29 Best Soap Molds of 2023 (+ How to Use Them)

Silicone Soap Molds

By far the biggest and (to me) most exciting category. Silicone molds come in so many different fun shapes and sizes, that you just got to have them all 😉

Pros: unique designs, affordable, gives soap glossy smooth finish, easy to clean, lightweight, easy to store

Cons: some molds will slightly bow outward when filled, cold process soap can display bubbles when too hot, insulates cold process soap poorly in order to gel

All silicone molds on this list are made of high-quality, food-grade silicone and are cold and heat resistant. They're suitable for melt and pour and cold process soap.

Even though most molds on this list can be used for making food items, I wouldn't recommend using the same mold for soap and food making. Scents, essential oils, colorants and other chemicals will transfer to the silicone and then leach into the food. You don't want that to happen. Simply keep them separate!

Tips for Using Cold Process Soap in Silicone Molds

• Use sodium lactate or salt in your soap recipe to help harden the soap for easier release
• Pour at thin to medium trace for details to shine and achieve a flat bottom surface
• Use a higher water discount
• Wait 1-3 days longer to unmold (especially with loaf molds)
• Silicone soap molds create an airlock around the soap, so make sure to always pull on all of the sides of the mold first to release them from the soap and then gently press on the bottom
• Put soap in the freezer for a couple of hours before unmolding if soap doesn't budge
• Avoid gelling to reduce formation of bubbles when overheating

1. Ocean Wave Soap Mold

The wave design is so stunning on this mold. It's sturdy, durable and the soap comes out nice and crisp.

Tutorial: Sea Salt Soap Recipe {Homemade Melt and Pour Soap Salt Bars} (countryhillcottage.com)

2. Rectangular Mold with Mixed Patterns

I love this mold and I've used it many times. The designs are all so intricate and beautiful: butterfly, heart, tree, dolphin, moon and sun - gorgeous!

Tutorial: Goat Milk Soap Recipe (with AND without Lye) and Activated Charcoal Soap (Melt and Pour/ Cold Process)

3. Massage Bar Soap Mold

Can we just pause here for a second? I mean: soap + massage? Heaven! The shape fits the palm of your hand perfectly and those little knobs will melt away any tension instantly.

4. Sunflower Soap Mold

So cheerful and cute! Whenever I make soap using this little mold, it always makes me smile. The size is perfect for a hand or face soap. You can't go wrong with this one!

Tutorial: Rose Clay & Coconut Milk Face Soap Recipe (Cold Process) , Easy Melt and Pour Sunflower Soap (Soapdelinews)

5. Round Soap Mold

The brand "crafter's choice" is known for their high-quality soap molds and soap making supplies. This mold is very sturdy and will not bow outward. Your soap will come out perfectly round and perfectly straight along the sides. Plus, it's the perfect size for making loofa soap 😉

Tutorial: How to Make Loofa Soap (Everythingpretty)

6. Ellipse Mold with Mixed Patterns

This ellipse shaped mold is simply elegant with its intricate design and classy shape. All those little details show up in the finished soap perfectly. Simply stunning!

Tutorial: DIY Moisturizing Soap for Dry Skin (countryhillcottage.com)

7. Snowflake Mold

Snowflake soaps - what a great way to spread the holiday cheer. Perfect for gift giving and simply so cute. Your soap will turn out amazing with this mold.

Tutorial: Glitter Snowflake Soap (Soapdelinews)

8. Honeycomb Mold

How adorable are those little honey bees? The perfect for any soap recipes that contain honey or beeswax. The soap bars are a little on the smaller side (2oz), which makes it perfect for small gifts or party favors.

Tutorial: 10-Minute DIY Milk & Honey Soap (Happiness is homemade)

9. Mooncake Molds

This soap mold makes really unique looking bars with the intricate symmetrical designs and the scalloped edges. Really pretty!

Tutorial: Turmeric Soap Recipe (Beautycrafter)

10. Ice Cream Cone / Cupcake Soap Mold

Ice cream? Cupcakes? Yes, please. Think about all the fun soaps you can design with this cool mold!

Tutorial: DIY Unicorn Rainbow Poop Soap (Everythingpretty)

11. Gingerbread Man Mold

Another holiday themed mold that makes adorable gingerbread man soaps. Perfect for stocking stuffers that will delight young and old.

Tutorial: 15-Minute DIY Gingerbread Man Soap (Happiness is Homemade)

12. Sun & Moon Mold

How can you ever get tired of looking at these beautiful celestial soaps? Pure serenity!

Tutorial: Bentonite Clay Soap Recipe (Beautycrafter)

13. Rectangle Mold

This mold is super sturdy and will not warp or bow outward. If you're going for a classic shape like this one, you want the sides of the soap to be perfectly straight.

