Snow Globe Liquid Calculator
Glycerin and water ratio for snow globe viscosity.
About this calculator
This calculator sizes the glycerin-water-glitter mix for a DIY snow globe from nothing more than the globe's interior diameter, since a sphere's volume is (4/3)πr³. It converts that volume from cubic inches to milliliters, then subtracts however much interior space your figurine or scene displaces (as a percentage) to get the actual liquid volume you need to fill. The glycerin-to-water ratio is what controls how the "snow" falls: this calculator maps a simple 1–3 fall-speed setting to a glycerin fraction of 10%, 16.7%, or 33.3% of the total liquid — more glycerin raises viscosity and slows the fall to a lazy drift, while a thinner, mostly-water mix produces a fast flurry. The rest is distilled water (using distilled water avoids the mineral deposits and clouding tap water can cause over time).
Glitter amount is likewise driven by a 1–3 density setting mapped to teaspoons per 100 mL of liquid, then converted to an approximate gram weight. A settle time is also estimated, roughly doubling for each step up in fall speed, as a rough guide to how long you'll wait between shakes for a clear view. These are practical craft-shop ratios rather than a fluid-dynamics simulation — real settle time depends heavily on your specific glitter's size, shape, and material (metallic flakes fall differently than fine plastic glitter), so expect to fine-tune your final mix by eye before sealing the globe permanently.
Inputs
Results
Liquid Needed (mL)
466.8
Glycerin (mL)
77.9
How to Use This Calculator
- Measure the interior diameter of your glass globe in inches.
- Estimate the percentage of space occupied by your figurine or scene (typically 10-20%).
- Select your desired snow fall speed: 1 = fast flurry, 2 = gentle drift, 3 = slow float.
- Choose glitter density: 1 = light sparkle, 2 = moderate snow, 3 = heavy blizzard.
- Use the glycerin (mL), distilled water (mL), and glitter (tsp) measurements to mix your globe filling.
How the result changes with Globe Diameter (inches)
| Globe Diameter (inches) | Liquid Needed (mL) | Glycerin (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 58.3 | 9.7 |
| 3 | 196.9 | 32.9 |
| 6 | 1,575.3 | 263.1 |
| 10 | 7,293.2 | 1,218 |
What each input means
- Globe Diameter (inches)
- Interior diameter of the glass globe.
- Figurine Displacement (%)
- Percentage of interior volume occupied by the figurine/scene.
- Snow Fall Speed (1-3)
- 1 = fast flurry, 2 = gentle drift, 3 = slow dreamy float.
- Glitter Density (1-3)
- 1 = light sparkle, 2 = moderate snow, 3 = heavy blizzard.
What each result means
- Globe Volume (mL)
- Total interior volume of the sphere.
- Liquid Needed (mL)
- Liquid volume after figurine displacement.
- Liquid Needed (fl oz)
- Liquid volume in fluid ounces.
- Glycerin (mL)
- Amount of glycerin for desired snow speed.
- Glycerin (fl oz)
- Glycerin in fluid ounces.
- Distilled Water (mL)
- Amount of distilled water needed.
- Glitter (tsp)
- Teaspoons of craft glitter.
- Glitter (grams)
- Glitter weight in grams.
- Settle Time (seconds)
- Approximate time for snow to fully settle.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersGlobe Diameter (inches) = 4, Figurine Displacement (%) = 15, Snow Fall Speed (1-3) = 2, Glitter Density (1-3) = 2 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Liquid NeededLiquid Needed = totalVolumeMl * (1 - figurineDisplacementPct / 100)466.8 = 466.8
- Calculate GlycerinGlycerin = liquidVolumeMl * glycerinRatio77.9 = 77.9
- Calculate Globe VolumeGlobe Volume = totalVolumeCuIn * 16.387549.1 = 549.1
- Calculate Liquid NeededLiquid Needed = liquidVolumeMl / 29.573515.8 = 15.8
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the calculator ask for figurine displacement percentage instead of just the globe volume?
Whatever figurine or scene you glue to the base takes up interior space the liquid can't occupy, so the calculator computes the full sphere volume first and then subtracts your entered displacement percentage before reporting Liquid Needed. A denser, larger figurine should use a higher displacement percentage (the calculator's default is 15%), or you'll end up with excess liquid and an air gap at the top when you seal the globe.
What glycerin percentage should I use for a slow, dreamy snowfall versus a fast flurry?
The Snow Fall Speed setting maps directly to a glycerin fraction of the total liquid: setting 1 (fast flurry) uses 10% glycerin, setting 2 (gentle drift) uses 16.7%, and setting 3 (slow float) uses 33.3%. Higher glycerin content raises the liquid's viscosity, which slows how fast the glitter sinks — the rest of the liquid in every case is distilled water.
Why does the calculator specify distilled water instead of tap water?
Tap water carries dissolved minerals that can precipitate out over time, clouding the liquid or leaving visible particulate inside a sealed globe you can't easily clean. Distilled water has those minerals removed, so it stays clear far longer — this is a practical craft recommendation baked into the explainer text, not something the calculator enforces in its math.
Is the estimated Settle Time an exact number I should time my display around?
No — it's a rough guide computed as 8 seconds times a multiplier tied to your fall-speed setting (1x, 2x, or 4x), meant to estimate how long you'll wait between shakes before the glitter fully settles. Real settle time depends heavily on your specific glitter's size, shape, and material, since metallic flakes and fine plastic glitter fall at noticeably different rates in the same liquid.
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