We recommend checking which number means product before mixing any concentrate. In this guide, 1:8 means one part product plus eight parts water: a one-litre finished mix needs about 111ml of product and 889ml of water. The CarPro Dilute Spray Bottle can make measuring easier. Products such as AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner may write their ratios water first, so read the label before using a chart or calculator.
How do you work out a dilution ratio?
For a ratio written as one part product to a stated number of parts water, add the parts together and divide your intended final volume by that total. That gives the product quantity; the rest is water. For a general ratio, multiply the final volume by the product parts divided by the total parts. At 1:8 in a 1 litre bottle, 1 + 8 = 9 parts, so you use 111ml of product and 889ml of water.
Dilution Calculator
Check the label's ratio order, then enter product : water and your final bottle volume.
Ratio on the label (product : water)
Bottle size
- Measure 111ml of product.
- Measure 889ml of water for a 1 litre finished mix.
- Follow the label's mixing order and mixing instructions.
1 + 8 = 9 parts. 1,000ml divided by 9 is 111ml of product; the other 889ml is water.
This calculator uses product : water. A label written water : product must be converted first. Never assume the smaller number is the product. Follow the label's dilution and mixing order. Rather skip the maths? See the bottles with the ratios marked on them.
What does a ratio like 1:8 mean?
A ratio tells you how many parts of water go with each part of product. 1:8 means 1 part product to 8 parts water, so the finished mix is 9 parts in total and only one of them is the concentrate.
Some labels put water first. AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner, for example, is mixed by water-to-product ratios such as 10:1. That can describe the same mix as 1:10 product-to-water, but the numbers alone do not tell you the order. Never assume the smaller number is the concentrate. If a label is unclear, check the manufacturer's instructions or ask us before you mix.
How do you dilute a product step by step?
Here is the method for a pre-wash with a label ratio of 1:8 in a 1 litre bottle. The same steps work for any ratio and any bottle size.
- Add the ratio numbers: for 1:8, 1 + 8 = 9, so the mix is 9 parts in total.
- Check the bottle size: a 1 litre bottle holds 1000ml, so the sums use 1000.
- Work out the product: divide the bottle size by the total parts, so 1000ml divided by 9 is about 111ml of concentrate.
- Work out the water: take the product away from the bottle size, so 1000ml minus 111ml is 889ml of water.
- Mix and label: follow the product's mixing order; where instructed, add water first and concentrate second. Mix gently and label the bottle with the product name and dilution.
Add the water first when you use the CarPro Dilute bottle, because some products foam when water is poured onto them, which makes the reading less precise.
Dilution ratio chart
Product first, then water, for the bottle sizes most people use. Figures are rounded to the nearest millilitre.
| Ratio | Total parts | 500ml bottle | 1 litre bottle | 5 litres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | 2 parts | 250ml + 250ml | 500ml + 500ml | 2500ml + 2500ml |
| 1:2 | 3 parts | 167ml + 333ml | 333ml + 667ml | 1667ml + 3333ml |
| 1:4 | 5 parts | 100ml + 400ml | 200ml + 800ml | 1000ml + 4000ml |
| 1:5 | 6 parts | 83ml + 417ml | 167ml + 833ml | 833ml + 4167ml |
| 1:8 | 9 parts | 56ml + 444ml | 111ml + 889ml | 556ml + 4444ml |
| 1:10 | 11 parts | 45ml + 455ml | 91ml + 909ml | 455ml + 4545ml |
| 1:20 | 21 parts | 24ml + 476ml | 48ml + 952ml | 238ml + 4762ml |
| 1:30 | 31 parts | 16ml + 484ml | 32ml + 968ml | 161ml + 4839ml |
| 1:50 | 51 parts | 10ml + 490ml | 20ml + 980ml | 98ml + 4902ml |
| 1:100 | 101 parts | 5ml + 495ml | 10ml + 990ml | 50ml + 4950ml |
How do you dilute AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner?
AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner has three exterior strengths, written water first, and two for interior use. In a 1 litre spray bottle the exterior strengths work out like this.
- 5:1 for heavy soiling: 1000 divided by 6 is about 167ml of product and 833ml of water.
