Edible Calculator

A smart tool to accurately calculate the dosage of your homemade cannabis edibles. Ensure a safe, predictable, and enjoyable experience by knowing the potency of every serving.

What is an Edible Calculator?

An edible calculator is a crucial tool for anyone making cannabis-infused foods at home. Unlike commercially produced edibles that come with precise dosage information, homemade versions require calculation to determine their potency. This edible calculator helps you estimate the amount of THC (in milligrams) in each serving of your recipe, allowing you to control the dosage for a safe, consistent, and positive experience. By inputting details about your cannabis and your recipe, you can avoid the common pitfall of accidental overconsumption.

The Edible Calculator Formula and Explanation

Calculating the potency of homemade edibles involves a multi-step formula that accounts for cannabinoid conversion and extraction losses. Our edible calculator simplifies this process, but understanding the math can help you make better edibles.

1. Total Potential THC: First, we find the total milligrams of THC in your raw flower.
   
   Formula: Cannabis Amount (g) * 1000 * (THC % / 100)
2. Decarboxylation: Heating cannabis (decarboxylation) activates the THC. This process is not 100% efficient; about 88% of THCA converts to THC.
   
   Formula: Total Potential THC * 0.88
3. Infusion Efficiency: When you infuse THC into a fat like oil or butter, not all of it transfers from the plant. The extraction efficiency for fats is typically around 60%.
   
   Formula: Decarboxylated THC * 0.60
4. Dosage Per Serving: Finally, the total infused THC is divided by the number of servings.
   
   Formula: Total Infused THC / Number of Servings

Variables Table

This table explains each input for our edible calculator.

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Cannabis Amount	The dry weight of the cannabis flower used.	grams (g)	1 – 28 g
THC %	The percentage of THC in the cannabis strain.	Percent (%)	10% – 35%
Infusion Volume	The amount of fat (butter, oil) used for infusion.	Cups or ml	0.5 – 4 cups
Servings	The total number of individual pieces the recipe yields.	Count	1 – 100

Practical Examples

Example 1: Small Batch of “Start Low and Go Slow” Cookies

You’re new to edibles and want to make a small, low-dose batch of cookies.

• Inputs:
  • Cannabis Amount: 3 grams
  • THC Percentage: 15%
  • Infusion Liquid: 0.5 cups of butter
  • Number of Servings: 12 cookies
• Results: Using the edible calculator, each cookie would contain approximately 19.8 mg of THC. This is a moderate-to-high dose, so you might consider eating only half a cookie to start.

Example 2: Party-Sized Pan of Potent Brownies

You are an experienced consumer making brownies for a group of friends with similar tolerances.

• Inputs:
  • Cannabis Amount: 14 grams (approx. half an ounce)
  • THC Percentage: 22%
  • Infusion Liquid: 1 cup of coconut oil
  • Number of Servings: 16 brownies
• Results: The edible calculator shows that each brownie would have a potent ~101.6 mg of THC. This is a very high dose intended only for users with significant tolerance. For more on dosing, see our THC dosage chart.

How to Use This Edible Calculator

Using our edible dosage calculator is straightforward. Follow these steps for an accurate potency estimate:

1. Enter Cannabis Amount: Weigh your dry cannabis flower and enter the value in grams.
2. Enter THC Percentage: Look up the THC percentage of your strain from the dispensary label. If you don’t know it, use 10-15% as a rough average.
3. Enter Infusion Volume: Measure the amount of butter, oil, or other liquid you will be infusing. You can switch the unit between cups and milliliters (ml).
4. Enter Number of Servings: Input the final number of edibles your recipe will produce (e.g., 16 brownies, 24 gummies).
5. Review Your Results: The calculator will instantly show the estimated THC per serving. It also provides intermediate values to show how the potency changes during decarboxylation and infusion.

Key Factors That Affect Edible Potency

The final potency of your edibles can vary based on several factors. This edible calculator uses standard estimates, but your results may differ.

• Strain Potency (THC %): This is the single most important factor. An error here will impact the entire calculation.
• Decarboxylation: Over- or under-heating your cannabis can lead to less activated THC. A proper decarboxylation guide can help you perfect this step.
• Infusion Time & Temperature: Infusing too hot or too long can degrade THC, while too little time can result in a weak infusion.
• Type of Fat (Solvent): Different fats have slightly different infusion efficiencies. Saturated fats like coconut oil and butter are generally considered very effective.
• Starting Material: The quality of your flower matters. Older or improperly stored cannabis may have lower potency than stated.
• Individual Metabolism: Factors like body weight, metabolism, and tolerance will affect how you personally experience a specific dose.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How accurate is this edible calculator?

This calculator provides a close estimate based on standard scientific conversion rates. However, factors like heating inconsistencies and infusion efficiency can cause variation. It should be used for harm reduction and guidance, not as a medical guarantee.

2. What if I don’t know my THC percentage?

If your cannabis is from an unknown source, it’s best to be cautious. Use a low estimate like 10% in the calculator. It’s always better for an edible to be weaker than expected than dangerously strong.

3. What is decarboxylation and why is it important?

Raw cannabis contains THCA, which is non-psychoactive. Heating it (decarboxylation) converts THCA into the psychoactive THC. Without this step, your edibles will not have the desired effect. Our calculator accounts for this conversion loss.

4. Can I use this for CBD edibles?

Yes! The formula is the same. Simply enter the CBD percentage of your flower into the “THC (%)” field to calculate the CBD mg per serving.

5. Why did my edibles feel stronger/weaker than the calculation?

This could be due to many factors: inaccurate THC percentage, inefficient decarb/infusion, or your own personal tolerance and metabolism. Use your experience with a batch to adjust your inputs for the next one.

6. How long should I wait after eating an edible?

Wait at least 90 minutes, and up to 2 hours, before consuming more. Edibles take a long time to kick in, and redosing too early is a common mistake. For more info check our edible timing guide.

7. What’s a good starting dose?

For beginners, a dose of 2.5mg to 5mg of THC is recommended. You can always take more, but you can’t take less.

8. Does the amount of oil affect potency?

The amount of oil does not change the total amount of THC infused, but it does affect the concentration. Using less oil will result in a more concentrated, potent infusion. However, you must use enough oil to fully submerge the cannabis. This is part of our infusion basics tutorial.