How do you calculate edible dosage?

Multiply the grams of cannabis by the THC percentage, multiply by 1000 to convert to milligrams, multiply by the decarboxylation efficiency factor (typically 0.90 for oven), then divide by the number of servings. Formula: (grams x THC% x 1000 x efficiency) / servings = mg THC per serving.

What is a safe dosage for cannabis edibles?

Beginners should start with 2.5-5mg THC per serving. Regular users typically consume 10-25mg. Always start low and wait at least 2 hours before consuming more.

How long do edibles take to kick in?

Cannabis edibles typically take 30 minutes to 2 hours to take effect, depending on metabolism, whether you've eaten, and the type of edible. Effects can last 4-8 hours.

What is decarboxylation and why does it matter?

Decarboxylation is the process of heating cannabis to activate THC and CBD. Raw cannabis contains THCA, which must be converted to THC through heat. Without decarbing, edibles will have little to no psychoactive effect. Different methods have different efficiency rates: oven (90%), sous vide (95%), Instant Pot (92%), and Ardent FX (98%).

How many mg of THC should be in each gummy?

Most homemade gummies are dosed at 5-10mg THC each, which suits beginners and regular users alike. To hit an exact number, divide your total activated THC by the number of gummies your mold makes: (grams x THC% / 100 x 1000 x decarb efficiency) / gummy count = mg per gummy. Example: 3.5g of 20% THC flower oven-decarbed (90%) into a 60-cavity mold = 10.5mg THC per gummy.

What is the formula for edible dosage?

The standard formula is: (grams of cannabis x THC percentage / 100 x 1000 x decarboxylation efficiency) / number of servings = milligrams of THC per serving. The decarb efficiency varies by method: oven 90%, sous vide 95%, Instant Pot 92%, Ardent 98%, air fryer 88%.

How much cannabis do I need for 10mg edibles?

It depends on your strain's THC percentage. For 20% THC flower decarbed in an oven (90% efficiency): to make 12 servings at 10mg each, you need about 0.67 grams. Use our calculator above to find the exact amount for your specific strain and method.

Does decarboxylation method affect edible potency?

Yes, significantly. The Ardent FX/NOVA achieves 98% efficiency, sous vide reaches 95%, Instant Pot gets 92%, oven achieves 90%, and air fryer reaches 88%. Choosing a more efficient method means more THC makes it into your final product.

Cannabis Edible Dosage Calculator

This free cannabis dosage calculator for edibles estimates THC and CBD milligrams per serving. Works with flower, concentrates, and pre-activated products.

Simple Mode Advanced Mode

Two-step: Calculate infusion potency, then recipe portions

Step 1: 🧪 Craft Your Infusion

Calculate how potent your infused butter/oil will be

Complete Step 1 to unlock Step 2

How to Use This Edible Dosage Calculator

The calculator above turns the cannabis on your dispensary label into a precise milligrams-of-THC-per-serving figure, so every gummy, brownie, or spoonful of butter is dosed the same. There are two modes:

Simple Mode — enter the amount of cannabis, its THC% (and CBD% if you have it), your decarboxylation method, and how many servings you'll make. You get mg THC and CBD per serving instantly.
Advanced Mode — a two-step infusion workflow: first calculate the potency of your cannabutter or oil per teaspoon, then portion that infusion across a recipe to get mg per piece. Use this when a recipe only uses part of your infused butter or oil.

Every result already accounts for decarboxylation loss — the biggest reason homemade edibles come out weaker or stronger than expected. Pick the method you actually used and the math adjusts automatically. The figures are estimates: flower potency varies and home decarb is never perfectly consistent, so always confirm with a low test dose.

Cannabis Edible Dosage Chart

Use this THC dosage chart as a reference when calculating your edible servings. Individual tolerance varies — always start at the lowest effective dose.

Dose Range	Level	Typical Effects	Best For
1–2.5mg	Micro-dose	Subtle relief, mild mood lift, minimal impairment	Beginners, microdosing, daytime use
2.5–5mg	Low	Mild relaxation, light euphoria	New users, low tolerance, social settings
5–15mg	Moderate	Noticeable euphoria, pain relief, impaired coordination	Occasional users, standard recreational dose
15–30mg	Strong	Intense psychoactive effects, strong body sensation	Experienced users with established tolerance
30–50mg	Very Strong	Powerful effects, significant impairment	High-tolerance users only
50mg+	Extreme	Overwhelming for most users, risk of adverse effects	Medical patients with very high tolerance

How to Calculate Edible Dosage

Understanding the dosage formula helps you create consistently dosed cannabis edibles every time.

The Dosage Formula

(grams of cannabis × THC% ÷ 100 × 1000 × decarb efficiency) ÷ servings = mg THC per serving

Example: 3.5g of flower at 20% THC, decarbed in the oven (90% efficiency), divided into 12 brownies:
(3.5 × 0.20 × 1000 × 0.90) ÷ 12 = 52.5mg per brownie

Decarboxylation Efficiency by Method

Decarboxylation activates THC and CBD by converting their acid forms (THCA/CBDA) through heat. Each method has a different efficiency rate, which directly affects your edible's potency. For a deep dive, see our Decarboxylation Guide.