- 10:1 for medium soiling: 1000 divided by 11 is about 91ml of product and 909ml of water.
- Up to 30:1 for light soiling: 1000 divided by 31 is about 32ml of product and 968ml of water.
Inside the car, use 10:1 for heavy soiling and up to 30:1 for general cleaning. Used undiluted, the cleaner may strip exterior wax and sealant protection, and it is not suitable for leather, which is why the ratio matters.
Which products make dilution easier?
We would use a marked bottle or measuring vessel for accuracy, then choose a sprayer compatible with the chemical. The examples below show how different concentrates are dosed; the current label remains the instruction for the bottle you are using.
A concentrated cleaner for interior plastics, carpet, upholstery, engine bays, door shuts, wheel arch linings and tyre rubber, diluted 5:1 to 30:1 outside and 10:1 to 30:1 inside.
Mix 1 part snow foam to 4 parts water in the lance bottle; at that dilution it will not degrade last stage protection.
AutoBead Alloy Cleaner Concentrate
A wheel cleaner concentrate diluted 10:1 for lightly soiled wheels and 2:1 for heavy soiling.
Add 7ml to 10ml to a 15 litre bucket of warm water, so a 500ml bottle covers more than 50 washes.
Mosschem Citrus Wash Pre Wash Cleaner
A concentrated citrus pre-wash with recommended dilutions of 100:1, 50:1, 30:1 and 10:1, for a trigger spray, pump sprayer or foam sprayer.
A 2 litre pump action pressure sprayer with chemical-resistant Viton seals and an adjustable nozzle, for diluted pre-washes, APCs, citrus cleaners and wheel cleaners.
£21.95In stock
Does using more product clean better?
No. A stronger mix than the label gives costs more, can leave residue to remove and, with some products, can harm protection or surfaces. AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner is a good example: used undiluted, it may strip wax and sealant.
Wheel cleaners and pre-washes that are not pH neutral need the most care. Use the strength the maker gives for the job, start at the weaker end for light dirt, and only move stronger when the label allows it.
Should you stick to the manufacturer's dilution ratio?
Yes. The maker's ratio balances cleaning power, surface safety and value, and it is the strength the product is made to work at. Most labels give a range, so choose the weaker end for light dirt and the stronger end for heavy soiling.
Common questions
Is 1:10 stronger than 1:20?
Yes. 1:10 has 1 part product in every 11 parts of mix, while 1:20 has 1 part in every 21, so 1:10 is roughly twice as strong.
How much is one part water?
One part is whatever measure you use, as long as the product is measured the same way. At 1:4 in a 1 litre bottle there are 5 parts in total, so one part is 200ml: 200ml of product and 4 parts, or 800ml, of water.
What does 1 part water mean?
It means one measure of water for every measure of product stated in the ratio. At 1:1 you mix equal amounts, so a 500ml bottle takes 250ml of product and 250ml of water.
What do two, three or four parts water mean?
Each number tells you how many measures of water go with 1 part of product, and that is the whole meaning: 2 parts water is a 1:2 mix, 3 parts water is 1:3 and 4 parts water is 1:4. So 1 part to 4 parts means 100ml of product and 400ml of water in a 500ml bottle, and 1 part water to 1 part product is an even 1:1 mix.
What is a panel impact ratio?
Panel impact ratio describes the product concentration reaching the car after a foam lance adds more water. It differs from the bottle mix and depends on the lance, adjustment and pressure washer. We recommend using the product's stated application guidance rather than treating a bottle ratio as the final strength on the paint.
Can I mix two products in one bottle?
We recommend keeping detailing chemicals separate unless the manufacturer explicitly provides instructions for that exact combination. Use clean, labelled containers and never mix products simply because they are intended for similar jobs.
Need help choosing?
Tell the TDHQ team which product you are mixing and what you are cleaning, and we will give you the right ratio. You can also browse our empty detailing bottles, the AutoBead range, every citrus pre-wash and our snow foam lances. For more detail, read our guides to the best citrus pre-wash, the best snow foam and how to wash your car safely.
Last updated 20 October 2026.
