Best Tie-Dye Supplies: Everything You Need to Get Started

If you’re new to tie dye, it can feel overwhelming to figure out what supplies you actually need. Do you need every color under the sun? Special chemicals? Fancy racks? Don’t worry — I’ve tested just about everything, and this page is your shortcut.

Whether you’re making your very first shirt or leveling up to advanced folds, these are the best tie-dye supplies to start with (and the ones I keep stocked in my studio year-round).

Quick list of what you’ll need: dyes, soda ash, bottles, gloves, cotton blanks.
Scroll down for my favorites and why I use them.

Easy tie dye projects featuring a folded ice dyed scarf, colorful tie dye socks, and white fabric with rubber bands on a marble surface.

Essential Tie-Dye Supplies

Here’s a breakdown of the basics every tie-dyer needs:

1. Dyes

Powder dyes – Dharma Trading Co. is my go-to for professional quality and vibrant colors.
Liquid dyes – Great for beginners because they’re pre-mixed and easy to use (Tulip kits are a common choice. I broke down the top selling Amazon tie dye kits here).
Splitting colors – If you love ice dye, certain Dharma colors “split” beautifully into multiple shades. I get mine from Dharama and really like Alchemist, Warrior Princess, Phoenix Flame and Tangerine.

You do not need a ton of colors to get amazing results. Some of my favorite projects have been one color tie dye projects.

👉 Shop my favorite dyes on Amazon

Tie dye setup with Dharma dyes, mixing bowl, spoon, and plastic basket with colorful clips

2. Soda Ash (Fixer)

This is what makes the dye bond with the fabric.
You can soak your fabric in a soda ash solution before dyeing, or sprinkle it directly on top when ice dyeing.

Find the full tie dye prep explanation here.

3. Tools & Accessories

Squeeze bottles – For liquid dye projects. (Highly suggest a wide mouth.)
Racks or grids – To keep fabric elevated while ice melts through.
Buckets/tubs – Useful for soaking in soda ash or containing messy projects.
Gloves – Trust me, your hands will thank you.
Funnels, spoons, scoops – For mixing and applying dye powders.
Sinew or rubber bands – To hold folds tightly in place. I highly suggest avoiding colored rubber bands. I have found some of the color bleeds off of the elastic.

Tie dye supplies on table: gloves, rubber bands, white socks, and Dharma powder dyes

4. Blanks (What to Dye)

The best results come from 100% cotton or natural fibers. Some of my favorites:

T-shirts (always a classic)
Socks (great for small projects and gifts) – PS. Here are 4 ways to fold socks!
Bandanas and headbands
Baby swaddles (cotton or bamboo gauze — gorgeous with ice dye)

👉 Shop my favorite blanks on Amazon

Tie dye supplies laid out including Dark Horse dyes, white Gerber onesie, socks, and tools

My Favorite Tie-Dye Supplies in One Place

Instead of hunting down every little thing, I’ve rounded up my tried-and-true tools, dyes, and blanks all in one place:

Ice dyed bandana with vibrant marbled patterns in purple, pink, gold, and green tones, displayed flat against a white wall.

👉 Visit my Amazon storefront here

This is where I keep my go-to bottles, racks, and dye colors. I update it regularly when I find something that’s worth using.

Beginner Bundle: Start Here

If you’re brand new, you don’t need everything. Here’s a simple starter kit:

3–5 dye colors (a rainbow palette is a good starting point)
A pack of cotton tea towels
Soda ash (for prep)
Gloves + squeeze bottles
Rubber bands or sinew

That’s it! With those supplies, you can try almost any beginner-friendly fold.

Hand applying liquid dye onto folded fabric in basket while ice melts with dye on the other side, showing side-by-side liquid vs ice tie-dye techniques.

Starter vs. Pro Tie-Dye Supplies

	Starter Kit (Beginner-Friendly)	Pro Kit (Level-Up Supplies)
Dyes	Pre-mixed liquid dyes (like Tulip kits)	Dharma Procion fiber-reactive powder dyes (endless colors + splits)
Fixer	Small bag of soda ash	Bulk soda ash (cheaper long-term)
Application	Basic squeeze bottles	Wide-mouth squeeze bottles + funnels/scoops
Tools	Gloves, rubber bands	Gloves, sinew (tighter folds), racks/grids, buckets
Blanks	Cotton t-shirts, socks	Cotton/bamboo swaddles, bandanas, premium shirts
Extras	None needed	Measuring spoons, funnels, storage bins
Cost	~$20–30 (all-in-one kit)	~$75+ (but lasts dozens of projects)
Best For	First projects, kids, casual tie-dyers	Consistent pro results, experimenting with advanced folds & ice dye

If you’re just testing the waters, grab a beginner kit. But if you’re planning to keep tie-dyeing (and trust me, it’s addictive!), Investing in pro-level supplies saves money and gives way better results.