Whether you’re crafting your first batch of cannabis-infused brownies or you’ve been making homemade edibles for years, knowing exactly how much THC and CBD is in each serving is the difference between a great experience and an overwhelming one. Our free edible dosage calculator takes the guesswork out of cannabis cooking — whether you need a cannabis dosage calculator for butter, a THC dosage calculator for gummies, or a CBD dosage calculator for hemp infusions, this tool helps you determine homemade edible potency with precision. Just plug in your numbers and let the math do the work.
Edible Dosage Calculator
Enter your cannabis details below to calculate the potency of your infusion and recipes.
| Step 1 — Your Infusion | |
|---|---|
| Cannabis Product How many grams are you using? |
|
| THC Percentage What is the THC% of your cannabis? |
|
| CBD Percentage What is the CBD% of your cannabis? |
|
| Cups of Oil / Fat for Infusion How many cups of butter, coconut oil, etc.? |
|
| Estimated Potency Loss A 30% loss is a reliable estimate for most home decarb and infusion methods — so we’ve set that as the default. If you know your actual efficiency from experience, feel free to adjust it here. |
|
| Your Infusion Results | |
| Total THC in Infusion Milligrams of THC in all your infused oil | 980.00 mg |
| Total CBD in Infusion Milligrams of CBD in all your infused oil | 49.00 mg |
| THC per Teaspoon of Infused Oil How potent is each teaspoon of your oil? | 20.42 mg / tsp |
| THC per Tablespoon of Infused Oil How potent is each tablespoon of your oil? (1 tbsp = 3 tsp) | 61.25 mg / tbsp |
| CBD per Teaspoon of Infused Oil How much CBD is in each teaspoon of your oil? | 1.02 mg / tsp |
| CBD per Tablespoon of Infused Oil How much CBD is in each tablespoon of your oil? (1 tbsp = 3 tsp) | 3.06 mg / tbsp |
| Step 2 — Your Recipe | |
| Enter how much infused oil your recipe uses — choose either teaspoons or tablespoons. Entering a value in one will automatically clear and disable the other. | |
| Teaspoons of Oil in Your Recipe How many teaspoons does your recipe call for? |
|
| Tablespoons of Oil in Your Recipe How many tablespoons does your recipe call for? (1 tbsp = 3 tsp) |
|
| Servings in Your Recipe How many portions does the recipe make? |
|
| Your Recipe Results | |
| Total THC in Recipe Total milligrams of THC from the oil used | 122.50 mg |
| Total CBD in Recipe Total milligrams of CBD from the oil used | 6.13 mg |
| THC per Serving How much THC is in each individual portion? | 10.21 mg / serving |
| CBD per Serving How much CBD is in each individual portion? | 0.51 mg / serving |
Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates. Actual potency varies based on strain, growing conditions, decarboxylation method, and infusion technique. Always start with a small dose and wait at least 2 hours before consuming more.
How to Use the Edible Dosage Calculator
This edible dosage calculator works in two steps that mirror the actual process of making infused edibles at home.
Step 1 — Calculate Your Infusion Potency
Start by entering details about your cannabis and how much oil or fat you’re infusing it into:
- Cannabis in grams — The total weight of flower, trim, or concentrate you’re using.
- THC % — Found on your product’s lab report or packaging. If you’re unsure, a safe assumption for most mid-shelf flower is 18–22%.
- CBD % — Enter 0 if your strain is THC-dominant and you have no CBD data.
- Cups of oil or fat — The total volume of butter, coconut oil, olive oil, or other carrier fat you’re infusing.
The cannabis dosage calculator will instantly show you the total milligrams of THC and CBD in your entire batch of infused oil, plus the potency per teaspoon and per tablespoon. These are the numbers you carry forward into every recipe you make with that oil.
Step 2 — Calculate Potency Per Serving
Once you know your oil’s potency, enter the amount of infused oil your recipe calls for (in teaspoons or tablespoons) and the number of servings it makes. The THC dosage calculator output will tell you exactly how many milligrams of THC and CBD end up in each individual portion.
