If you’re one of the many people who is interested in CBD but has questions about strength and dosage, this post is for you. We are here to clear up any confusion surrounding which strength you should use and how much CBD you should take. It can be confusing and our aim is to make it easier.
Before we begin, there is one rule of CBD use that must be taken into consideration at all times: the best CBD oil strength will be different for every person or pet, depending on their individual needs and ailments. Once we keep that in mind, it makes the rest of the information easier to interpret.
What Does CBD Oil Strength Mean?
If you’ve personally shopped for CBD oil you’ve undoubtedly been overwhelmed by the number of options available. Not only are there tons of delivery methods in the marketplace and hundreds of companies to purchase from, there are also various bottle sizes and strengths to choose from.
NOTE: by “strength” we mean potency.
How exactly do you determine the strength of a CBD product you might be interested in? The process is typically pretty straightforward. Read the label of the product to see how much CBD it contains. Most product labels make it easy. They clearly state how many milligrams of CBD are in the bottle, as well as how many milligrams are contained in each 1ml serving size.
Take two different 30ml (one ounce!) bottles of CBD oil tinctures, for example. One bottle contains 1000mg CBD, while the other contains 500mg CBD. The stronger tincture would be the bottle that contains 1000mg CBD. The 1000mg bottle contains twice the CBD per 30ml as the 500mg bottle, meaning you’d have to take twice the serving size of the 500mg bottle to achieve the same effects.
CBD oil is available in an variety of different strengths and can range from 100mg all the way up to 6000mg or more. The lower the milliGRAM count per milliLETER (emphasis intended!), the lower the strength of the oil.
Why Does CBD Oil Strength Matter?
CBD oil strength influences the effectiveness of a product—the ability the product has to produce an intended or desired result. Higher CBD strengths can lead to increased effects.
CBD Oil Strength and Optimal Serving Size
An educated consumer does their research when determining CBD oil strength but they should also think about ideal serving size. The two go hand in hand.
While there are plenty of recommended serving sizes (see our CBD Measurement Guide below), there is no “official” serving size. A specific amount of CBD oil that works well for one person doesn’t necessarily offer the same results for someone else who uses the same amount and strength. So how can you figure out which serving size is best for you and your loved ones? Factors such as metabolism, sex, height and weight can impact the way each individual reacts to a certain serving of CBD.
For long-time CBD users who are suffering from acute pain or anxiety, more is usually better. For generally healthy individuals who are using CBD solely to maintain homeostasis, a small serving size is plenty.
Once you have decided on a brand its wise to begin with, and stick to, one product to start with. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t eventually enjoy everything the market has to offer! It is just easier to gauge dosage and
effectiveness if one product is used at a time. As far as dosage goes, we suggest beginning with a low dosage and slowly increasing as needed. A good guideline is 1 mg of CBD for each 20 lbs. of body weight. In other words, a person who weighs 150 lbs. would start with 7.5 mg and work their way up from there.
We also suggest beginning your CBD journey by taking it at night. Although most CBD enthusiasts do not experience drowsiness, some new users may feel a little tired so night is an ideal time to determine what’s best for you. Remember that while CBD is powerful, it is also non-toxic. There isn’t a need to worry about overdosing while figuring out your perfect strength and dosage.
What Is the Best CBD Oil Strength?
Now that you understand more about CBD oil strength and why it matters, you can figure out the best CBD oil strength to fit your individual needs.
First, it’s important to keep in mind that there are no standard serving sizes for taking CBD, just general guidelines and recommendations. As we mentioned earlier, start low and increase until you get the desired results.
When shopping two things to look for are:
- Bottle size: CBD almost always comes in a 30ml (one ounce) bottle but there are smaller and larger bottles. Check before purchasing!
- Amount of CBD contained in the bottle: This will usually be listed in milligrams. We sell bottles containing 225mg, 450mg, 900mg and 1350 mg.
Here is a guide to illustrate how much CBD is in each one mL dropperful (that’s a standard dropper size) according to strength.
Now we’ll use a couple different examples to gain a better understanding.
Let’s first use our lowest strength oil containing 225mg CBD oil as an example. The bottle is 30ml, meaning each 1ml dropper contains 7.5mg of CBD. If you were just starting out with CBD, this might be a good option for you.
It follows that someone who already uses CBD and has determined that a larger serving size is best for them might purchase a higher strength oil. Our most powerful oil contains 1350mg of CBD. The bottle is 30ml, meaning each 1ml dropper contains 45mg of CBD. In this case, taking two 1ml droppers would provide 90mg of CBD, which could be considered a “high” strength of CBD oil. One dropperful would satisfy those looking for a medium strength.
One last thing to keep in mind is cost. More potent CBD oil is more expensive than a lower strength oil but can be more cost efficient in the long run. This depends on all of the factors mentioned above and, over time, you’ll figure out your sweet spot.
How Much CBD Should I Give My Pet? And Which Strength?
To determine what each dog’s dosage size should be you first start with your their body weight. We recommend administering 1-2mg of CBD for each 10 pounds of body weight, starting on the lower end and working up to a daily dose over time.* From there you must determine how much CBD is in each serving of the product you 
choose. Our Purelix Wellness Pet Tinctures come in four strengths – 225mg, 450mg, 900mg and 1350mg of broad spectrum CBD contained in one ounce bottles.
It isn’t actually necessary to calculate each exact dosage for your pet if you’re using a trusted brand with clear and concise labeling. Most all follow the “1-2mg per 10 lbs.” formula for animals and have the recommendations right there on the packaging. Remember, broad spectrum oils contain no THC so your pet can’t be harmed if he or she ingests a little more or less than advised. When it comes to pet chews, the dosages are the same but, because the delivery method differs, how MANY chews should be given depends on the strength of the chew. Purelix Wellness Dog Chews contain 2mg of CBD per chew. To make this potentially-confusing topic easier to understand, we’ve put together a handy Dosing Chart.
*Please note: We’ve included “heavy” recommended dosages for those instances where pets are experiencing extreme pain or stress. Remember – they can’t overdose on CBD!
Dosing Chart
| Pet weight | Starting | Medium | Heavy |
| <10 pounds | 1 mg | 2 mg | 3 mg |
| 10-20 pounds | 2 mg | 4 mg | 6 mg |
| 20-30 pounds | 3 mg | 6 mg | 9 mg |
| 30-40 pounds | 4 mg | 8 mg | 12 mg |
| 40-50 pounds | 5 mg | 10 mg | 15 mg |
| 50-60 pounds | 6 mg | 12 mg | 18 mg |
| 60-70 pounds | 7 mg | 14 mg | 21 mg |
| 70-80 pounds | 8 mg | 16 mg | 24 mg |
| 80-90 pounds | 9 mg | 18 mg | 27 mg |
| 100+ pounds | 10 mg | 20 mg | 30 mg |
Final Thoughts About CBD Oil Strength
Most of us like cold hard facts when it comes to medications and, for that reason, we understand if CBD strength and dosage information can be frustrating. It’s not that no one knows, it’s just that, given the nature of how CBD works, the best amounts and strengths truly depend upon each individuals. Please be patient and hang in there because when you determine the perfect amount of CBD for your own personal needs, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.
Still have questions about the best CBD oil strength and dosage? Feel free to comment below or contact us at any time. We’re always here to help!
