CBD strength explained — 300 mg vs 1000 mg vs 2500 mg
Every CBD bottle lists a mg number on the front. Here's what those numbers actually mean, how much CBD is in each drop, and how to pick a sensible strength.
Bottle strength is the most common source of confusion on a CBD shelf. A 300 mg bottle isn't "weaker" in the medicinal sense — it has less total CBD distributed across the same volume. The per-drop amount is what actually drives your dose. This article explains how the numbers translate into practical usage and what strength makes sense for your situation.
The maths
A standard 30 ml dropper bottle holds approximately 600 drops (~0.05 ml per drop). If the bottle says 300 mg of CBD, each drop carries about 0.5 mg. A 1000 mg bottle gives ~1.67 mg per drop. A 2500 mg bottle gives ~4.17 mg per drop. The ratio matters because titration is measured in milligrams, not drops.
Which strength for which user?
- 300 mg (low) — first-time users exploring whether CBD fits their routine. Low cost-of-entry, slower to find the right dose because each drop is small.
- 500 mg (low-mid) — the practical default for most new-to-CBD customers. Enough headroom for modest dose increases without buying a second bottle.
- 1000 mg (mid) — experienced users, or anyone needing 20+ mg per day. Best cost-per-mg in the wellness tier.
- 2500 mg (high) — established daily users with a known stable dose. Overkill for exploration; the per-drop amount is hard to fine-tune at low target doses.
Cost-per-mg — the real comparison
Strength appears higher-priced at first glance but is usually cheaper per mg. A 2500 mg bottle at R1,200 works out to R0.48 per mg. A 300 mg bottle at R250 works out to R0.83 per mg. Once you know your stable daily dose, step up to the larger bottle — you'll stretch your spend significantly.
Schedule-0 limits
South Africa's Schedule-0 carve-out (Gazette 43347) caps consumer CBD at 600 mg per pack and 20 mg per daily dose. Larger bottles or higher daily doses fall into scheduled-medicine territory and require a different pathway. Detail in our Schedule-0 explainer.
Still not sure?
Use the personalised CBD dosage calculator to get a starting dose based on your body weight and goal, then read our dosing guide for how to titrate safely.
Browse the full CBD category to see what strength is in stock.