Blast furnaces that operate with pellets and sinter normally use high basicity sinter and acid pellets to balance the slag chemistry. When external additives are used, irregular slag formation occurs due to their uneven distribution in the burden. If basic sinter is used together with a large amount of acid pellets, all additives are incorporated in the iron bearing materials with an improved burden mixture as a consequence. During a campaign in the LKAB Experimental Blast Furnace, pellets and sinter were operated at an ultra low slag volume. A high amount of pellets was balanced with high basicity sinter. An improved blast furnace operation is shown when operating at ultra low slag volume and without external slag formers. During the test period, the blast furnace operation was smooth and stable, and the reductant rate was decreased.