Last updated: October 2026
CBD oil strength is the total amount of CBD in the bottle, shown in mg or as a percentage. A 10ml bottle with 500mg is 5% and gives about 2.5mg per drop; 1,000mg is 10% and about 5mg per drop. The same mg in a bigger bottle is weaker per drop. A stronger oil just means fewer drops.
Below: how to read mg and % labels, a strength chart, which strength to start with, how bottle size changes things, and what “strongest” really means.
Reading the label: mg vs %
- mg is the total CBD in the whole bottle, for example 1,000mg.
- % is CBD as a share of the liquid: 1,000mg in 10ml (roughly 10,000mg of oil) is about 10%.
- Per drop: a dropper releases roughly 20 drops per ml, so mg per ml divided by 20 gives mg per drop.
- Watch for “hemp” mg: “1,000mg hemp” or “hemp extract” isn’t the same as 1,000mg of CBD. Check the lab report.
Quick formula: total mg ÷ ml ÷ 20 = mg per drop. For 1,000mg in 10ml: 1,000 ÷ 10 ÷ 20 = 5mg per drop.
CBD oil strength chart
| Oil | Strength | CBD per drop | Drops for about 10mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broad Spectrum, Flow, Sleep or Relief (10ml) | 500mg (5%) | about 2.5mg | 4 |
| Broad Spectrum, Flow, Sleep or Relief (10ml) | 1,000mg (10%) | about 5mg | 2 |
| Broad Spectrum (10ml) | 2,000mg (20%) | about 10mg | 1 |
| Evolabs flavoured oils (30ml) | 500mg (1.67%) | about 0.8mg | 12 |
| Evolabs flavoured oils (30ml) | 1,000mg (3.33%) | about 1.7mg | 6 |
| Evolabs flavoured oils (30ml) | 2,000mg (6.67%) | about 3.3mg | 3 |
Drop sizes vary a little between droppers, so these are approximate. See how much CBD to take for the full dosing guide, how to take CBD oil for the drops technique, and what CBD oil tastes like if you are choosing between plain and flavoured oils.
Why bottle size matters
A 1,000mg oil in a 30ml bottle is a third as strong per drop as 1,000mg in 10ml. Neither is “better”: the 30ml bottle needs more drops for the same dose but lets you adjust in smaller steps, which some beginners prefer. Always compare mg per ml, or mg per drop, not just the number on the front.
Which strength should I choose?
| If you… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Are new to CBD and want small steps | A 5% oil, or a 30ml flavoured oil |
| Know you take around 10 to 20mg a day | A 10% oil, so it’s 2 to 4 drops |
| Take larger amounts and want fewer drops | A 20% oil |
| Want an exact amount with no taste | Capsules. See CBD oil vs capsules |
Whatever the strength, start low, around 10mg a day. The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
500mg vs 1,000mg: what’s the difference?
In the same size bottle, 1,000mg has twice as much CBD per drop, so you need half as many drops and the bottle lasts twice as long at the same daily dose. It doesn’t work “twice as well”: the effect depends on how many mg you take, not the bottle strength. Higher strengths usually cost less per mg. See why CBD oil costs what it does.
Is 1,000mg of CBD too much?
No, because 1,000mg is the total in the bottle, not a dose. You take a few drops at a time. A 10ml 1,000mg bottle holds about 200 drops of 5mg each, so at 10mg a day it lasts about 100 days.
| Bottle (10ml) | Drops in the bottle | Days at 10mg a day |
|---|---|---|
| 500mg (5%) | About 200 at 2.5mg | About 50 |
| 1,000mg (10%) | About 200 at 5mg | About 100 |
| 2,000mg (20%) | About 200 at 10mg | About 200 |
The figure that matters for safety is how much you take each day. The FSA’s advice, based on its scientific committees’ provisional acceptable daily intake, is that healthy adults have no more than 10mg of CBD a day. See the CBD daily limit in the UK.
What strength CBD oil for sleep, anxiety or pain?
There’s no proven “right” strength for any condition, and CBD isn’t a treatment for sleep problems, anxiety or pain. Strength only changes how many drops you need. Most people choose by how they like to take it:
- Want small, gradual steps? A 5% oil.
- Settled on a routine and want fewer drops? A 10% oil.
- Want the fewest drops and the best value per mg? A 20% oil.
For what the research says on each, see best CBD oil for sleep, best CBD oil for anxiety and best CBD oil for pain.
Strength in capsules, gummies and creams
| Format | How strength is shown | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Capsules | mg per capsule, for example 10mg or 25mg | The easiest to dose exactly. See best CBD capsules UK |
| Gummies | mg per gummy and per pack | A “1,000mg” tub is the whole tub, not one gummy. See CBD oil vs gummies |
| Balms and creams | mg in the whole jar | Used on the skin, so it isn’t comparable with oil. See CBD balm |
How CBD strength is measured
Labs measure CBD with a test called high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which reports each cannabinoid in mg per ml or as a percentage. A good certificate of analysis shows the CBD result for your batch and THC as “not detected”. The result should be close to the label: when the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis tested 29 UK CBD oils in 2019, only 11 were within 10% of the strength on the bottle. See how to read a CBD lab report and CBD statistics UK.
What’s the strongest CBD oil?
Some brands sell 30% or even 40% oils. A higher percentage isn’t more effective, just more concentrated, and very strong oils make it easy to take more than you intend from one drop. Whatever the label says, check the batch lab report confirms the CBD content and that THC is not detected. See how to read a lab report and full spectrum vs broad spectrum.
See also best CBD oil UK picks, from 500mg to high strength.
FAQs
What does 500mg CBD oil mean?
The whole bottle contains 500mg of CBD. In a 10ml bottle that’s 5%, or about 2.5mg per drop.
Is 1,000mg CBD oil strong?
In a 10ml bottle it’s 10%, a mid-range strength: about 5mg per drop. In a 30ml bottle it’s about 1.7mg per drop.
What strength CBD oil should a beginner use?
A 5% oil or a 30ml flavoured oil lets you start low and adjust in small steps. Start around 10mg a day.
How do I work out mg per drop?
Divide the total mg by the bottle size in ml, then by 20. For 1,000mg in 10ml: 1,000 ÷ 10 ÷ 20 = 5mg per drop.
Is a stronger CBD oil better?
No, just more concentrated. The effect depends on the mg you take, not the bottle strength.
What does 10% CBD oil mean?
10% of the liquid is CBD: 1,000mg in a 10ml bottle, or about 5mg per drop.
Is 1,000mg of CBD too much?
No. 1,000mg is the total in the bottle, not a dose. In a 10ml bottle that’s about 5mg per drop, and at 10mg a day it lasts around 100 days.
How many drops of 5% CBD oil should I take?
Each drop of a 5% oil has about 2.5mg of CBD, so 4 drops is about 10mg, the FSA’s advised daily amount for healthy adults.
What strength CBD oil is best for sleep or anxiety?
There’s no proven best strength for either. Strength just changes the number of drops. Start around 10mg a day, whatever the strength.
What is the highest strength CBD oil in the UK?
Some brands sell 30% or 40% oils. They aren’t more effective, just more concentrated, so one drop contains more CBD.
Sources
- GOV.UK. FSA consumer advice on CBD.
- Food Standards Agency. Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance for businesses.
- Food Standards Agency. Provisional acceptable daily intake for CBD.
- Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (2019). CBD in the UK: executive summary.
