How to Calculate the Potency of Homemade Edibles

The quick formula: multiply the grams of cannabis by its THC percentage, then by 10, to get the total milligrams of THC in the batch. Divide that by the number of servings for the dose per piece. Example: 7 g of 20% flower holds up to about 1,400 mg THC, or roughly 58 mg across 24 servings (before real-world decarb and infusion losses).

Knowing how strong your edibles are isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. While homemade infusions can’t match lab precision, a simple formula can get you surprisingly close to the real dose. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step.

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Why Potency Matters

The effects of edibles are hard to guess, they hit late, hit hard, and they linger. Getting the dose wrong means sitting through hours of discomfort or feeling nothing at all.

That’s why we calculate: to avoid surprises.

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What Affects Edible Strength?

• THC percentage of your cannabis
• Efficiency of decarboxylation
• Infusion method (and how well you mixed it)
• Body weight, metabolism, and tolerance
• Whether you’ve eaten recently

Even if you know your math, your body might respond differently. So always start small.

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Step-by-Step: How to Calculate THC per Serving

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1. Estimate THC in Your Flower

First, turn THC percentage into milligrams:

THC in mg = grams of flower × THC % × 100

Examples (1g flower):

• 10% THC → 100 mg
• 15% THC → 150 mg
• 20% THC → 200 mg

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2. Adjust for Decarboxylation

Not all THCA becomes THC. A good rule is to reduce total THC by 10% after decarbing.

Adjusted values:

• 100 mg → 90 mg
• 150 mg → 135 mg
• 200 mg → 180 mg

herb cooker optimizes this step, for consistent results every time.

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3. Calculate Infusion Strength

Now, determine how much THC made it into your butter or oil.

Example: You decarb 1g of 20% THC cannabis → 180 mg THC post-decarb. Assume full transfer to butter: 180 mg THC total

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4. Divide by Number of Servings

Take the total THC and divide by how many edibles you made.

Examples:

• 180 mg / 18 cookies = 10 mg per cookie
• 90 mg / 30 gummies = 3 mg per gummy
• 54 mg / 2.5 mg (desired dose) = ~21 servings

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What’s an Average Dose?

• 2.5 mg THC – for new users or microdosing
• 5 mg THC – mild to moderate experience
• 10 mg THC – strong, not recommended for beginners
• 20+ mg THC – for high-tolerance users only

Wait at least 2 hours before deciding to take more.

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Tips for Accurate Dosing

Mix Evenly

An accurate calculation means nothing if THC isn’t distributed evenly. Stir your butter/oil thoroughly before cooking or baking.

Test a Single Portion

Start with one serving and track your response. Wait, observe, then decide.

Use a Calculator

Too tired to do the math? Try our Potency Calculator →

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Final Note

No method is 100% perfect at home. But with good math, careful prep, and a bit of caution, you can get close enough for comfort, and avoid accidental couch-lock.

If you want repeatable results, the herb cooker helps dial in each step: decarb, infuse, measure. Confidence in your edibles starts with good process.

Last reviewed: April 2026

This process can be performed with the NOIDS Herb Lab.

For oils and tinctures specifically, the THC oil and tincture calculator gives mg per ml and per drop.