Best Darkroom Chemicals in 2026

Daisy
Last Updated: Jan 22, 2026

At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Darkroom Chemicals

Ilford Ilfosol-3 General Purpose Developer for Black & White Film, Liquid Concentrate 500 Milliliter Bottle.
#TOP1
Ilford Ilfosol-3 General Purpose Developer For Black &
9.8
PM SCORE
Ilford 1984262 Rapid, Paper for Liquid 1 Litre
#TOP2
Ilford 1984262 Rapid, Paper For Liquid 1 Litre
9.8
PM SCORE
Kodak D-76 Developer Powder, B and W Film 1 Gallon
#TOP3
Kodak D-76 Developer Powder, B And W Film
9.7
PM SCORE

* PickSmartly editors independently research, review, and endorse the top products through comprehensive data analysis. We may earn a commission for qualifying purchases made through our product links.

Summary of the Best Darkroom Chemicals of 2026

Market Overview
Darkroom Chemicals Reviewed
  • Reviews Analyzed: 1802 Items
  • PM Avg. Rating: 6.8 / 10
16 Products Evaluated
  • Highest Price: $74.20
  • Lowest Price: $11.99
  • Avg. Price: $26.70

Ilford Ilfosol-3 General Purpose Developer For Black & White Film, Liquid Concentrate 500 Milliliter Bottle.

ILFORD
1131778
3.94 X 1.18 X 1.18 Inches
1.10 Pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
SETI, Inc. 6.08

Features

A General Purpose Liquid Concentrate Black and White Film Developer.

Particularly Suited to Developing Medium and Slow Speed Films.

Gives Fine Grain and Good Sharpness with Full Film Speed.

#TOP2

Ilford 1984262 Rapid, Paper For Liquid 1 Litre

ILFORD
1984262
8.45 X 3.50 X 2.83 Inches
2.81 Pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
K&M Camera Since 1976 9.91

Features

Ilford Rapid Fixer 1 Liter

Kodak D-76 Developer Powder, B And W Film 1 Gallon

KODAK
1464817
9.60 X 7.10 X 0.30 Inches
0.90 pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
CONTINENTAL SUPPLY 9.87

Features

D-76 provides full emulsion speed and excellent shadow detail with normal contrast, and produces fine grain.

One gallon mix is in powder form and must be mixed with water before use.

You'll find it an excellent choice for almost any general photo application.

The Proposed Title Is: Cinestill Cs41 Liquid Developing Quart Kit For Processing C-41 Color Negative Film

CINESTILL
CINECS41QUART
9.20 X 6.80 X 5.00 Inches
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
Unique Photo, Inc. 9.83

Features

Can Be Used at a Variety of Temperatures: These two bath processing kits can be used at a variety of temperatures with the same equipment you already process your black and white film with at home

Easy Process: Processing ANY color-negative film at home is easy with these 2 simple chemistry mixtures. No special equipment needed!

Specially Formulated: It is specially formulated without compromise for modern color films, not requiring a stabilizer bath

Design: Modern emulsions were designed so that one-hour photo labs wouldn't need hazmat training for formaldehyde, and have built-in dye stabilizers and hardeners that are released through this simplified 2-bath process

Ready to Scan or Print :You can have beautifully developed, bleached, and fixed color negatives, ready to scan or print. All you need is water, a thermometer, and any simple tank and reel system!

#TOP5

3X 1000Ml Darkroom Chemical Storage Bottles Film Photo Developing Processing 1L

ETONE
3CMBT
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
eTone-US 9.15

Features

Compatibility: Suitable for all photographic chemicals including developer, stopper and fixer.

Material: HDPE

Package: 3x Chemical Storage Bottles + 3x stickers

Dimension: 23.5 x 7 x 7 cm/9.25 x 2.76 x 2.76 inch

Weight: 86g/0.19lb

Etone 3X 500Ml Darkroom Chemical Storage Bottles With Caps Film Photo Developing Processing Equipment (Black)

ETONE ULTRA FINE PHOTO ACCESSORIES
12DFG
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
eTone-US 9.44

Features

Material: HDPE plastic, chemical resistant and prevent light through.

Package include: 3x 500ml chemical bottle + 3x caps + 3x stickers

Compatibility: Suitable for all photographic chemicals including developer, stopper and fixer.

Capacity: 500ml/1pc

Total weight: 192g/6.77oz

Ilford Ilfotec Dd-X Black And White Film Developer 1 Litre

ILFORD
1155055
3.94 X 1.97 X 1.97 Inches
2.20 Pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING

Features

An Excellent Fine Grain Film Developer Which Gives Full Film Speed.

Produces Negatives Which are Easy to Print.

Negatives Developed in ILFOTEC DD-X Have a Full Range of Tones, with Depth in the Shadows, a Smooth Transition Through the Mid-tones and Bright Detailed.

3X 1000Ml Collapsible Darkroom Chemical Storage Bottles Foldable Liquid Container Film Photo Developing Processing Equipment Anti Oxidation Storage Laboratory Accessories

ETONE ULTRA FINE PHOTO ACCESSORIES
BROWN CHEMICAL BOTTLE
0.15 Pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
eTone-US 9.34

Features

Material: HDPE plastic. anti corrosion and acid resistant keep the chemical liquid fresh and stable. NO leakage and lightproof.

Max Capacity: 1000ml/0.26 Gal.

Package include: 3x collapsible chemical bottle

Dimension: Mouth 3cm/1.18 in. Max streghth 16cm/6.3 in, Min streghth 8cm/3.15 in. Width 10cm/3.93 in.

Suitable for long term storing darkroom photographic chemical fixer, developer, stopper, Laboratory Liquid, liquid, grain, powder that need to anti oxidation and anti moisture storage.

