* For smaller, younger, and older animals, start with a half-dose.

How to use the CBD dosage calculator

The calculator above helps you find the right CBD dosage for yourself or your pet:

• You need to enter the user – is it for human or animal.
• The body weight in lbs or kgs.
• The desired strength of CBD: mild, moderate, or heavy.

This will give you an estimated recommended dosage of CBD. Keep in mind that this calculator is not meant to replace a doctor’s advice and should only be used as a rough starting point for choosing CBD dosages.

*LeafReport does not recommend or endorse any specific products, dosage, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on this website. Reliance on any information provided herein is solely at your own risk. The dosages generated by our calculator are merely estimations based upon external and internal research, surveys and publically available information, and is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. LeafReport does not make any health claims concerning CBD products. Please consult a qualified doctor before consuming CBD or cannabis products. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call the emergency services immediately. Some jurisdictions forbid or restrict the consumption of CBD products. By using our website you represent to be of legal age in your applicable jurisdiction, and that you understand that you are solely responsible for ensuring your compliance with the legal requirements of your jurisdiction.

CBD potency calculator

If you want to understand what amount of CBD from your specific product will lead you to this recommended dosage use our potency calculator:

How to use the CBD potency calculator

If you’re using a CBD oil, vape e-liquid, or beverage:

• Enter the total volume in milliliters (ml) and the total amount of CBD in milligrams (mg).
• If you’re using gummies or capsules, switch to (pcs) and enter the number of pieces per bottle and the total CBD amount.
• The calculator will then show you the potency of the product in either mg per ml or mg per piece and give it a low, moderate, or high strength rank.

CBD Dosage Guide: Figuring Out How Much to Take

There are no set-in-stone dosing guidelines for CBD– those will have to wait for clinical studies.  However, the dosing guidelines given here are commonly used and recommended by physicians who have experience with using CBD. Dosing depends on several factors– including your weight and the severity of any symptoms you are trying to address. 

All the dosages given here can be repeated two to three times a day– for example, using the chart below you can determine the best dose to start with and take that dose up to three times.

Let’s say you weigh about 120 pounds (54 kg) and you have moderate symptoms of joint pain. According to the chart below, you would “start low” with 27-30 mg of CBD and repeat that dose 2-3 times a day.  We recommend that you stick with this for at least 5-7 days and keep track of how you are responding.  If you see an improvement and are satisfied, you now know the dose you need.  If after that period of time you see improvement, but are not satisfied, you can slowly start increasing that dose (by no more than 50% at any time– we recommend increasing as slowly and by about 10-25% at a time).

For Humans

• Mild Symptoms
  • Dose is 0.10 mg/lb. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
  • Dose is 0.22 mg/kg. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
• Moderate Symptoms
  • Dose is 0.25 mg/lb. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
  • Dose is 0.55 mg/kg. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
• Severe Symptoms
  • Dose is 0.35 mg/lb. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
  • Dose is 0.77mg/kg. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing

Large clinical trials to determine CBD dosages for different conditions are still lacking. There have been some studies to suggest that dosages between 15-600mg are effective at treating symptoms ranging from insomnia, pain, and anxiety. Everyone is different and some may respond at a low dose while others may need higher doses. Body weight, metabolism, age, gender, health conditions, and medications can also factor into finding the right CBD dose. 

This chart is designed to provide a starting point. It is best to start low and slow if you are new to CBD and work up to the recommended doses. These doses can be taken 2-3 times a day. Watch for any adverse effects such as diarrhea, fatigue, and appetite changes. If you are taking other medications, please consult with your primary care provider or a knowledgeable CBD clinician before starting a CBD regimen.

Calculations

Total # mg in container -÷Volume of container (in mL) = # mg of CBD in one mL (≡ 1 dropperful)

Dosage you want ÷ mg in one mL= amount (in mL) in the dropper.

Example:

• You have a 60 mL bottle with a total amount of CBD of 3000 mg.  3000÷ 60= 50 mg per dropperful (ml).
• If you weigh 150 lb (68 kg) and have mild symptoms, we suggest starting with 15-17 mg of CBD.
  • 15 ÷50= 0.3 and you will want to measure out about 1/3 of a dropperful (0.3ml)
• If you weigh 150 lb (68 kg) and have moderate symptoms, we suggest a dose of 34-38 mg of CBD
  • 34÷50=0.68 or ~ 7/10ths of a dropperful (0.7ml)
• If you weigh 150 lb (68 kg) and have severe symptoms, we suggest a dose of 51-53 mg of CBD
  • 51÷50= 1.02 or 1 dropperful (1ml)

Note that it can be difficult to determine, for example, ~ 7/10ths of a dropperful.  Remember that there is a range of doses for each weight and each degree of severity so while you should try to be as accurate as possible, a small error should not pose any difficulty or produce adverse effects.

CBD Dosage Chart for Humans by Weight and Strength in Mg

For Dogs and Cats

IMPORTANT!!  Please make certain your CBD oil for your pets—especially your dog(s)—has NO THC!!  THC can cause adverse effects such as stumbling, lethargy, urinary incontinence, vomiting, agitation, and shaking. but at this point, we don’t know exactly how to determine which dog might suffer toxic effects or at which dosage. Cats may experience similar adverse effects as well as slower heart rate and seizures. So—at this point, the safest recommendation is to avoid THC for animals, especially for dogs.

