SLES vs SLS: What Is the Difference?

October 25, 2026

SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) and SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) are the two most common anionic surfactants in detergents and personal care, and their names differ by only a few letters. Chemically and commercially, however, they are distinct products. This comparison explains the difference that matters to formulators and buyers.

The Chemical Difference

SLS is made by sulfating lauryl alcohol directly. SLES goes one step further: the alcohol is ethoxylated first, adding ethylene oxide units before sulfation. That ethoxylation step is what changes the product's behavior — and its price.

Mildness and Foam

SLES is noticeably milder on skin and eyes than SLS, which is why it is the default surfactant in shampoos, body wash and hand soap. SLS is a stronger, harsher degreaser with fast, high foam; it can irritate skin in leave-on or high-contact products. Both foam well, but SLES foam is generally creamier and more stable in hard water formulations.

Typical Applications

Choose SLES for personal care and for balanced household liquids — dishwashing liquid, laundry liquids and all-purpose cleaners. Choose SLS where aggressive degreasing matters more than mildness, such as some industrial cleaners, car wash and emulsion polymerization. Many formulations blend the two or combine SLES with other surfactants.

Form and Price

SLES is commonly supplied as a 70% active paste in drums; SLS is usually a powder or needle form at high active content. Per kilogram of active matter, SLS is often cheaper — but the finished-product requirements (mildness claims, clarity, dioxane limits for SLES) usually decide the choice, not the raw price alone. For SLES specification details, read how to choose SLES 70%, or ask us which fits your formulation.