How much CBD should I take?

by for the Ageless Team March 09, 2023

How much CBD should I take?

When you’re new to the world of CBD, it can be difficult to find straightforward advice about how much CBD to take.

Since CBD isn’t a medicine, you won’t find handy CBD dosage guidelines with every bottle. Instead, you’ll have to experiment to find your perfect serving size.

That said, we can give you guidance on how to quickly find the right serving size, so you can begin to enjoy the potential benefits for your endocannabinoid system.

Many factors will influence how your body metabolises CBD, so what works for one person might not work for another. With this in mind, we recommend paying close attention to how CBD makes you feel as you get closer to your ideal serving size.

CBD serving sizes fast facts

  • CBD is not a medicine, so there are no standard CBD dosage guidelines.
  • The Food Standards Agency recommends you do not exceed 70 mg of CBD per day.
  • It’s a good idea to start low and increase slowly.
  • Many factors will impact how your body processes CBD.
  • It can take time to determine your ideal CBD serving size and schedule.
  • The risk of taking too much CBD is very low, but it’s important to be aware of the potential side effects.

What to consider when choosing your serving size

Drop of CBD oil

Imagine you’ve been introduced to CBD by a close friend. They might be able to recommend brands for you to try based on their experience, but this is where their input should end. Their preferred strength and serving size will likely be very different to your own.

There are many factors that determine how your body responds to CBD, including,

As you can see, it isn’t as simple as picking up a bottle and taking a few drops every day. It’s important to pay attention to how much you are using and how it makes you feel. It’s only through this mindful approach to CBD that you’ll be able to determine the perfect serving size and schedule for you.

Man taking CBD under tongue

The bioavailability of your CBD product will also have a huge impact on how much you need to take. Vaping is thought to have the highest bioavailability to enter your bloodstream, while capsules and gummies will have the lowest bioavailability.

There are upper limits to be aware of, and this is particularly important if you combine products, or if you use a product where the serving size is less obvious, such as a vape juice. The Food Standards Agency recommends that healthy adults do not exceed more than 70 mg of CBD per day.

This is a highly conservative estimate intended to provide some guidance, simply because there is such a shortage of official guidance. It’s worth noting that some people can safely exceed this daily amount, but normal usage is unlikely to come close.

How much CBD should I take per day?

Slow increase - taking CBD

As we’ve mentioned above and in previous articles, everyone will have a different ideal serving size once they are familiar with the product. That’s not what we’re talking about here.

These guidelines are intended for absolute beginners to be able to quickly determine their perfect serving size and schedule.

We usually recommend individuals start by taking 10-20mg per day and increase slowly. Keeping a CBD diary for the first few weeks can be a great way to track how it makes you feel.

You might start with 20mg per day for 5-7 days, and then increase the serving size by 50% for another 5-7 days to determine if you notice an improvement or a decline in your sense of wellness.

If you notice a decline, drop to the previous serving size for 5-7 days. Consistency is key with CBD, so make sure you are taking it at the same time of day and via the same method.

What strength CBD oil should I use?

Hemp plant - strength

Newcomers are often drawn to the cheapest CBD product as a way to try it out without the financial risk. After all, if you aren’t convinced it will have a positive impact on your sense of wellness, you are unlikely to invest in a high-strength oil.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to experience premium quality CBD, as long as you know where to look. We recommend starting with a CBD oil between 4-10% strength, as this will allow you to alter your serving size with ease. 

If you find that you are taking a higher serving size of CBD, then you can choose a higher-strength CBD oil when the time comes to buy your next bottle. Increasing the strength of the CBD product will allow you to take the same amount of CBD but with fewer drops, and this can add up to significant savings.

How many drops of CBD oil should I take?

To find out how many drops you should take, you need to know the strength of your CBD product, and how much CBD is contained in each drop. Most products will include this information on the bottle or on the packaging. The first table below shows you approximately how much CBD is contained in each drop depending on the strength.

Mg per drop table

Strength

4%

5%

6%

8%

10%

20%

30%

50%

Mg per drop

2mg

2.5mg

3mg

4mg

5mg

10mg

15mg

25mg

The next table is to help you determine the number of drops you need to achieve your desired serving size, depending on your chosen strength.

Drops per serving size table

Strength - Serving

4%

5%

6%

8%

10%

20%

30%

50%

10mg

5 drops

4 drops

3 drops

3 drops

2 drops

1 drop

N/A

N/A

15mg

7 drops

6 drops

5 drops

4 drops

3 drops

N/A

1 drop

 

20mg

10 drops

8 drops

7 drops

5 drops

4 drops

2 drops

N/A

1 drop

30mg

15 drops

12 drops

10 drops

8 drops

6 drops

3 drops

2 drops

1 drop

40mg

20 drops

16 drops

13 drops

10 drops

8 drops

4 drops

3 drops

N/A

50mg

25 drops

20 drops

17 drops

13 drops

10 drops

5 drops

N/A

2 drops

60mg

30 drops

24 drops

20 drops

15 drops

12 drops

6 drops

4 drops

N/A

70mg

35 drops

28 drops

23 drops

17 drops

14 drops

7 drops

5 drops

3 drops

Remember that 1 drop of one product could be different to 1 drop of another product, even if they have the same percentage strength. This is because some brands use different droppers, so it’s important to check the packaging for exact numbers.

Conclusion

If you’re new to CBD, don’t let the endless advice and guidance from the CBD pros and purists put you off. Knowing how much CBD you should take is a personal journey, but it’s also a well-worn path. By starting low and increasing slowly, you will soon land on the ideal serving size for your needs.

By paying close attention to how CBD makes you feel and the sense of wellness it helps you achieve, you will quickly settle on the serving size that is right for you. And once you’ve found it, you don’t need to worry about developing a tolerance and needing to increase your dose.

If you need a little extra guidance choosing your first CBD product, or choosing a suitable starting serving size, our team are here to help.

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for the Ageless Team
for the Ageless Team

Author

A mighty team of natural health researchers led by Daniel Perez Vidal. We follow strict selection criteria and test everything we retail, from ground-breaking food supplements to natural skincare products. Our main area of expertise is CBD.


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