Method	Efficiency	Temperature	Time	Notes
Oven	90%	240°F	40 min	Most common home method
Sous Vide	95%	203°F	90 min	Precise temperature control, minimal smell
Instant Pot	92%	High pressure	40 min	Quick and discreet
Ardent FX/NOVA	98%	Automatic	~2 hrs	Set and forget, highest efficiency
Air Fryer	88%	240°F	25 min	Fast but less consistent
Pre-Activated	100%	N/A	N/A	Distillate, RSO, or already decarbed products

Cannabis Infusion Potency Guide

When making cannabutter or infused oil, the ratio of cannabis to medium determines potency. Use our Advanced Mode above to calculate exact potency per teaspoon, or try the dedicated cannabutter calculator for butter-specific ratios and the cannabis oil calculator for flower-to-oil ratios.

Ratio	Strength	Cannabis	Medium	Approx. THC/tsp*
Mild	Low dose	3.5g (⅛ oz)	1 cup butter/oil	~13mg
Standard	Medium dose	7g (¼ oz)	1 cup butter/oil	~26mg
Strong	High dose	14g (½ oz)	1 cup butter/oil	~53mg

*Based on 20% THC flower, oven decarb (90% efficiency), 1 cup = 48 tsp

Dosage Guidelines by Experience Level

Beginners (1–5mg THC)

Start with 2.5mg and wait at least 2 hours before taking more. Ideal edibles for first-timers include precisely dosed gummies where you can control each piece. For even lower doses, explore our Micro-Dosing Guide.

Intermediate (5–15mg THC)

The standard recreational range for occasional users. Most commercial edibles are dosed at 5–10mg per piece. Good for social settings and relaxation. See our Beginner's Guide to Edibles for recipes in this range.

Experienced (15–30mg+ THC)

For users with established tolerance. Calculate precisely using the tool above — at these doses, small measurement errors can significantly affect the experience. Always label your edibles with the mg per serving.

Edible Dosage by Body Weight & Tolerance

There is no exact dose-per-pound formula for edibles — tolerance, metabolism, and whether you have eaten matter more than body weight alone. But weight is a reasonable anchor for a first dose. Treat the chart below as a conservative starting range, then adjust based on how that first dose felt.

Body Weight	No / Low Tolerance	Moderate Tolerance	High Tolerance
Under 130 lb (59 kg)	2–3mg	5–10mg	15–25mg
130–180 lb (59–82 kg)	2.5–5mg	10–15mg	20–30mg
Over 180 lb (82 kg)	5mg	10–20mg	25–40mg+

When in doubt, take less — you can always eat more in two hours, but you cannot un-eat an edible. New to edibles? Start at the bottom of the range regardless of weight and read our Micro-Dosing Guide.

How Much Cannabis Do I Need?

Working backward from a target dose is just as useful as working forward. To find the grams of flower a batch needs, rearrange the formula:

grams = (target mg per serving × servings) ÷ (THC% ÷ 100 × 1000 × decarb efficiency)

Example: 12 gummies at 10mg each, from 20% THC flower, oven-decarbed (90%):
(10 × 12) ÷ (0.20 × 1000 × 0.90) = 120 ÷ 180 = 0.67 g of flower

The calculator above handles this for you, but the formula is handy when you are deciding how much flower to buy for a planned batch.

Calculating CBD Dosage and THC:CBD Ratios

CBD is calculated exactly like THC — enter the CBD% from your label and the calculator returns CBD mg per serving alongside THC. CBD will not get you high, but it shapes the experience: higher-CBD ratios tend to feel more balanced and less anxious.

1:1 (THC:CBD) — balanced and gentle; a common choice for anxiety and first-timers.
2:1 or 4:1 — mild CBD softening with a clear THC effect.
1:2 or more CBD-dominant — minimal high, often used for daytime relief.

To hit a specific ratio, choose a strain or combine flower and distillate so the THC% and CBD% you enter reflect the final blend.

Grams, Ounces, and Milligrams

The calculator accepts cannabis in grams or ounces and always reports dose in milligrams (mg). Quick conversions: 1 oz = 28 g, ½ oz = 14 g, ¼ oz = 7 g, ⅛ oz = 3.5 g. One cup of butter or oil = 48 teaspoons = 16 tablespoons, which is how per-teaspoon potency becomes a per-serving dose in the Advanced infusion workflow.

Safety Guidelines

Start Low, Go Slow: Beginners should start with 2-5mg THC
Wait Time: Effects take 30-120 minutes. Don't redose too quickly!
Duration: Edibles last 4-8 hours, much longer than smoking
Metabolism Matters: Individual effects vary based on weight, tolerance, and metabolism
Stay Safe: Never drive while impaired. Store edibles securely away from children and pets.

Read our Community Guidelines

Cannabis Edibles Guides

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Gear for this method: Ardent FX Anova Precision Cooker ThermoPro Digital Thermometer AWS Digital Scale (0.01g) all equipment

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