Free reference
Essential oil dilution chart
How many drops of essential oil to add for every common bottle size and strength. Find your carrier amount on the left, your dilution across the top.
| Carrier | 0.5% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mlsmall roller | <1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 10 mlstandard roller | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 15 ml½ oz | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| 30 ml1 oz | 3 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 30 |
| 60 ml2 oz | 6 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 60 |
| 120 ml4 oz | 12 | 24 | 48 | 72 | 120 |
Drops of essential oil · 20 drops ≈ 1 ml · the 2% column is the usual adult body strength.
Which column should I use?
- 0.5%
- Sensitive skin, older adults, children 2–6 (with suitable oils).
- 1%
- Face, daily all-over use, pregnancy (check the oil first).
- 2%
- Most adult body blends, massage and rollers.
- 3%
- Targeted adult use on a smaller area.
- 5%
- Short-term, small-area use only — not all over, not daily.
Some oils need less than the chart suggests — phototoxic citrus like bergamot, or skin-sensitising oils like cinnamon and clove. Check the oil’s safety panel before you blend.
Need an exact number for an odd size?
Open the dilution calculator →Common questions
- How many drops of essential oil in a 10 ml roller?
- At 2% (a typical adult body strength) it’s 4 drops; at 1% it’s 2 drops; at 3% it’s 6 drops.
- How many drops of essential oil per 1 oz of carrier oil?
- One ounce is about 30 ml, so 1% is 6 drops, 2% is 12 drops and 3% is 18 drops.
- How is the chart calculated?
- Carrier volume × dilution % × 20 drops per ml, rounded to the nearest drop. Drop size varies a little between oils and droppers, so treat it as a close guide.