How much CBD should I take?

by for the Ageless Team March 09, 2023

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

When you’re new to CBD, two things matter: what the product contains and how the manufacturer says to use it. This guide explains CBD concentration, the amount per drop and how to read the comparison tables.

People can respond differently to CBD, so how it feels is not a reliable reason on its own to keep increasing the amount.

CBD serving sizes fast facts

Retail CBD food supplements do not have one standard amount that applies to everyone.
The amount of CBD in each drop depends on the oil’s concentration and the drop size.
We don’t set one standard amount of CBD to take.
Many factors will impact how your body processes CBD.
Check product quantities separately from current FSA advice.
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

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,

Your height and weight
Your experience with CBD
The strength of the product
How much you take
How you take the product
The time of day you take it

How CBD feels varies between people. Use the label, manufacturer information and current FSA advice rather than treating a particular feeling as a target.

Different formats have different absorption profiles, but published bioavailability estimates do not provide a simple formula for converting a personal amount from one format to another. Vaping is thought to have the highest bioavailability to enter your bloodstream, while capsules and gummies will have the lowest bioavailability.

The Food Standards Agency advises healthy adults to limit their total CBD intake from food to 10 mg a day as a precaution. This advice does not apply to vaping.

How much CBD should I take per day?

The tables below show how much CBD different strengths contain and how many drops provide a given amount.

Check the product label for the CBD content of each drop and the manufacturer’s directions.

If a product causes unwanted effects, do not keep increasing the amount to try to find a benefit. Seek professional advice if you have health concerns.

What strength CBD oil should I use?

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.

A higher-strength CBD oil contains more CBD per drop, so the same amount can be measured with fewer drops. Compare CBD content and cost, rather than assuming that stronger is more effective.

How many drops of CBD oil should I take?

To work out how much CBD is in a given number of drops, you need to know the strength of your CBD product and the amount 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

This table shows approximately how many drops provide different amounts of CBD at each strength. Drop size can vary between products, so check the product information for the amount of CBD per drop.

Drops by amount

Values are rounded to practical whole-drop examples, so the actual amount may be slightly above or below the figure shown.

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

Check the product information and current FSA advice when comparing CBD products. Not noticing a benefit is not a reason to keep increasing the amount.

A change in how a product feels does not by itself establish tolerance or mean that you should change your intake.

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

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for the Ageless Team

Author

Led by Daniel Pérez Vidal, the For the Ageless team researches and assesses every product we stock. We specialise in CBD, bioregulators, natural supplements and skincare, combining careful selection with clear information and personal one-to-one guidance.