Edibles Potency Calculator — How Strong Are Your Homemade Edibles?
Making cannabutter or infused oil? Use our free edibles potency calculator to find out exactly how many milligrams of THC are in each serving — so every batch is consistent and safe.
Edibles Potency Calculator
Calculate the THC potency of your homemade edibles per serving.
How the edibles potency calculator works
Enter the amount of cannabis (in grams), its THC percentage, how much butter or oil you’re infusing, and how many servings your recipe makes. The calculator applies the standard 0.88 decarboxylation factor (THCa → THC conversion) and divides the total across your servings.
The formula
Total THC = grams × (THC% ÷ 100) × 1000 × 0.88
Per serving = Total THC ÷ number of servings
The 0.88 factor accounts for mass lost when THCa converts to active THC during decarboxylation. Actual potency may be 10–20% lower depending on your infusion method and temperature control.
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Edible potency tiers — what each dose level feels like
1–2.5 mg
Microdose
Subtle relief, no impairment. Ideal for first-timers.
2.5–5 mg
Low
Light relaxation, mild euphoria. Good starting point.
5–15 mg
Moderate
Clear psychoactive effects. Standard recreational dose.
15–30 mg
Strong
Intense effects. For experienced users with tolerance.
30 mg+
Very Strong
High risk of discomfort. Only for very experienced users.
These tiers apply to per-serving THC content. Getting your edibles dosage right starts with knowing what tier you’re in.
Decarboxylation — the step that makes your edibles work
Raw cannabis contains THCa, which is non-psychoactive. Decarboxylation converts THCa into active THC using heat. Skip this step and your cannabutter will have little to no effect, no matter how much cannabis you use.
Grind
Break cannabis into small, even pieces. Don’t grind to powder — a coarse grind works best for even heat distribution.
Decarb
Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 240°F (115°C) for 40 minutes. This is the sweet spot for maximum THC conversion with minimal degradation.
Infuse
Simmer decarbed cannabis in butter or coconut oil at 160–180°F for 2–3 hours. THC is fat-soluble and binds to the lipids in your cooking fat.
Strain & cook
Strain out plant material through cheesecloth. Your infused oil is now ready to use in any recipe — and the potency calculator above tells you exactly how strong each serving will be.
Source: Wang et al. (2016) — Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry; Grotenhermen (2003) — Clinical Pharmacokinetics
Edible potency examples — what to expect from common recipes
Here’s what the THC edible calculator produces for typical homemade cannabutter recipes using 20% THC flower.
| Recipe | Cannabis | Butter/Oil | Servings | Total THC | Per Serving | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownies (classic) | 3.5 g | ½ cup | 12 | 616 mg | 51 mg | Very Strong |
| Brownies (moderate) | 1.5 g | ½ cup | 12 | 264 mg | 22 mg | Strong |
| Cookies (batch of 24) | 3.5 g | 1 cup | 24 | 616 mg | 26 mg | Strong |
| Gummies (beginner) | 1 g | ¼ cup oil | 20 | 176 mg | 8.8 mg | Moderate |
| Infused butter (1 cup) | 7 g | 1 cup | varies | 1,232 mg | per tbsp: 77 mg | Very Strong |
Key takeaway: Most homemade edibles are far stronger than commercial products (which cap at 10 mg per serving in Canada). The “classic brownie” recipe using a full eighth (3.5 g) produces servings above 50 mg — a very strong dose even for experienced users. Use the calculator above to dial in your specific recipe.
How to make consistently dosed homemade edibles
Use a kitchen scale
Measuring cannabis by eye is wildly inaccurate. A $15 kitchen scale accurate to 0.1g is the single best investment for consistent edibles dosing.
Know your THC percentage
If the label says 20% THC, use 20. If you don’t know, 15% is a safe estimate for average flower. The cannabutter potency calculator is only as accurate as the THC% you enter.
Mix thoroughly
The biggest cause of inconsistent potency is uneven distribution. Stir cannabutter into batters thoroughly, and consider using an immersion blender for oils.
Use more servings, not less cannabis
Want milder edibles? Don’t reduce the cannabis — increase the serving count instead. Cutting a brownie pan into 16 pieces instead of 12 is easier than recalculating your entire recipe.
Label everything
Write the mg-per-serving on your container. Homemade edibles look identical to regular food — unlabelled products are a safety risk, especially in shared spaces.
Account for extraction loss
The calculator uses the 88% decarb factor, but real-world extraction into butter/oil adds another 10–20% loss. Your actual potency may be slightly lower than calculated — a built-in safety margin.
Frequently asked questions about edibles potency
How do I calculate the THC in my homemade edibles?
Multiply the grams of cannabis by the THC percentage, multiply by 1,000 (to convert to milligrams), then multiply by 0.88 (the decarboxylation factor). Divide by the number of servings. For example: 3.5g at 20% THC = 3.5 × 0.20 × 1000 × 0.88 = 616 mg total ÷ 12 servings = ~51 mg per serving.
How strong are edibles compared to smoking?
Edibles feel 3–5x stronger per milligram than smoking because the liver converts THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, a more potent metabolite that crosses the blood-brain barrier more efficiently. A 10 mg edible can feel equivalent to several joints for a low-tolerance user. The effects also last much longer — 4–8 hours vs. 1–3 hours for smoking.
What is the standard dose for a cannabis edible?
In Canada, the regulated standard is 10 mg THC per package for commercially sold edibles. Most experts consider 5 mg a “standard dose” for someone with moderate tolerance. Beginners should start at 2.5 mg. Use our THC dosage calculator to find your personal ideal.
What is decarboxylation and why does it matter?
Decarboxylation is the process of heating raw cannabis to convert inactive THCa into active THC. Without it, your edibles will have minimal psychoactive effect. The optimal method is baking ground cannabis at 240°F (115°C) for 40 minutes. The 0.88 factor in our edibles potency calculator accounts for this conversion.
How much cannabutter does 7 grams of weed make?
7 grams (a quarter ounce) of 20% THC flower makes approximately 1 cup of cannabutter containing ~1,232 mg of THC. At 16 tablespoons per cup, that’s roughly 77 mg per tablespoon — very potent. Most recipes calling for butter use 2–4 tablespoons, so plan your servings accordingly.
Why are my homemade edibles too strong (or too weak)?
Too strong usually means not enough servings for the amount of cannabis used. Too weak usually means poor decarboxylation, over-heating (THC degrades above 300°F), or uneven mixing. The fix is always the same: weigh your cannabis precisely, decarb at the right temperature, and use the calculator to set your serving count before you bake.
Can I use this calculator for cannabis oil or tinctures?
Yes — the formula is identical whether you’re infusing butter, coconut oil, olive oil, or MCT oil for tinctures. Enter the oil amount in cups and the calculator works the same way.
How long do homemade edibles take to kick in?
Homemade edibles typically take 30 minutes to 2 hours, just like commercial ones. Fat-based edibles (butter, oil) may absorb slightly faster than starch-heavy ones. Empty stomach speeds things up. The most important rule: never redose within 2 hours. Use our time to peak calculator for a personalised timeline.
Content written and reviewed by the Pacific Grass team. Not medical advice.
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