Before You Calculate: Understanding Decarboxylation
There’s a critical step that comes before any infusion — one that most beginners miss — and it has a big impact on your edible dosage calculator results: decarboxylation.
Raw cannabis doesn’t actually contain much THC. It contains THCA — the non-psychoactive acid precursor to THC. To convert THCA into active THC, you need to apply heat over time. This process is called decarboxylation (or “decarbing”), and without it, your edibles will have a fraction of the potency you’re expecting. The same applies to your CBD dosage calculator results — CBDA in raw cannabis must also be decarboxylated before it becomes active CBD.
The good news: decarboxylation is simple. Spread your ground cannabis on a baking sheet, cover it with foil, and bake at 240°F (115°C) for 40 minutes. Let it cool before adding it to your infusion. That’s it — your THCA has now been converted to THC, and your THC dosage calculator results will be accurate.
Important: Our edible dosage calculator assumes you have properly decarboxylated your cannabis before infusing. If you skip this step, expect your actual potency to be significantly lower than what the calculator shows. Without proper decarbing, you cannot reliably determine homemade edible potency from any formula.
Choosing Your Infusion Base: How Different Fats Affect Potency
THC and CBD are fat-soluble compounds — they bind to fat molecules during the infusion process. The type of fat you choose affects both how well the cannabinoids are extracted and how accurately you can determine homemade edible potency. Whether you’re running a cannabis dosage calculator for butter or oil, here’s what you need to know about the most popular infusion bases:
Coconut Oil
The most popular choice among home cannabis cooks, and for good reason. Coconut oil has one of the highest saturated fat contents of any plant-based oil (~90%), which means it bonds exceptionally well with cannabinoids. It’s neutral enough to work in baked goods, savory dishes, and capsules, and it stays solid at room temperature — making it easy to use with any cannabis dosage calculator to dose precisely. It’s the top choice for anyone looking to determine homemade edible potency consistently batch after batch.
Unsalted Butter (Cannabutter)
The classic. Butter produces rich, flavourful edibles and works in virtually any baked recipe. The fat content (~80%) is slightly lower than coconut oil, but still highly effective for extraction. Clarified butter (ghee) performs even better because removing the milk solids gives you a purer fat with more room for cannabinoids. Our edible dosage calculator treats all butter-based infusions the same way — enter your cups of butter just as you would any other fat.
Olive Oil
A great option for savoury applications like salad dressings, pasta dishes, and dips. Extra virgin olive oil has a lower saturated fat content than coconut oil or butter, so extraction efficiency is slightly lower — but it’s still highly effective, and the flavour profile it adds to food is hard to beat. Our THC dosage calculator and CBD dosage calculator treat olive oil identically to other fats, so the math is exactly the same.
MCT Oil
Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil — usually derived from coconut oil — is the go-to choice for tinctures and sublingual drops. It’s liquid at room temperature, flavourless, and absorbs quickly. Because MCT is almost pure saturated fat, it’s extremely efficient at cannabinoid extraction. If you’re making infused drinks, capsules, or dropper bottles, MCT oil is your best option. Use our CBD dosage calculator settings to measure CBD content per drop when working with MCT tinctures.
Edibles Dosage Guide: Finding the Right THC Amount for You
Understanding the milligram output from our edible dosage calculator is only useful if you know what those numbers mean in practice. Whether you’re using a cannabis dosage calculator for a mild beginner batch or a high-tolerance recipe, here’s a straightforward dosage chart based on experience level — use it alongside your THC dosage calculator results to dial in the right serving size.
| Experience Level | THC Per Serving | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| First Timer | 1 – 2.5 mg | Barely perceptible effects. Ideal for gauging sensitivity before going higher. |
| Beginner | 2.5 – 5 mg | Mild relaxation, light mood lift. The recommended starting dose for most new users. |
| Casual User | 5 – 10 mg | Noticeable psychoactive effects. This is the standard dose in most legal market edibles. |
| Regular User | 10 – 25 mg | Strong effects. Suitable for those with an established tolerance. |
| High Tolerance | 25 – 50 mg | Very strong effects. Not recommended without significant prior experience. |
| Experienced / Medical | 50 mg+ | Intense, long-lasting effects. For experienced consumers only. |
Remember: these are general guidelines. Body weight, metabolism, prior cannabis experience, whether you’ve eaten recently, and even your gut microbiome all influence how you respond to edibles. The only reliable rule is start low, wait at least two hours, and increase your dose gradually over multiple sessions.
