CBD oil dosage: how many mg per drop? (all strengths)

To find the CBD in one drop, divide the CBD per ml by the drops per ml. Our classic 10 ml oils hold about 250 drops (25 per ml), so one drop of 5% oil holds 2 mg of CBD and one drop of 30% oil holds 12 mg. Start with the smallest amount on the label; our oils are cosmetics for use on the skin.

This guide gives the numbers for every Formula Swiss oil on this store and explains why two labels with the same percentage can hold different amounts of CBD. On this store, our oils are sold as cosmetic oils for use on the skin. Always follow the directions on your bottle.

How much CBD is in one drop of CBD oil?

Use this formula:

mg of CBD per drop = mg of CBD per ml ÷ drops per ml

You need two numbers. The CBD per ml comes from the label. The drops per ml depend on the dropper. Our product pages state that a classic 10 ml bottle holds about 250 drops. That is 25 drops per ml, or 0.04 ml per drop.

For our 30 ml oils, the dropper gives 20–30 drops per ml (Formula Swiss measurement of our 30 ml dropper). The per-ml figure is exact, so the per-drop figure is shown as a range.

If you need an exact amount, use the ml marks rather than counting drops. The pipette on our classic oils has a dosing scale printed on it. At 50 mg per ml (5%), 0.2 ml holds 10 mg of CBD, whatever the drop size.

What does the percentage on a CBD oil mean?

On our labels, the percentage shows how much CBD is in each ml of oil. Each 1% equals 10 mg per ml. Multiply by the bottle volume to get the total:

• 5% in a 10 ml bottle: 50 mg/ml × 10 ml = 500 mg of CBD
• 20% in a 10 ml bottle: 200 mg/ml × 10 ml = 2,000 mg
• 18.3% total cannabinoids in a 30 ml bottle: 183 mg/ml × 30 ml = 5,490 mg, the figure on the Zermatt Balance product page

A higher percentage means more CBD in each drop. A bigger bottle means more drops. The two are separate. A 20% oil is not "stronger" in any other sense: one drop simply holds four times as much CBD as one drop of a 5% oil.

If a label gives only the total in mg, work backwards. Divide the total by the bottle volume to get the mg per ml, then divide by 10 to get the percentage. For example, 1,500 mg in a 30 ml bottle is 50 mg per ml, which is the same as a 5% oil. 1,500 mg in a 10 ml bottle is 150 mg per ml, or 15%. The two bottles hold the same total, but each ml of the smaller one holds three times as much CBD, and so does each drop if the droppers are the same.

How many mg per drop? Our classic 10 ml oils

These figures apply to every classic carrier and flavour: MCT Natural, MCT Orange, MCT Vanilla, MCT Strawberry, olive oil, hemp seed oil and RAW, in both the full-spectrum and the THC-free versions. The 5% to 30% values match the per-drop figures on the product pages. The 3% value is worked out the same way (300 mg ÷ 250 drops).

Not every strength is in stock for every carrier and spectrum at all times. The product page shows what is available.

How many mg per drop? Our 30 ml oils

Each of the four 30 ml oils lists two figures: its CBD percentage and its total cannabinoid content. Total cannabinoids include CBD plus CBG, CBDA, CBC or CBN, depending on the formula. The figures below come from each product page. The CBD per bottle uses the same "1% = 10 mg per ml" rule the pages use for their totals.

At 20 drops per ml each drop is bigger, so it holds more CBD. At 30 drops per ml each drop is smaller. The table shows both ends of that range.

The 30 ml product pages say to use the oils as directed on the label, so the label is the reference for how many drops to apply. You can compare all four formulas on our Choose your CBD oil page.

Pet oils and CBN oil

Pet oils are applied to the animal's skin as the label directs; see CBD for dogs and CBD for cats.

How much CBD oil should I use?

