How Much Does CBD Oil Cost? Are You Paying Too Much?
Why CBD prices vary so much from brand to brand, and how to tell whether you are getting a fair price.
Reviewed by Jessica Flowers, Certified Clinical Herbalist
When you’re shopping for CBD, there are many factors to consider, from quality and ingredients to brand and price. And when it comes to the question “How much is CBD oil?” there isn’t one set answer.
CBD is a relatively young industry, and few standards have been set, so you’ll find a wide range of prices, from budget options to very expensive products. It can be hard to understand why those differences exist. As a brand that makes our own CBD products, we can share some insight into why prices vary from brand to brand, so you can shop with confidence.
Why do CBD prices differ so much?
Like any product, there are many ways to produce and sell CBD, and some cost more than others. Three main factors affect the price of CBD oil:
- The production process. How the hemp is grown and how the CBD is extracted.
- Quality and strength. The ingredients used and how much CBD is in each product.
- Branding. How much of the price reflects marketing rather than what’s in the bottle.
The production process
Growing and harvesting
How hemp is grown affects price, because some methods cost more than others. Earth-friendly practices like growing organically, without synthetic pesticides, take more time and resources.
Extraction methods
There are three common ways to extract CBD, and some cost more than others:
- Ethanol extraction. Uses high-grain alcohol to pull CBD from the plant. It’s common and efficient.
- Oil extraction. Uses a carrier oil, such as olive oil, to extract CBD. It’s simpler and less expensive, but produces a less concentrated extract.
- CO2 extraction. Uses pressurized carbon dioxide to extract CBD cleanly, with no petroleum-based solvents. It’s widely considered the gold standard for quality, and it costs more, which is often reflected in the price. It’s the method we use at Moon Mother Hemp.
Quality and strength
Most CBD products contain more than CBD. A tincture has a carrier oil, and a balm has butters, herbs and essential oils. The quality of those ingredients, organic or not, affects the price too.
Strength matters as well. With a tincture, you can choose different strengths, and the higher the concentration of CBD, the higher the price. Different types of products, from tinctures and topicals to softgels, edibles and inhalants, also contain different amounts of CBD. To learn more about each type, read our guide, What Is CBD?
Paying for quality, or paying for branding?
It’s natural to assume that a higher price means higher quality. That can be true with CBD, but some brands position themselves as luxury products simply to charge more. Fortunately, there are ways to cut through the marketing.
Look at the Certificate of Analysis
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a report from an accredited third-party lab that breaks down what’s in a CBD product: its cannabinoid content, and screening for microbials, pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals and mycotoxins. Reputable companies happily publish their COAs, and it’s a sign they’re transparent with their customers.
A COA shows whether corners were cut in production, for example whether pesticides were used on the hemp, or whether traces of solvents like methanol or acetone remain.
Find a company you trust
Companies that pride themselves on integrity and transparency make all the information you need to decide easily available on their site.
Compare the cost per milligram
The best product for you depends on what matters most to you. Clean, organic formulas and higher strengths usually cost more. To compare value across brands, work out the cost per milligram of CBD:
Total price ÷ total mg of CBD = cost per mg
| Moon Mother product | Price | Cost per mg |
|---|---|---|
| Tincture, 500 mg | $40 | $0.08 per mg |
| Tincture, 2000 mg | $120 | $0.06 per mg |
| Softgels, 25 mg × 30 | $48 | $0.064 per mg |
| Tincture, 2000 mg with Subscribe & Save | $72 | $0.036 per mg |
CBD products from Moon Mother Hemp
At Moon Mother, every product is made with intention and care, for our customers and for Mother Nature. We’re committed to quality and to being kind to the environment.
We want to empower our customers with transparency, which is why we publish the Certificate of Analysis for every batch of every product. You’ll find it on each product page, so you always know exactly what you’re getting.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