• Mild Symptoms
  • Dose is 0.05mg/lb. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
  • Dose is 0.11 mg/kg. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
• Moderate Symptoms
  • Dose is 0.125 mg/lb. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
  • Dose is 0.28 mg/kg. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
• Severe Symptoms
  • Dose is 0.25 mg/lb. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing
  • Dose is 0.55 mg/kg. Dose may be rounded off to the nearest mg for ease of dosing

Smaller (and both younger and older) dogs and cats may be more sensitive to adverse effects.  Smaller dogs are considered to be less than 21 pounds. Most cats should be about 10 pounds– kittens and cats under 7 pounds would be considered small. Younger animals can be considered less than a year old (for some dogs, less than 2 years old) while the age of senior or older animals depends somewhat on the breed, but any animal over the age of 7-8 years is “getting there”. Ask your vet for clarification about your animal.

We suggest that the safest approach with smaller, younger or older dogs and cats, is to start at 50% of the recommended dose at each level of severity and slowly increase it.  For medium and large cats and dogs, we recommend that you start at the dose listed, but watch carefully for any changes in behavior or symptoms that may be considered an adverse effect. See the examples below. 

Calculations

Total # mg in container ÷Volume of container (in mL) = # mg of CBD in one mL (≡ 1 dropperful)

Dosage you want ÷ mg in one mL= amount (in mL) in the dropper.

Example:

• You have a medium sized dog (weighing between 26-60 pounds) and have a 30 mL bottle with a total amount of CBD of 250 mg.  250÷ 30= 8.33 mg per dropperfu (ml). Your 28-pound dog has “moderate” symptoms of joint pain.
  • From the chart below, you will want to start with 3-6 mg of CBD for a dog.
    • For 3 mg:
      • 3÷8.33mg/dropperful =0.36 of a dropperful or about 1/3rd of a dropperful (0.36ml).
    • For 6 mg:
      • 6÷8.33= 0.7 of a dropperful or about 7/10ths of a dropperful (0.7ml)
  • But YOUR dog weighs 60 pounds! Again, from the chart below, you will want to start with 6-9 mg of CBD:
    • For 6 mg:
      • 6÷8.33= 0.7 of a dropperful or about 7/10ths of a dropperful (0.7ml)
    • For 9 mg:
      • 9÷8.33= 1.08 or just a tiny bit over a dropperful (1.08ml)
• You have a smaller sized dog (weighing 10 pounds) and have a 60 mL bottle with a total amount of CBD of 125 mg.  125÷ 60= about 2 mg per dropperful. Your dog has “severe” symptoms of anxiety.
  • From the chart below, you will want to start with 50% or half of 2.2-2.5 mg.
    • For 2.2 mg:
      • 2.2÷2 mg/dropperful= 1 mL or one dropperful. 
        • Because this example is for a smaller dog, we recommend you start with a half-dose. Half of that would be 0.5 mL or half a dropperful.  In this example, you would watch your smaller dog (or cat) for any signs of adverse reactions for 4-7 days.  If you don’t see any, we suggest you increase the dose to 75% (¾ of a mL ie. ¾ of a dropperful) for another 4-7 days, again, watching for any adverse effects.  If your dog or cat is responding well, but still needs more relief, at that point we suggest you administer the full dropperful.
    • For 2.5 mg:
      • 2.5÷2 mg/dropperful=1.25ml or one dropper full +¼ dropperful.
        • Because this example is for a smaller dog, we recommend you start with a half-dose. Half of that would be 0..625 mL or about 2/3s of a dropperful.  In this example, you would watch your smaller dog (or cat) for any signs of adverse reactions for 4-7 days.  If you don’t see any, we suggest you increase the dose to 75% (0.94 mL or just a bit under a full dropperful) for another 4-7 days, again, watching for any adverse effects.  If your dog or cat is responding well, but still needs more relief, at that point we suggest you administer the full dose or 1.25 (1+ ¼) dropperul.

This chart is designed to provide a starting point. It is best to start low and slow if you are new to CBD and work up to the recommended doses. These doses can be taken 1-2 times a day. Watch for any adverse effects such as lethargy, agitation, and shaking. If your pet is taking other medications, please consult with your veterinarian or a knowledgeable CBD veterinarian before starting a CBD regimen.

CBD Dosage Chart for Dogs and Cats by Weight and Strength in Mg

* Start at the lower dose and increase slowly

Recap

The dosages given here can guide you to finding your best dosing schedule for CBD. Always remember to “start low and go slow”.  For more information, click here.

Also remember to keep track of how you are responding to the CBD– rate your pain on a scale from 1-10 and write down the pain level you are experiencing.  If you are using CBD to help deal with sleep issues– keep track of the number of hours you sleep and if it feels as if the CBD is helping you get better sleep.  If you are using CBD to help deal with anxiety and/or depression, keep track of how you are feeling using that 1-10 scale. 

Finally, remember to be patient!! CBD may not work as quickly as you would like– it may, depending on your situation, but it may take time to see improvement.  Think of it this way– if you have joint pain, sleep issues, are dealing with anxiety or depression or for whatever relief you are looking for– your situation probably developed over at least months and maybe years.  Give CBD a chance to work!!  This is one reason to stick with a dosing schedule for at least 5-7 days– it gives you a good chance to see that it is working OR if you may need to increase slowly. Following these recommendations is the safest approach we know of to maximize the benefits of CBD.

See our CBD Dosage Report

CBD dosage FAQ