An easy way to screw up a recipe is to ignore the measurements. The same can be said for CBD. Knowing the CBD content of what you’re consuming is vital for reaping its benefits.
We built a CBD Content Calculator. Here’s what it can help you do:
- Determine the potency of the CBD you’re using
- Figure out how much you need to consume to get the desired dosage of CBD
- Compare pricing between products to see what you’re paying per unit of CBD
CBD Content Calculator
You’ll need to have a few data points ready to use this calculator. They’re usually easy to find on the packaging of any CBD product.
- For measuring the CBD content of oil:
- Amount of CBD in milligrams (mg)
- Total Volume of Oil in milliliters (ml)
- For measuring the CBD content of hemp flower:
- CBD Percentage (%)
- Total Weight in grams (g)
Optionally, you can include the product’s price and your desired dosage of CBD.
If you don’t know where to locate these measurements, jump ahead to the next section and we’ll show you how to find them. Then, scroll back up here to the calculator.
Where to Find the Measurements Needed for the CBD Content Calculator
CBD Oil
The measurements are often clearly labeled on the front of the bottle. For example, here’s where to find the amount of CBD (mg) and volume of oil (ml) on a bottle of Sunsoil.
If you don’t see these measurements, then I suggest going to the brand’s website. They should have them listed on their product pages.
Hemp Flower
Check the front or back labels of the container that your hemp flower arrived in. Here’s an example of how you can find the CBD percentage (%) and weight (g) for Diamond CBD’s hemp flower.
Unfortunately, many brands don’t clearly label these measurements on their packaging. If you’re not seeing them, then I recommend going to the brand’s website and getting the figures from their product pages.
As a last resort, you may need to find the product’s lab test, or certificate of analysis (COA). Most brands make these available on their websites. What you want to look for is the percentage for “Total CBD”.
Now, let’s dive deeper into these concepts:
What Does CBD Content Mean?
CBD content refers to the total amount of CBD present in a given weight or volume of product. It’s important to know a product’s CBD content so you can administer the correct dosage. Some products are more potent than others.
How to Calculate CBD Content in Oil
CBD oil combines hemp extract, often containing many other compounds, with a carrier oil. The actual CBD only makes up a small percentage of the product you’re consuming. Why is it important to calculate that amount?
Manufacturers produce CBD oil in different potencies and dilution levels. So, 1 ml of oil from one brand can have a totally different amount of CBD than 1 ml of oil from another brand.
If you know how to calculate the CBD content as the amount of CBD present in 1 ml of oil, then you can easily adjust the serving size to your desired dosage.
Here’s the formula for calculating the CBD content of oil:
CBD Content (mg/ml) = Amount of CBD (mg) / Volume of Oil (ml)
Let’s take a look at a practical example of how you can use this formula to measure a 60mg dosage for two different brands of CBD oil.
Brand A | Brand B | |
Amount of CBD | 300 mg | 900 mg |
Volume of Oil | 15 ml | 30 ml |
CBD Content | 20 mg/ml | 30 mg/ml |
Using a 1 ml dropper, how many servings are needed for a 60 mg dose of CBD? | 3 servings | 2 servings |
In this example, you would need 3 servings of Brand A to get the same CBD content as Brand B.
How to Calculate CBD Content in Hemp Flower
The diversity in hemp flower strains is incredible. Hemp flower is composed of many different cannabinoids that can be found in tons of combinations and potencies. CBD is just one slice of the pie.
If enjoying the medicinal benefits of CBD is one of your motivations for smoking hemp flower, then it’s important that you know how to calculate its CBD content. With that data point, you can dial in your dosage and maximize its effectiveness.
Here’s the formula for calculating the CBD content of oil:
Content Content (mg/g) = CBD Percentage (%) x 1,000 mg
Let’s take a look at a practical example of how you can use this formula to measure a 60 mg dosage for two different brands of hemp flower.
Brand A | Brand B | |
CBD Percentage | 12% | 8% |
CBD Content | 120 mg/g | 80 mg/g |
How much hemp flower do you need to smoke for a 60 mg dose of CBD? | 0.50 grams | 0.75 grams |
These same calculations for raw hemp flower can be applied to other smokeable products, like CBD pre-rolls or CBD cigarettes.
Why is it Helpful to Know CBD Content?
Knowing how to calculate CBD content has two main advantages: (1) You can calculate your dosage for any CBD product and (2) you can comparison-shop CBD products to find the best bang for your buck.
Calculating Your CBD Dosage
Unless you’re using pure isolate, any CBD product is going to consist of other compounds and ingredients. When it comes to CBD oil and hemp flower, the actual CBD content only makes up a small percentage of what you’re consuming.
Being able to calculate the CBD content and, therefore, your dosage helps in a couple of ways:
- If you’re taking CBD oil one day and smoking hemp flower the next, you know how much of each to consume for a consistent dosage.
- Even within one product category, manufacturers offer varying levels of potency. You can adjust your intake up or down by the right amount once you calculate the CBD content for a given weight or volume.
Comparing Price by CBD Content
CBD products come in a variety of sizes, potencies and price points. For what you’re paying, how much CBD are you really getting?
Knowing how to calculate CBD content can help you compare the price of different products against their potency. Let’s look at an example:
You want to know which of these 2 hemp flower products is a better deal:
Brand A: 3.5g of flower containing 12% CBD for $21.95
Brand B: 7g of flower containing 9% CBD for $39.99
Let’s calculate the CBD content of each one using the formula we established above:
CBD Content (mg/g) = CBD Percentage (%) x 1,000 mg
Brand A: 12% x 1,000mg = 120mg/g
Brand B: 9% x 1,000mg = 90mg/g
Now let’s multiply the CBD content by the number of grams to figure out the total amount of CBD you’re buying:
Total Amount of CBD (mg) = CBD Content (mg/g) x Amount of Flower (g)
Brand A: 120mg/g x 3.5g = 420mg
Brand B: 90mg/g x 7g = 630mg
The last thing we need to do is take the price and divide it by the total amount of CBD:
Price per mg of CBD = Price ($) / Total Amount of CBD (mg)
Brand A: $21.95/420mg = $0.05
Brand B: $39.99/630mg = $0.06
In this example, Brand A is a slightly better value. Using this method, you can spot overpriced CBD products or hunt down good deals to make your CBD habit more cost-effective.
Consumption Method Matters
Everything we’ve covered above works great when you’re comparing CBD oil vs CBD oil, or hemp flower vs hemp flower. But, if you want to compare the CBD content of two different products, it’s no longer apples to apples.
Your body absorbs CBD into your bloodstream at different rates depending on how you consume it. For example, it’s way more effective to smoke CBD than it is to ingest it orally.
This is due to a concept called bioavailability. A consumption method with high bioavailability means that your body will absorb a higher percentage of CBD than another method with lower bioavailability.
Let’s take a look at the bioavailability of some common ways to take CBD:
Consumption Method | Bioavailability |
---|---|
Intranasal | 34% – 56% |
Smoking | 11% – 45% |
Sublingual | 12% – 35% |
Oral | 13% – 19% |
Topical | Negligible |
So, let’s say that you wanted to switch from smoking CBD to taking CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue), but maintain the same dosage. Because smoking has higher bioavailability, you’ll need to increase your dosage when switching to CBD oil to continue enjoying the same effects.
Now that you have the tools, you can maintain a consistent regimen of CBD. Come back to this calculator any time you want to adjust your dosage or evaluate a new CBD product. If you’re looking for recommendations, check out our reviews of the best CBD products on the market.
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