The possibility of spectrophotometric determination of lanthanum (III) with the organic dye Arsenazo III in the presence of anionic surfactant alkylbenzenesulfonic was considered. The effect of sulfuric acid and alkylbenzenesulfonic acid on the type and position of the electronic absorption spectra of the lanthanum with arsenazo III complex was established. The optimal conditions for photometric analysis (light absorption maxima, optimal pH value, linearity range of the calibration graph, molar absorption coefficient) were found. According to the proposed method, the content of lanthanum in the solution after its precipitation with alkylbenzenesulfonic acid was determined.