Biodiesel Production Calculator

Estimate biodiesel and glycerin yields from vegetable or waste cooking oil via transesterification.

Oil Volume (gallons)

Oil Type

Methanol Ratio (%)

Tab to move between fields

Biodiesel Yield

97 gal

≈ 4 wheelbarrows

Conversion Rate

97%

Glycerin Byproduct10 gal

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the oil volume in gallons and select the oil type (virgin vegetable oil, used cooking oil, animal fat).
Set the methanol ratio (%) — the standard transesterification ratio is 20% by weight.
Review Biodiesel Yield (gal), Glycerin Byproduct (gal), and Conversion Rate (%).
Repeat with different oil types to compare yields and decide the most efficient feedstock for your operation.

How the result changes with Oil Volume (gallons)

Oil Volume (gallons): Volume of vegetable or waste cooking oil in gallons
Oil Type: 1 = Soybean oil, 2 = Canola/rapeseed, 3 = Waste cooking oil
Methanol Ratio (%): Methanol as a percentage of oil volume (typically 15-25% for complete reaction)

Identify Input Parameters
Oil Volume (gallons) = 100, Oil Type = 1, Methanol Ratio (%) = 20 = 3 input(s) provided
Calculate Biodiesel Yield
Biodiesel Yield
97 = 97
Calculate Glycerin Byproduct
Glycerin Byproduct
10 = 10

The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.

Estimate ethanol production from corn, sugarcane, or cellulosic feedstocks with byproduct and energy balance outputs.

Analyze the carbon lifecycle of biomass fuels including combustion emissions, transport footprint, and biogenic carbon sequestration.

Size an anaerobic digester based on feedstock volume, retention time, and operating temperature.