On this store our oils are cosmetic oils for use on the skin, so the answer is on the label. On our classic oils, the label says to apply two to three drops to the skin, two to three times a day. Start with the smallest amount the label allows, and change one thing at a time:

1. Choose a lower strength first. A 3% or 5% oil gives smaller steps between drops (1.2 or 2 mg) than a 30% oil (12 mg).
2. Begin at the low end of the directions. Use two drops, not three, once or twice a day rather than three times.
3. Keep the same routine for about a week before you change anything, so you can see how your skin responds.
4. Increase one step at a time and stay within the label directions. Stop if you notice irritation.
5. Write it down. Note the strength, drops and times of day. It makes each change easier to judge, and it helps if you talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

A common mix-up starts with the label, not the oil. "20%" on one bottle and "2,000 mg" on another can describe the same 10 ml oil. Check the mg per drop first. If you use more than one CBD product, add up the CBD from each of them.

How do the drops compare with the regulators' figures?

EFSA's provisional safe level for CBD in food supplements (2026) is about 2 mg a day for a 70 kg adult, and the UK FSA advises healthy adults to have no more than 10 mg a day from food. Both apply to CBD that is eaten as food or a food supplement. Neither sets a limit for cosmetic oils used on the skin. We include them because people often quote them when they talk about "CBD dosage". What EFSA and the FSA say, and who they exclude.

Does body weight change the amount?

For cosmetic oils used on the skin, the label gives the amount, whatever your weight. Many "mg per kg" dosage charts online, often in pounds, are not based on a regulatory figure or a published study, so this guide does not give a weight-based drop chart. If weight matters for your situation, ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Why do CBD labels differ between brands?

Two bottles that both say "10%" can hold different amounts of CBD. These are the usual reasons:

• Percentage versus milligrams. Some brands print the percentage, others the total mg, others both.
• Bottle size. 10% in 10 ml is 1,000 mg. 10% in 30 ml is 3,000 mg. The mg per drop is the same.
• CBD versus total cannabinoids. Our 30 ml oils list both. Zermatt Balance is 15% CBD within 18.3% total cannabinoids.
• CBD versus CBD plus CBDA. Some labels add raw CBDA to the CBD figure. On our labels, "5% CBD" means at least 5% cannabidiol (CBD) itself, not 2% CBD plus 3% CBDA (see quality control).
• Drop size. Many websites assume 20 drops per ml. Our classic bottles give about 25 drops per ml and our 30 ml dropper 20–30. Droppers from other brands vary too, which changes the mg per drop even for the same oil.
• Declared versus measured. Published analyses of European CBD oils have found that the measured CBD can differ from the label (Pavlovic et al., 2018). That is why it pays to buy from a producer that tests every batch and publishes the certificate of analysis, and to choose a THC-free oil if you need zero THC.

To read any CBD oil label in three steps:

1. Find the CBD figure. Check that it is CBD, not total cannabinoids or CBD plus CBDA.
2. Turn it into mg per ml. Multiply the percentage by 10 (on labels that use 1% = 10 mg per ml), or divide the total mg by the bottle volume.
3. Divide by the drops per ml. Use the figure for that brand's dropper. If there is none, use the ml marks on the pipette instead of counting drops.

Our labels print the CBD and THC content to two decimal places, with the batch number. Every production batch is tested, and you can compare your bottle with the certificates on our test results page. Our production has been certified to GMP and ISO 22716 since January 2020 (details).

When should you talk to a doctor first?

• If you take any medication. EFSA and the FSA both say the safety of CBD for people on medication has not been established, and EFSA notes that liver effects were seen particularly when CBD was combined with medicines. See CBD and medication.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.
• For children and teenagers (see Is CBD oil safe for children?).
• If you have liver problems.
• If you are tested for drugs at work or in sport (see Will CBD show up on a drug test?). In that case, consider our THC-free versions.

For possible reactions, see CBD side effects. If you are reading about CBD for rest and bedtime routines, see CBD oil and sleep.

Compare strengths, carriers and THC-free versions in our CBD oil collection.