Tutorial: DIY Honey Almond Soap (A Life Adjacent)

14. Cylinder Mold

Perfectly round, perfectly cute 🙂 and just the right size to give away as party favors at a bridal or baby shower.

Tutorial: DIY Rose Soap (A Life Adjacent)

15. Flower Molds

Flower, flowers - can a girl ever have enough. Each one of those is so pretty - that it's tough to choose a favorite, good thing you don't have to 😉

Tutorial: Coconut Milk Soap - Cold Process (Everything Pretty)

16. Heart Mold

This mold produces perfectly little heart shaped soaps. Great for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or "Just because" gifts!

Tutorial: Pink Clay Soap Recipe (Lovely Greens)

17. 3D Heart Mold

This mold takes "heart shaped" to the next level. Hearts and roses - the perfect combo! And the little details come nice and crisp every time.

Tutorial: Handmade Vanilla Rose Soap (A Pumpkin and a Princess) (Make amount indicated in recipe to fill all three hearts)

18. Rectangular Mold with Rounded Corners

This mold makes the perfectly shaped soap that is very comfortable to hold in your hand. The classy, simple shape will really make your soap design shine.

Tutorial: Lemon Soap Recipe (Beautycrafter)

19. 100% Handmade Mold

I love how bold this mold is. That's what I call statement soaps 😉 It makes 20 perfectly sized bars and is very sturdy.

Tutorial: I haven't found one yet, but you could fill the molds with any 49 oz melt and pour or cold process soap recipe.

20. Gemstone Mold

I love gemstone soaps - simply imagining that you're washing your hands with actual gems is just so fun. With these molds they turn out looking so really and pretty. A must have!

Tutorial: Easy DIY Crystal Gemstone Soap (Dream a Little Bigger)

21. Rose Mold

Any rose or floral themed soap will simply shine with this perfect rose mold. I'm thinking Mother's Day or birthday gifts, how about you?

Tutorial: Rose Clay Soap Recipe (Everything Pretty)

22. Donut Mold

I don't know about you, but I have a serious sweet tooth. These donut soaps come out so realistic looking, that they give me sugar cravings 😉

Tutorials: Donut Soap Cold Process Recipe (Soap Deli News), DIY Donut Scented Soap (Happiness is Homemade)

23. Small Loaf Mold

I love this mold, I have two of them and I use them all the time. They're great for smaller batches, experiments and layer designs.

Tutorial: DIY Candy Cane Soap

24. 40 oz Loaf Mold

You will get 8 standard bars of soap out of this mold. It's a great mold! It allows for many different designs and the bars come out straight and professional looking.

Tutorial: Avocado Soap Recipe with Fresh Avocado and Lots of Shea Butter

Wooden Soap Molds

Wood molds are probably the most traditional kind of soap molds. Typically, they come in loaf mold or slab mold (low rim, broad pouring surface) size. They are especially useful for cold process soap making. The material insulates the soap well for it to heat up and go through gel phase.

If the mold has a silicone liner, wooden molds can be used for melt and pour soap as well.

Pros: very sturdy and durable, thick material insulates cold process soap well, perfect for very large batches and production soap making, great for traditional bar soaps

Cons: need to be lined with freezer paper (if mold doesn't come with liner), pricier, heavy and needs storage room, wood isn't easy to clean

25. 42 oz Mold with Wood Box

This mold is a great budget choice! It's a little bit of a hybrid between a silicone loaf mold and a wood mold. The wood is meant to hold the silicone liner in place. The walls are a little bit on the thin side and might not insulate the soap enough to fully gel. But overall, it's a great beginner mold.

Tutorial: Layers of the Ocean Soap (Steam Powered Family)

26. 2.5lb Basic Mold (Nurture Soap)

If you're looking for high quality soap molds that get raving reviews, you have to go with Nurture Soap's Wood Molds. The wood is very thick and the silicone liners strong and durable. The molds have two holes on the bottom to easily push the soap out when done.

27. 5 lb Basic Loaf Mold (Nurture Soap)

This mold is a very popular choice and just as well made as it's little brother, only, well, twice as big. A great choice for intermediate level soapers that are comfortable working with bigger batches.

28. Tall& Skinny 2.5lbs Mold (Nurture Soap)

With this mold you can create soap bars that are taller than they are wide. The tall & skinny mold gives you the opportunity to create stunning and unique designs. The silicone liner is really the game changer here, since properly lining such a deep mold with freezer paper is quite the challenge.

29. 9 Bar Slab Mold (Bramble Berry)

This is a great small slab mold allowing for interesting designs. Best of all it comes with this handy dandy divider to give you 9 perfect bars. It comes with a lid for insulation and has a sliding bottom for easy unmolding. You will have to line it with freezer paper though.

Tutorial: Sea Sponge Cold Process Soap (Soap Queen)