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DIY hand sanitizer recipe (WHO formula) calculator

Scales the WHO alcohol-based handrub formulations to any batch size.

What this calculator does

DIY hand sanitizer recipe (WHO formula) works out scales the WHO alcohol-based handrub formulations to any batch size. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.

The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.

The formula

FormulaIngredients scaled from the WHO 10-litre reference recipe: alcohol, 3% hydrogen peroxide, 98% glycerol, topped up with water

The inputs explained

FieldWhat to enter
Batch size (mL)A number, measured in mL. Starts at 500.
Alcohol typeChoose from Ethanol 96%, Isopropyl alcohol 99.8%.

Worked examples

Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.

How the answer changes with batch size

Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while batch size varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.

How the answer changes with batch size
Batch size (mL)Ethanol 96%Hydrogen peroxide 3%Glycerol 98%
250208.3 mL10.4 mL3.6 mL
375312.5 mL15.6 mL5.4 mL
500416.7 mL20.9 mL7.3 mL
750625.0 mL31.3 mL10.9 mL
1,000833.3 mL41.7 mL14.5 mL
1,5001,250.0 mL62.6 mL21.8 mL