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Within a few short years, we’ve seen cannabidiol (CBD) oil step out of the shadow of its well-known counterpart, THC. Today, you can find all sorts of CBD products, from oils to creams to gummies and bath bombs. 

But there’s a drawback to the increased popularity. With new companies opening their online stores daily, you’ll find the prices of CBD fluctuate wildly from one website to another. 

What’s with that? Sometimes the answer seems easy, like the quality of the ingredients, but at other times, two identical products with the same amount of CBD charge a difference of ten to fifty dollars — or more. 

Until State and Federal regulations smooth out the disparity, it’s up to you to distinguish the various reasons behind the price fluctuations. Essentially, you’re in the Wild West — stellar deals and snake oil abound. 

To help you navigate the CBD oil landscape – where online or in a store near you, we’ve put together this ultimate guide to CBD oil prices. Below, you’ll learn the multifarious ways CBD oil companies justify their prices, the explanations you can trust, and the explanations that warn you something’s amiss.



The Many Ways CBD Oil Prices Can Vary

Okay, so you’re online and you’ve got ten tabs open, each tab advertises a premium CBD oil, yet the prices vary from lunch at McDonald’s to lunch at the Ritz. 

Every CBD company will explain why their product costs what it costs. Some reasons behind the price include: where it was farmed, how it was extracted, the amount of CBD per milliliter, and the unique benefits of their oil. Let’s be honest, some claims are hot air. Some of their information, however, is important.

The following sections will break down the most common information you’ll see on a CBD oil website, what’s a good sign, and what’s a warning that the company might be overcharging. 

What Factors Raise the Price of CBD?

Ideally, the better the CBD, the more it can benefit you. Like any supplement or health product, the lenient regulations put the onus on the customer to know the subtleties of the industry. Below are the top factors that increase the price of CBD oil, and if that increase matters to you and your wallet. 

  1. Location of Hemp Farms and Harvest Methods

    Many companies will mention if their hemp was grown indoors or outdoors, but what really matters is where their farm is located. 

    Because hemp was illegal to grow in the US except for Kentucky until last year, we have yet to see hemp farms take root in most states. The exceptions to this rule are the recreational cannabis states, like Colorado and Washington. Yet even some of these states have shirked hemp to grow cannabis. 

    Hemp and cannabis are the same plants, cannabis Sativa, but the US Federal government considers any cannabis Sativa with more than .3% THC illegal. Yeah, it’s a quagmire. 

    This has led many companies to buy their hemp out-of-country Many purchase offshore hemp in China and Russia, where the laws are far more lenient. However, for CBD to be legal, it must be grown with US hemp. 

    Hemp is a phytoremediator — it absorbs the toxins in the soil and air, scrubbing the land of chemicals and pollution. This is great for the environment, awful for you. 

    Also, companies need lots of hemp to press and extract the CBD, as hemp isn’t as rich in CBD as traditional cannabis plants; even small amounts of toxins can accumulate in the extract. 

    To avoid toxins in your CBD oil, look for information about where the company sourced their hemp. 

    For example, at Balance CBD their hemp is sourced from the very best farms in the USA, but they are an exception. Often, you won’t find this information on a company‘s website, so email them and ask where they buy their hemp. If they can’t tell you or seem to offer vague answers, that’s a great reason to move on.

  2. CBD Extraction Method

    The bulk of the cost of your CBD oil derives from extracting CBD from the hemp plant. Some companies set up in-house extraction, but most use a third-party facility. 

    There’s lots of information online regarding the different extraction methods, like ethanol and CO2. The type of extraction can raise the costs of the product. Also, companies add a monetary premium to their oils to offset the fluctuating prices of hemp extraction. 

    But the key idea to take away from the extraction has nothing to do with the method, rather, it’s how stable their procedure is. A newer company that’s invested in its extraction lab has fronted anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000. They may raise the price of their CBD oil to make up for the initial investment into the technology. 

    Conversely, a company that runs a smooth extraction lab, or has ties to a larger outfit, can sell their oil cheaper, even though they use the same extraction method. 

    An indicator that a company is charging you a premium for their extraction method is if they single it out, justifying their price because of their extraction method or methods. The best extraction method is CO2 – so look for that when you’re buying CBD products.

  3. Third-Party Lab Testing

    Don’t buy a CBD oil from a company that cannot provide third-party lab test results. 