3Pcs Darkroom 1000Ml Chemical Bottle For Developer Stopper Fixer Film Processing Aarkroom Equipment Film Camera Accessories

YIZHIMAO
YIZHI5454
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
shenzhenyizhimaokeji 5.09

Features

Material: HDPE, chemical resistant, lightproof. Protect chemical from air and light, prevent chemical reaction.

Package include: 3x 1000ml bottle

Suitable for developer, stopper, fixer, not deformation in long term storage and anti chemical corrosion and prevent chemical water permeate in bottle inner wall.

3 Pcs Dark Room 1000Cc Darkroom Chemical Developer Storage Bottles Plastic 1L Film Processing 1000Ml Black Color

YIZHIMAO
SLPX301
0.22 Pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
shenzhenyizhimaokeji 5.09

Features

Dimension: 23.5 x 7 x 7 cm/9.25 x 2.76 x 2.76 inch

Weight: 86g/0.19lb

color: black

package :3x Chemical Storage Bottles

#TOP11

Arista C-41 Liquid Color Negative Developing Kit (1 Quart, To Make 32 Oz)

ARISTA
20411
9.10 X 6.10 X 3.80 Inches
3.05 Pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
Unique Photo, Inc. 9.83

Features

Quick developing time of 13 minutes at 102 degrees F

Yields approximately 8 rolls of 36 exposure film

Develop all types of C-41 type film

Contains Developer, Blix, and Stabilizer

For Processing Color Negative Film

Ilford Ilfotec Hc Fine Grain Developer For Black And White Film, 1 Liter

ILFORD
1155064
19.69 X 19.69 X 11.02 Inches
2.81 Pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
Simple Photography Services 5.97

Features

ILFORD ILFOTEC HC, DEV 1LT

Ilford Simplicity Film Developer, 60Ml Sachet, 5-Pack

ILFORD
B082HF4KGF
4.90 X 1.40 X 0.60 Inches
0.50 Pounds
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
Camera West / Leica Store SF 7.96

Features

5x SIMPLICITY Film Developer (60mL Sachet)

Pack of 5 single-use SIMPLICITY sachets

Each sachet develops 2 x 35mm (135) film or 1 roll of 120 film in a 2-reel tank

Liquid concentrate film developer

Fine grain and optimal sharpness

#TOP14

Yizhimao 3X 500Ml Chemical Storage Bottles Darkroom With Caps Film Photo Developing Processing Equipment

YIZHIMAO
P005
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
shenzhenyizhimaokeji 5.18

Features

Material: HDPE plastic, chemical resistant and prevent light through.

Package include: 3x 500ml chemical bottle + 3x caps

Weight: 172g/6.60oz

Capacity: 500ml

Body outer diameter: 65mm/2.59in

Mouth inner diameter: 30mm/1.18in

Length: 215mm/8.465in

Compatibility: Suitable for all photographic chemicals including developer, stopper and fixer.

#TOP15

Jxs 3X 600Ml Collapsible Darkroom Chemical Storage Bottles Foldable Liquid Container Film Photo Developing Processing Equipment Anti Oxidation Storage Laboratory Accessories

JXS
SS600
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
shenzhenyizhimaokeji 5.00

Features

Material: HDPE plastic. anti corrosion and acid resistant keep the chemical liquid fresh and stable. NO leakage and lightproof.

Max Capacity: 600ml/0.26 Gal.

Package include: 3x collapsible chemical bottle

Dimension: Mouth 2cm/0.78 in. Max streghth 21.3cm/8.4 in, Min streghth 10cm/4.33 in. Width 8cm/3.15 in.

Suitable for long term storing darkroom photographic chemical fixer, developer, stopper, Laboratory Liquid, and other liquid grain that need to anti oxidation storage.

Weight:56g/0.12LB one bottle.

different color caps come with writable label on it. it's convenient for distinguish different items.

#TOP16

3X 1000Ml Color Darkroom Chemical Storage Bottles Liquid Container Film Photo Developing Processing Equipment Printing Photosensitive Uv Resin Lcd/Dlp Storage Amber Bottle 1L

GENERIC
BT003
18.00 X 8.00 X 2.00 Inches
SELLER SELLER SCORE AMAZON FULFILLED PRIME FREE SHIPPING
shenzhenyizhimaokeji 5.18

Features

Dimension: 22cm*8.5cm/8.66*3.34in

Package: 3x Chemical Storage Bottles (1xblack 1xred 1xyellow)

Material: HDPE

Weight: 86g/0.19lb

Top 10 darkroom chemicals Brands on Amazon

Here is the list of top-rated brands that were evaluated by PM.

Brand Count
Ilford 5
Yizhimao 3
Etone Ultra Fine Photo Accessories 2
Arista 1
Cinestill 1
Etone 1
Generic 1
Jxs 1
Kodak 1

Top 10 darkroom chemicals Brands Pie Chart


We've carried out a comprehensive analysis of 1,802 reviews on darkroom chemicals, using our selection criteria to identify the best options in the camera & photo. Our findings reveal that most customers typically select darkroom chemicals priced around $26.70, with top brands including etone, kodak, cinestill, ilford, etone ultra fine photo accessories, arista, yizhimao and sprint systems and generic

Our team of expert editors reviewed these high-quality items and handpicked the top 16 darkroom chemicals for your consideration. We've also done extensive research on numerous sellers, identifying the best ones in the camera & photo category. These include etone-us, continental supply, unique photo, inc., seti, inc. and shenzhenyizhimaokeji and k&m camera since 1976 .

We are dedicated to assisting our users in finding the right chemicals Products based on their needs, saving them considerable time when choosing which darkroom chemicals to buy. We take pride in the number of satisfied users we've helped through our thorough and insightful reviews.