Solids Content Calculator

Measure total solids, moisture, volatile solids, and residue. Use tare weights, volume, and ignition values. See instant percentages, concentrations, trends, and export-ready reports today.

Calculator form

Large screens use three columns, medium screens use two, and mobile uses one.

White theme layout
Used in the result summary and exports.
Weight of empty dish, pan, or crucible.
Measured before drying.
Measured after drying to constant mass.
Optional field for volatile and fixed solids.
Optional. Needed for g/L, mg/L, and % w/v.
Use 1 for no dilution. Higher values scale concentrations.
Optional comparison target for process control.
Total solids %, moisture %, dry mass, moisture mass, optional ash metrics, g/L, mg/L, % w/v, and export files.
Reset form

Formula used

Core solids equations

Wet sample mass = (Wet + container) − Tare

Dry solids mass = (Dry + container) − Tare

Moisture mass = Wet sample mass − Dry solids mass

Total solids % = (Dry solids mass ÷ Wet sample mass) × 100

Concentration and residue equations

Moisture % = (Moisture mass ÷ Wet sample mass) × 100

Solids g/L = (Dry solids mass × Dilution factor) ÷ Volume in liters

Solids % w/v = (Adjusted dry solids mass ÷ Volume in mL) × 100

Volatile solids = Dry solids mass − Ash mass

If ash mass is supplied, the calculator also reports fixed solids % and volatile solids % on a dry-mass basis.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the empty container weight in grams.
  2. Enter the wet sample plus container weight before drying.
  3. Enter the dry sample plus container weight after drying.
  4. Add ash plus container weight only if ignition testing was performed.
  5. Enter sample volume for concentration results in g/L, mg/L, and % w/v.
  6. Use a dilution factor greater than one only when the sample was diluted before measurement.
  7. Set a target solids percentage if you want a process-control comparison.
  8. Click calculate to show the result above the form, then export CSV or PDF if needed.

Example data table

Illustrative chemistry values
Sample Tare (g) Wet + Container (g) Dry + Container (g) Ash + Container (g) Volume (mL) Solids % Moisture % TS (mg/L)
Filtered Slurry A 52.4 78.9 60.7 55.1 250 31.32 68.68 33,200
Process Liquor B 48.0 70.5 56.2 50.4 200 36.44 63.56 41,000

FAQs

1. What does solids content mean?

Solids content is the percentage of material remaining after moisture is removed. It helps compare slurry strength, residue levels, and process consistency across chemistry samples.

2. Why is tare weight required?

Tare weight removes the container’s mass from every reading. Without it, the calculator would overstate solids, moisture, and ash results because the dish weight would be included.

3. What is the difference between total solids and ash?

Total solids are all dried residues. Ash is the non-combustible residue left after ignition. The difference between them is volatile solids, which usually represent burnable organic matter.

4. When should I enter sample volume?

Enter sample volume when you need concentration outputs like g/L, mg/L, or percent weight per volume. Leave it blank if you only need mass-based solids and moisture percentages.

5. What does dilution factor do?

Dilution factor adjusts concentration results back to the original sample strength. Use 1 when no dilution occurred. Use higher values only if the sample was diluted before analysis.

6. Why can dry weight not exceed wet weight?

Dry weight should always be less than or equal to wet weight because drying removes moisture. A higher dry weight usually suggests data entry errors, contamination, or inconsistent weighing.

7. Can this calculator help with wastewater or sludge testing?

Yes. The structure is useful for wastewater, sludge, slurry, suspension, filter cake, and laboratory residue checks, especially when solids concentration and volatile solids are relevant.

8. What export files are included?

You can export a CSV file for spreadsheets and a PDF summary for sharing or records. Both exports use the current form inputs and calculated results.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.