    You need assurance that the extract in your product doesn’t contain any pesticides, toxins, mold, or other hazardous materials. The upfront cost the company shells out for lab tests proves they’re happy with their product and believe in their process. 

    They should base these tests on your oil’s specific batch. Any company can pay for one lab test and offer it as a PDF or link on their website. The issue is that companies will make a new batch every few months, and these also need to be tested, as they could have bought hemp from a new source or tried a new extraction method. 

    Only a few companies we know of take it a step further and print a QR code on each bottle of CBD oil so you can check the lab test for that exact bottle’s batch. That means you don’t have to assume the latest batch result on the website links to the product you’re purchasing.

  4. Non-Existent Regulations

    When products lack regulatory guidance, like CBD oils, consumers and companies have to work harder to find one another. Right now, the laws in place for the sale and distribution of CBD are in their infancy. So while it’s easier today to produce CBD oil than it was a few years ago, that doesn’t mean it can’t be better. 

    Without clear rules for companies to follow, CBD oil makers live and die on what they tell their clients. That’s why it’s better to pay more money for a product with transparent manufacturing and sales information than one that hides it behind vague advertising copy. 

    Take the time to investigate. Check the FAQ section of the companies you’re interested in. See how they answer questions regarding their stock, manufacturing methods, and quality control. If you aren’t satisfied, try sending them a message. Then decide for yourself if the answers are helpful details or if they give you the runaround. 

    It’s also important to remember that you’re paying a premium on CBD oils, a sort of liability tax. Until there’s clearer guidelines set out by the FDA on what can and can’t be sold and said, you’ll find a lot of companies charge higher prices so that each sale is worth their risky investment.

  5. CBD Dosage

    The higher the dose, the more expensive your CBD product will be. However, it becomes cheaper per milligram of CBD. For example, a 2,500mg CBD oil tincture is cheaper per milligram than a 500mg CBD oil tincture – this means that you get more value for your money.

  6. Type of CBD

    Full-spectrum CBD products and broad-spectrum tend to be more expensive than CBD made using an isolate. This is because they contain more cannabinoids, and offer a different set of benefits when compared to.

  7. The bottom line of a CBD company

    The fact remains that the biggest impact on the price of CBD oil is a company’s profit margin. The more money that a CBD company wants to make, the higher its price will be.

What’s the Best Price for CBD Oil?

As you can see, the price of CBD oil is hard to pin down; a $40 bottle of CBD oil may be a better option than a $100 bottle. 

We’ve compared our quality oils to other industry leaders, and we found that CBD oils range in price — from 3 cents a milligram to 30 cents a milligram. So, we’ve created a handy table for you to see and compare our products with some of the other brands out there. 

CBD Oil Product Type of product CBD/mL Total CBD Price Per Milligram
Balance CBD Unflavored or Flavored 50mg 1500mg $0.04
Balance CBD  Charlotte’s Web Terpene Infused 33mg 1000mg $0.06
Balance CBD Harlequin Terpene Infused 33mg 1000mg $0.06
NuLeaf Naturals Unflavored 60mg 900mg $0.16
Spruce Unflavored 25mg 750mg $0.11
cbdMD Unflavored or Flavored 50mg 1500mg $0.09
Plus CBD Oil Unflavored or Flavored 25mg 750mg $0.07
Joy Organics Unflavored or Flavored 30mg 900mg $0.08
Green Roads Unflavored or Flavored 25ml 750mg $0.11

You can see that the price of CBD oil varies wildly – and the cheapest price is available at Balance CBD. 

Just remember that you must make sure that the product your buying includes a third-party lab test, and a detailed FAQ or information-rich website!

The Best CBD Oil Is in Your Hands

The CBD market will continue to grow. By taking the time to become CBD savvy today, you’re future-proofing yourself for tomorrow. 

Because the FDA works slowly, it could be years before the CBD oil market stabilizes, so do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions, and more importantly, walk away if you don’t like their answers. 

We believe the effort is worth it. People searching for CBD oils have found their way to for a lot of reasons, but many of our customers share a passion for the product, just like us. 

That’s why we at Balance CBD  send every batch of CBD oil for independent testing, then print the QR code on the bottle. We don’t upsell based on our extraction method, and we want to educate consumers and have filled our website with helpful articles and guides to inform you on the best ways to enjoy CBD safely.

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