When using CBD oil, many people assume using a dropper is fool-proof, but it’s surprisingly easy to get the dosage wrong. Misunderstandings around droppers, concentrations, and how many mg are in a “drop” can lead to incorrect dosing. This makes it hard to achieve the consistent routine needed to feel the full benefits of CBD. Our guide breaks down how to properly measure your drops so you can get the most out of your CBD journey.
Drops vs. full droppers
The first step to correctly dosing your CBD oil drops is understanding the difference between drops and full droppers (also called pipettes). Contrary to what some users believe, a dropper full of oil is not equivalent to one drop. In fact, a full dropper can contain dozens of drops, with the exact amount depending on the thickness of the liquid.
A single drop is the tiny volume of oil that leaves the pipette when you squeeze the top lightly. Environmental factors like temperature and viscosity can impact drop size. This is why following proper storage instructions for your CBD products is very important for reaping their full benefits. At Simply CBD, we recommend keeping your CBD oil in a cool, dry place where they will not be exposed to any extreme temperatures that could impact their consistency or quality.
Understanding concentration (mg per ml)
The overall strength of a product impacts the concentration of CBD in each drop. For example, 250mg of CBD in a 10ml bottle (like our Green CBD Oil) produces a very different strength in a single drop than a 10ml bottle that contains 1000mg of CBD (like our Black CBD Oil). To determine the mg of CBD in each drop, you’ll need to divide the total mg in the bottle by the total number of drops in the bottle. Each 10ml bottle of our brand’s CBD oil contains approximately 200 drops. This means, for our 10ml Green CBD Oil, the formula would be 250/200, which equals 1.25mg per drop.
For larger bottles, the formula can be adjusted to 400 drops per bottle for 20ml, 600 drops per bottle for 30ml, and so on. So, for our 30ml Black CBD Oil which contains a total of 3000mg of CBD, the formula would be 3000/600, which works out to 5mg per drop. It’s also important to note that a larger bottle doesn’t necessarily mean a stronger product. For instance, each of our Black CBD Oil size variants contain 5mg per drop as their concentration of CBD to carrier oil is always the same.
Check out our How to Determine the Value of a CBD Product article for more information.
Why guessing doesn’t work
Due to the fact that not all CBD oil products are the same, with some designed to be low strength and others much more concentrated, simple guess work isn’t the answer. “A few drops” can mean wildly different things depending on the product. Without knowing the concentration and actual drop count, it’s impossible to accurately measure your dose and build a sustainable CBD routine. CBD requires consistent use to be fully effective and beneficial, so precise dosing and proper understanding of the product you’re using are crucial for making the most out of your CBD journey.
How to dose accurately
Measuring your CBD oil dose accurately comes down to product awareness and proper use of your dropper. First, check the label and/or online listing of your chosen product to find or calculate the mg of CBD in each drop. Don’t forget to take bottle size into account. Once you know this, you can figure out the number of drops that you need. For new users, we always recommend starting with a low dose and slowly increasing as needed until reaching the dose that works best. For seasoned users who have gone through this process already, the ideal dose is already determined. For example, if your ideal routine is taking 2.5mg of CBD three times per day, then two drops of our Green CBD Oil per dose is the perfect fit.
In terms of measuring the drops themselves, there are a couple of ways to help ensure accuracy. For example, if you can’t tell how many drops are coming out when taking your oil, try taking it in front of a mirror so you can clearly see and count them. Alternatively, dropping them onto a spoon can be helpful, especially if you’re just getting started and want a better visual understanding of your CBD dose. Remember, you only need to lightly squeeze the top of the pipette to release a single drop. As you continue to take your daily dose, you will likely find that the process becomes second nature, and the benefits that come from consistency will follow.
Check out our CBD Dosage page for more information and dosing advice for other CBD product types.
Key takeaways
Here are the key points to remember about measuring your CBD oil drops:
- A full dropper (also known as a pipette) is not the same as a single drop.
- A full dropper can contain dozens of drops, with the exact amount depending on the thickness and consistency of the liquid.
- Different products provide different concentrations of CBD per drop, so product awareness is key.
- The total mg of CBD in a product divided by the total number of drops in a product gives you the mg of CBD per drop.
- At Simply CBD, each 10ml bottle of CBD oil contains approximately 200 drops.
- Guesswork is not recommended for successful CBD use.
- Accurate CBD dosing comes from product awareness and proper dropper use.
- Using a mirror or spoon to visually understand your dose can help you use your dropper more accurately and effectively.
- Eventually, the use of a CBD dropper to achieve your ideal dose will become second nature.
