How to Calculate CBD Content?

It’s important to know how to calculate CBD content when purchasing CBD products if you want to get the best value. Product volume doesn’t necessarily determine CBD content. As a result, buying a “bigger” product doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting more CBD. Ultimately, you’re looking at CBD percentage compared to product volume. Figuring out CBD potency isn’t that difficult once you know the basics.

What Is CBD Content?

CBD content refers to the total amount of CBD within an entire product or package. CBD content represents the “whole” of all of the CBD servings that determine a product’s potency. While CBD content is important for determining if a product provides a good value, it should be used alongside actual potency to help you break down how much you’re paying per serving of CBD.

For example, a bottle contains 1,500 mg of CBD in total.

What Is CBD Concentration?

CBD concentration shows how much CBD is present in a specific amount of a product, usually expressed as milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL). To calculate it, divide the total CBD content by the product volume.

For example, a 30 mL bottle containing 1,500 mg of CBD has a concentration of 50 mg/mL.

What Is CBD per Serving?

CBD per serving is the amount of CBD provided in one serving listed on the product label. To calculate it, divide the total CBD content by the number of servings in the container.

For example, a product containing 1,500 mg of CBD and 60 servings provides 25 mg of CBD per serving.

What Is CBD Potency?

CBD potency describes the strength of a product and commonly refers to its CBD concentration or the amount of CBD per serving. Because brands may use the term differently, compare specific measurements such as mg/mL, mg per gummy, or mg per serving rather than relying only on words like “high potency.”

For example, a 30 mL bottle containing 1,500 mg of CBD has a concentration of 50 mg/mL.

How to Calculate CBD Oil Concentration?

Knowing how to calculate CBD concentration can help you compare CBD oils more accurately. A larger bottle does not necessarily contain a higher concentration of CBD. To calculate the concentration of a CBD oil, divide the total amount of CBD in milligrams by the bottle volume in milliliters.

For example, consider a 20 mL bottle of CBD oil containing 200 mg of CBD. Divide 200 mg by 20 mL to determine the concentration:

Total CBD in mg ÷ bottle volume in mL = CBD concentration in mg/mL

200 mg ÷ 20 mL = 10 mg/mL

This means that each milliliter of the oil contains 10 mg of CBD. Now compare it with a 50 mL bottle containing 250 mg of CBD:

250 mg ÷ 50 mL = 5 mg/mL

The 50 mL bottle is larger, but its CBD concentration is lower. It contains 5 mg of CBD per milliliter, compared with 10 mg per milliliter in the 20 mL bottle. Therefore, the smaller bottle is twice as concentrated.

The larger bottle is not necessarily the better value. Concentration and value are different measurements. Use mg/mL to compare concentration, and divide the product price by the total milligrams of CBD to compare cost per milligram.

Essential Formulas to Calculate CBD Content

Use these formulas to calculate CBD concentration, CBD per serving, cost per milligram, and approximate product duration.

What You Want to Calculate	Formula
CBD per mL	Total CBD mg ÷ total mL
CBD per serving	Total CBD mg ÷ number of servings
CBD per gummy	Total CBD mg ÷ gummy count
CBD per drop	CBD per mL × estimated drop volume
Cost per mg	Product price ÷ total CBD mg
Number of servings	Total CBD mg ÷ CBD per serving
Approximate bottle duration	Total CBD mg ÷ amount used per day

CBD Content in CBD Oils and Tinctures

CBD content in CBD oils and tinctures tends to be very straightforward. You’re always just doing a ratio of CBD milligrams to product milliliters. This is why accurate, transparent product labeling is so important. Only purchase products from manufacturers that display both values on their labels. Reputable companies won’t just post CBD potency without allowing you to figure out the CBD content on your own, side-by-side product comparisons.

CBD Content in CBD Edible Products (Capsules, Gummies, Snacks, and More)

With edible CBD products, the manufacturer should provide the amount of CBD in milligrams per serving. This is almost always one gummy, capsule, or “treat.” Next, you can look at the product count.

A bottle of 20 gummies with 50 milligrams of CBD has a total CBD content of 1,000 milligrams regardless of gummy size, bottle size, or any other feature. If you’re comparison shopping, you may come across a bottle of gummies containing 15 gummies with 60 milligrams of CBD each for the same price. In this case, you’re only getting a total CBD content of 900 milligrams for the same price, even though the other product technically offers gummies that are more potent by serving.

CBD Content in CBD Topicals

When looking at CBD topicals, you’re breaking down the CBD content by measuring CBD in milligrams against product volume. Try to get a measurement of CBD per ounce when doing price comparisons. You may find yourself looking at a 4-ounce jar of CBD cream containing 1,000 milligrams of CBD against a 3-ounce roll-on product containing 3,000 milligrams of CBD. In this case, you’re looking at 250 milligrams per ounce of CBD content versus 1,000 milligrams per ounce.

CBD Content Examples

The calculation method depends on the product format. Here are three examples from the CBD.market catalog.

CBD Oils

NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Oil contains 900 mg of CBD in a 15 mL bottle.

900 mg ÷ 15 mL = 60 mg of CBD per mL

A 0.5 mL serving provides 30 mg of CBD.

CBD Softgels

NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Softgels contain 1,800 mg of CBD in 120 softgels.

1,800 mg ÷ 120 softgels = 15 mg of CBD per softgel

A two-softgel serving provides 30 mg of CBD.

CBD Gummies

NuLeaf Naturals Strawberry CBD Gummies contain 900 mg of CBD in 60 gummies.

900 mg ÷ 60 gummies = 15 mg of CBD per gummy

A two-gummy serving provides 30 mg of CBD.

CBD Topicals

NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Moisturizing Skin Cream contains 1,000 mg of CBD in a 2 oz (56.7 g) container.

Unlike gummies or capsules, topical products usually do not have a standardized serving size. The amount of CBD applied at one time depends on how much cream is used. For example, this product contains approximately:

1,000 mg ÷ 56.7 g = 17.6 mg of CBD per gram of cream

If approximately 0.5 g of cream is applied, that amount would contain about:

17.6 mg × 0.5 g = 8.8 mg of CBD

Because users typically do not weigh cream before applying it, CBD per application is only an estimate unless the manufacturer provides a measured pump or stated serving size.

How to Compare the Prices of CBD Content?

When comparing prices, your goal is to determine CBD concentration so that you can tell how much CBD is contained per volume unit. That means knowing how much CBD is in each milliliter or ounce of product. You are always basing the “true price” on the cost of CBD per milliliter or ounce instead of the product’s actual price. Product size is essentially irrelevant because you’re only interested in comparing the price per milligram of CBD.

Conclusion

The formula for determining true product potency and price is the same whether you’re shopping for high-potency CBD tinctures or low-potency edibles. While product volume indicates how many servings you’ll get, determining accurate CBD content by breaking down potency per serving allows you to know the actual value of a product. Only shop from CBD brands that list all the information you need to know to determine CBD content clearly on the label!