Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and Al saturation are often determined by extraction of the bases with 1MNH4OAc, pH 7, and the Al with 1MKCl. This method was compared to 1MNH4Cl to extract both bases and Al. The latter method has the advantages of measuring CEC at the soil pH and one‐step extraction. Data sets included three field samplings from 4 locations (7 soil types) and samples from a greenhouse experiment with 8 soils (total N=248). Differences between individual pairs of data were evaluated using T‐tests. Most soils were acid and CEC was predominated by Al and Ca. The two methods compared favorably for Al with slightly more Al being extracted by NH4Cl than by KCl. Significantly less Ca was extracted by NH4Cl than NH4OAc. Coefficients of determination were high (> 0.98) for Ca, but the regression slope was less than one (0.85). The methods compared well for extractable Mg, K, and Na, but those were minor constituents of the CEC. CEC and Al saturation differences followed those of Ca. The NH4Cl method is recommended for samples that have not been recently limed, but not for samples containing residual lime.