Most adults start at 15–25 mg of CBD per day — roughly 10–20 mg if you're under 130 lb, 25–40 mg if you're 130–200 lb, and 40–60 mg if you're over 200 lb. That daily dose costs about 9–15 cents when you buy CBD as a concentrate (~$0.006/mg) versus $1.50–$3.75 at typical store prices. Start at the low end of your range, stay there about a week, then increase by 5 mg every few days until you find what works — and check mg per ml so you know exactly what one dropper delivers.
How to read your tincture
Your tincture's strength is measured in milligrams per milliliter (mg/ml). A 500 mg/oz tincture has about 16.7 mg per ml, and one full dropper is usually 1 ml. So one dropper ≈ 16–17 mg.
Formula: total mg ÷ total ml = mg per ml. A 2 oz (60 ml) bottle with 1,000 mg total = 1,000 ÷ 60 ≈ 16.7 mg/ml.
A general starting reference
These are common starting points for daily use, not medical advice:
| Body weight | Gentle start | Typical daily | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 130 lb | 10 mg | 15–25 mg | 30 mg |
| 130–200 lb | 15 mg | 25–40 mg | 50 mg |
| Over 200 lb | 20 mg | 40–60 mg | 75 mg |
How to find your dose
- Start at the low end of your weight range for a week.
- Track how you feel. Note the dose, time, and result.
- Increase by 5 mg every few days until you find your sweet spot.
- Split the day. Most people split their total into a morning and evening dose.
For pets: dosing is strictly by body weight and product. Always consult your veterinarian before giving any product to an animal.
Consistency beats size
CBD works best with steady, daily use at a consistent dose. A smaller daily dose taken consistently tends to beat a big occasional dose.