, so mixing a batch is a matter of scaling each line to the dry weight you want and weighing accurately — a 5,000 g bucket is the usual studio size. Recipes that do not add to 100 are normalised first. Water is not part of the recipe: it is added until the slurry reaches the specific gravity that gives the right coat thickness in your dipping time, typically 1.40–1.50 for dipping glazes, thinner for spraying, thicker for brushing. Because dry glaze materials average about 2.6 g/cm³, the water needed for a target gravity can be predicted closely enough to avoid the over-thin-then-settle cycle; measure with a 100 mL cup on a scale (grams ÷ 100 = SG) and adjust.

Worked example

A five-material 20/20/20/20/20 base scaled to 5,000 g needs 1,000 g of each; 8% red iron oxide and 2% bentonite add 400 g and 100 g for 5,500 g dry. About 5,400 mL of water brings it to SG 1.45 — roughly 7.5 L of glaze, enough to dip 190–300 mugs.

Frequently asked questions