Why Edibles Feel Stronger Than Smoking or Vaping
If you’ve ever been caught off guard by the intensity of a homemade edible, there’s a scientific reason for it — and understanding it will make you a smarter cannabis cook.
When you inhale cannabis, THC travels directly from your lungs into your bloodstream and reaches your brain within minutes. When you eat cannabis, THC is absorbed through your digestive system and processed by your liver before it ever reaches your brain. During that liver conversion, THC is transformed into 11-hydroxy-THC — a metabolite that is significantly more potent and crosses the blood-brain barrier more effectively than THC itself. This is why your edible dosage calculator result — even a modest 10 mg serving — can represent a much stronger experience than the equivalent inhaled dose.
This is why:
- Edibles take 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in (digestion takes time)
- The effects of edibles are typically stronger and longer lasting (4–8 hours, sometimes more)
- A dose that feels manageable by inhalation can feel overwhelming when eaten
This is also why it’s essential to determine homemade edible potency before you bake — not after. For a deeper dive into onset times, absorption, and what affects how quickly edibles hit, read our guide: How Long Do Edibles Take to Kick In?
5 Reasons Your Homemade Edibles Might Be Inconsistent
Even when using a cannabis dosage calculator to plan your batch, some results come out stronger or weaker than expected. Here are the most common culprits:
1. Skipping or Under-Decarbing
As covered above, incomplete decarboxylation is the single biggest cause of weak edibles. Too low a temperature, too short a time, or uneven heat distribution in your oven can all result in THCA that never fully converts. Use an oven thermometer to verify your temperature is accurate — most home ovens run 10–25°F off.
2. Uneven Mixing
Cannabinoids don’t distribute perfectly evenly through your infused oil. If you don’t stir thoroughly when adding infused oil to your recipe batter, some servings will end up with more THC than others — making your THC dosage calculator estimate unreliable for individual pieces. Stir well and consider using a blender for liquid-based infusions.
3. Inaccurate THC % on Packaging
Lab testing can vary. The THC percentage on your flower’s packaging is an average — the actual potency of your specific gram may differ by a few percent in either direction. This is why the start low and wait approach matters even when you’ve done the math with a cannabis dosage calculator perfectly.
4. Infusion Temperature Too High
THC begins to degrade above 300°F (149°C). If your stovetop infusion runs too hot, you’re cooking off cannabinoids rather than extracting them — which makes your edible dosage calculator estimate higher than your actual result. Keep your infusion at a gentle simmer — ideally between 160–180°F (71–82°C). A slow cooker set to low is one of the most consistent methods.
5. Not Straining Thoroughly
Plant material left in your infused oil can contribute bitterness and inconsistency. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove all particulate. Resist the urge to squeeze the cheesecloth — this adds chlorophyll and more plant matter, which affects your ability to determine homemade edible potency with any reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Edible Dosage Calculator
How accurate is this edible dosage calculator?
The edible dosage calculator gives you a mathematically precise estimate based on the numbers you enter. The real-world accuracy depends on the accuracy of your inputs — particularly the THC percentage on your cannabis. Lab-tested flower with a verified certificate of analysis will give you the most reliable results. Unverified flower introduces some margin of error, which is why starting with a smaller serving and waiting to assess effects is always the smart move.
What is a standard dose when using a THC dosage calculator?
The legal cannabis market has largely standardised on 10 mg of THC per serving as a single dose for recreational products. For homemade edibles, most experienced home cooks aim for 5–10 mg per serving, which gives new consumers a manageable experience and allows experienced users to easily double up if needed. Use your THC dosage calculator results to confirm each serving is in the right range before baking. First-time edible consumers should aim for 2.5–5 mg and wait the full two hours before considering more.
