Last updated: October 2026
CBD oil is expensive mainly because of what it takes to make it properly and sell it legally in the UK: imported hemp extract, refining to remove THC, independent lab testing of every batch, FSA novel food safety studies, 20% VAT and tight advertising rules. The fair way to compare is cost per mg of CBD, not price per bottle.
Below: the real reasons behind the price, what makes one oil cost five times another, how to work out cost per mg in ten seconds, and when cheap CBD is a warning sign.
8 reasons CBD oil costs what it does
| Cost | Why it adds up |
|---|---|
| 1. Hemp grown abroad | UK hemp licences only allow the seeds and fibre to be used; the flowers and leaves, where CBD is, are controlled. So the extract used in UK products is made from hemp grown overseas and imported. |
| 2. Extraction and refining | Specialist equipment and several refining steps turn raw hemp into a clean extract. See how CBD is extracted. |
| 3. Removing THC | In the UK, a product containing THC is a controlled drug unless it meets strict “exempt product” rules, including no more than 1mg of THC in the whole container. Taking THC out for broad spectrum oil adds another processing step. |
| 4. Lab testing every batch | Independent labs test for CBD content, THC and contaminants. Good brands pay for this on every batch, not once. |
| 5. FSA novel food compliance | CBD sold as food must be linked to an application on the FSA public list, backed by safety and toxicology studies. Those studies are expensive, and the cost is shared across a smaller market than most foods. |
| 6. 20% VAT | Food supplements are standard-rated for VAT, so a fifth of what you pay goes to HMRC. |
| 7. Advertising and payment barriers | Major ad platforms restrict CBD adverts, and many banks and payment providers charge CBD businesses more or won’t work with them. |
| 8. Small batches | CBD is still a niche product, so it doesn’t get the economies of scale of everyday supplements. |
Why prices vary so much between brands
- Strength: a bottle with 3,000mg of CBD should cost more than one with 500mg. Many price comparisons ignore this.
- Type of extract: broad spectrum takes more processing than isolate. See full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate.
- Added ingredients: blends with botanicals such as ashwagandha or passionflower cost more to formulate.
- Testing and compliance: brands that test every batch and are on the FSA public list carry costs that others skip.
- Brand and retail markup: high-street shops and celebrity brands add margin.
How to work out cost per mg
Divide the price by the total mg of CBD in the bottle (not the mg per drop, and not the bottle size in ml).
| Example | Price | CBD in bottle | Cost per mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil A | £30 | 500mg | 6p |
| Oil B | £60 | 1,500mg | 4p |
| Oil C | £15 | “1,000mg hemp” | Can’t tell: may contain little or no CBD |
Illustrative examples only, not real products. Oil B costs twice as much per bottle but is better value. Then check the lab report to make sure the CBD content on the label is real. See how to read a CBD lab report.
When cheap CBD is a red flag
Testing by the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis in 2019 of 30 CBD oils sold in the UK found that 11 contained less than half the CBD on the label, one contained none, and nearly half contained measurable THC. A very low price can be a sign of:
- “Hemp seed oil” sold as CBD oil (hemp seed oil contains no meaningful CBD)
- no recent, batch-specific lab report
- a brand that isn’t on the FSA public list
- vague labelling, such as “1,000mg hemp” instead of mg of CBD
See how to avoid CBD scams and how to choose a CBD oil in the UK.
How to pay less without buying worse
- Buy a higher strength: the cost per mg usually drops as the strength goes up, and you take fewer drops.
- Subscribe: if you use CBD daily, a subscription is usually cheaper than one-off orders. See Subscribe and Save.
- Bundle: buying two or more products together usually costs less. See our bundles.
- Find your dose: start low and increase slowly, rather than taking more than you need. See how much CBD to take.
- Try a smaller oil first: our Evolabs flavoured oils are a lower-cost way to start, and they’re broad spectrum too.
FAQs
Why is CBD so expensive in the UK?
Imported hemp extract, refining to remove THC, batch lab testing, FSA novel food studies, 20% VAT and restrictions on advertising and payments all add to the cost.
Is expensive CBD oil better?
Not always. Compare cost per mg of CBD and check for a recent batch lab report and FSA public list status. A high price alone isn’t proof of quality.
How much should CBD oil cost?
Work out the cost per mg: divide the price by the total mg of CBD in the bottle. Then compare oils of the same type, such as broad spectrum with broad spectrum.
Is cheap CBD oil safe?
It can be, but very cheap oils are more likely to be mislabelled or untested. Check the lab report and the FSA public list before you buy.
Is hemp seed oil the same as CBD oil?
No. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds and contains no meaningful CBD. CBD oil is made from the flowers and leaves.
Sources
- Home Office. Drug licensing factsheet: cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids.
- Home Office. Industrial hemp licensing factsheet.
- Food Standards Agency. Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance for businesses.
- HMRC. Food products and VAT (Notice 701/14).
- National Health Executive. Centre for Medicinal Cannabis testing of UK CBD products, 2019.