Can I use this cannabis dosage calculator for cannabutter?
Absolutely. Enter your cannabis details into the cannabis dosage calculator in Step 1 and set the infusion base to however many cups of butter you’re using. The calculator treats all fat-based infusions equally. The per-teaspoon and per-tablespoon results tell you exactly how much THC is in each spoon of your finished cannabutter — which you can then use to calculate any recipe. Our cannabis dosage calculator treats cannabutter identically to any other fat-based infusion.
How do I use the THC dosage calculator for multiple strains?
If you’re blending multiple strains, calculate a weighted average THC% before entering it into the calculator. For example, if you mix 3.5g of a 20% THC strain with 3.5g of a 16% THC strain, your blended average is 18% THC. Enter 7g total cannabis weight and 18% THC into the THC dosage calculator for an accurate combined result.
Does the type of oil affect my edible dosage calculator results?
The edible dosage calculator assumes maximum extraction efficiency regardless of oil type, so the math is the same whether you use coconut oil, butter, or olive oil. In practice, higher saturated fat oils (coconut oil, butter) do extract slightly more efficiently than lighter oils — but the difference is relatively small, and our edible dosage calculator results provide a reliable ceiling estimate for any fat-based infusion.
Why does the edible dosage calculator use teaspoons and tablespoons?
Because recipes are written in teaspoons and tablespoons, not cups. Once you know how potent each teaspoon or tablespoon of your infused oil is (Step 1 results), you can calculate any recipe with your edible dosage calculator — not just the one you have in front of you right now. It’s a more versatile way to understand your infusion’s potency.
How long do effects last after checking my THC dosage calculator results?
For most people, a standard edible dose (5–10 mg THC) produces effects that last between 4 and 8 hours, with peak intensity typically occurring 2–3 hours after consumption. Higher doses can produce effects lasting 8–12 hours. Factors like your metabolism, body composition, tolerance, and whether you’ve eaten beforehand all influence duration. Check out our full guide on how long edibles take to kick in for a more detailed breakdown.
Can I use this as a CBD dosage calculator for hemp edibles?
Yes. Simply enter 0 for THC% and enter your CBD percentage as normal — the tool acts as a CBD dosage calculator, showing you total CBD milligrams per serving with no THC calculations. This is useful for hemp-derived CBD infusions, where understanding the CBD content per serving is just as important as it is for THC.
What if I don’t know my THC% for the cannabis dosage calculator?
If you don’t have lab-tested flower, use a conservative estimate. Average cannabis flower in today’s market typically ranges from 15–25% THC. For a safe starting point, run the numbers through our cannabis dosage calculator with 15% — this will give you a lower bound estimate. If your actual flower is more potent, your edibles will be stronger than calculated, which is exactly why the start low and go slow principle exists.
Is it possible to make edibles too strong?
Yes — and it’s one of the most common beginner mistakes. An edible that’s too strong can cause anxiety, elevated heart rate, paranoia, and extreme disorientation. These effects are temporary and not life-threatening, but they are deeply unpleasant. The best prevention is using this tool to determine homemade edible potency before you cook — which is exactly what this calculator is designed to help you do. If you or someone else has consumed too much, stay calm, find a comfortable environment, stay hydrated, and rest. The effects will pass.
References
Learn More on Herbistry420
All calculator results are estimates based on the inputs provided. Real-world potency varies depending on cannabis quality, decarboxylation efficiency, infusion method, and individual body chemistry. Always start with a small serving and allow at least two hours before consuming more. Herbistry420 content is for educational purposes only.
The information provided on this page is intended solely for educational purposes. Herbistry420 does not condone or encourage illegal activity of any kind. Cannabis laws vary by location — it is your responsibility to understand and comply with the laws in your area. By using this calculator and any information on this site, you acknowledge that Herbistry420 and its creator accept no responsibility or liability for any decisions made, actions taken, or outcomes experienced as a result of the information provided. You are solely responsible for how you choose to use this knowledge. Please consume responsibly and always prioritise your health and safety.