CBD cream strength can be confusing.
What is the difference between a 1,000mg, 1,500mg, 2,000mg, 5,000mg or 10,000mg CBD cream? And does a higher number automatically mean one product is better?
The first thing to understand is that the milligram number on a CBD cream generally represents the total amount of CBD in the entire container.
It does not represent the amount of CBD you receive every time you apply the cream.
At Quiet Monk CBD, we’ve offered a wide range of topical strengths over the years. We previously sold 1,000mg, 1,500mg and 2,000mg CBD creams, but those products have since been discontinued as we’ve simplified our lineup around higher-concentration formulas.
If you previously purchased one of those creams—or you’re simply trying to understand CBD cream potency—this guide explains how the different strengths compare.
What Does MG Mean in CBD Cream?
MG stands for milligrams.
When a CBD cream says it contains 5,000mg of CBD, that normally means there are approximately 5,000 milligrams of CBD distributed throughout the entire container.
This is important because the number doesn’t tell you everything about concentration.
Consider two hypothetical products:
- 5,000mg CBD in a 2-ounce container
- 5,000mg CBD in a 4-ounce container
Both contain the same total amount of CBD, but the first product is more concentrated because the CBD is distributed through half as much cream.
That’s why I recommend looking at CBD content and container size together.
CBD Cream Strength Comparison
Here’s a simple way to look at the different strengths:
| CBD Strength | General Comparison | Quiet Monk Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000mg | Lower-strength topical | Discontinued |
| 1,500mg | Lower-to-moderate strength | Discontinued |
| 2,000mg | Moderate strength | Discontinued |
| 5,000mg | High-potency topical | Available |
| 10,000mg | Very high-potency topical | Available |
| 20,000mg+ | Ultra-high-potency range | Available in select Quiet Monk topicals |
These aren’t official industry classifications.
There is no universal rule stating that a particular milligram level becomes “high potency.” They’re simply a practical way to understand how CBD creams at very different concentrations compare.
1,000mg CBD Cream: What That Strength Means
A 1,000mg CBD cream contains approximately 1,000mg of CBD throughout the entire container.
This was one of the lower-strength topical products Quiet Monk offered in the past.
As the CBD market evolved, we saw increasing interest in more concentrated topicals. Rather than continuing to manufacture numerous creams with relatively small differences in potency, we eventually simplified our lineup.
Our 1,000mg CBD cream was discontinued.
If you reached this page after following an old Quiet Monk 1,000mg product link, you’re in the right place. This guide replaces that discontinued product page and explains how those older strengths compare with the products we offer today.
1,500mg CBD Cream: What That Strength Means
A 1,500mg CBD cream contains approximately 1,500mg of CBD throughout the entire container.
You’ll sometimes see the same type of product described as CBD cream 1500mg, 1500 mg CBD cream, or CBD 1500mg cream. These descriptions generally refer to the total CBD contained in the product.
Quiet Monk previously offered a cream at this strength.
The 1,500mg formula provided another step between our lower-strength products and the more concentrated topicals that eventually became a larger part of our lineup.
We have since discontinued the 1,500mg cream.
Customers who previously purchased it should remember that moving to a higher-concentration product doesn’t necessarily mean using the same amount of cream. Always follow the directions for the specific product you’re using.
2,000mg CBD Cream and Lotion: How They Compare
A 2,000mg CBD cream contains approximately 2,000mg of CBD across the entire container.
You may also encounter products marketed as 2000mg CBD lotion.
Creams and lotions can have different consistencies and formulations, but the 2,000mg number still generally refers to the total amount of CBD in the container.
Quiet Monk previously offered a 2,000mg topical as part of our earlier product lineup.
That product has since been discontinued as we’ve moved toward more concentrated formulations.
If you previously used our 2,000mg CBD cream and arrived here through an older product page, this strength comparison is intended to help explain the transition.
5,000mg CBD Cream: Our Most Popular Starting Strength
Our current cream lineup begins at a substantially higher concentration than it did several years ago.
Quiet Monk’s 5,000mg CBD cream contains:
5,000mg CBD + 500mg CBG
in a four-ounce container.
For customers familiar with our discontinued 1,000mg, 1,500mg and 2,000mg creams, this represents a considerable increase in total cannabinoid content.
View Quiet Monk’s 5,000mg CBD Cream →
This also illustrates why it’s important to read beyond the potency number.
A product containing 5,000mg CBD and 500mg CBG is different from one containing 5,500mg of CBD alone, even though both contain 5,500mg of total cannabinoids.
10,000mg CBD Cream: A Higher-Concentration Option
For customers specifically looking for a more concentrated topical, Quiet Monk also offers a 10,000mg CBD cream.
Our four-ounce formula contains:
10,000mg CBD + 1,000mg CBG
This provides twice the CBD content of our 5,000mg cream in the same four-ounce container.
View Quiet Monk’s 10,000mg CBD Cream →
That doesn’t mean the 10,000mg formula is automatically the right choice for everyone.
Some customers specifically seek highly concentrated CBD topicals. Others prefer a different strength or formulation.
I look at potency as a product specification, not a promise about what the product will do.
How Much Stronger Is 5,000mg CBD Cream Than 1,000mg?
If the products are the same container size, the math is straightforward.
A 5,000mg CBD cream contains five times as much total CBD as a 1,000mg cream.
Here’s how several common strengths compare:
1,000mg → 5,000mg = 5× the total CBD
1,500mg → 5,000mg = approximately 3.3× the total CBD
2,000mg → 5,000mg = 2.5× the total CBD
5,000mg → 10,000mg = 2× the total CBD
But there’s an important qualifier:
This comparison only works cleanly when the container sizes are the same.
If the containers are different sizes, you also need to consider concentration.
How Do You Compare CBD Cream Concentration?
A simple calculation can make CBD cream comparisons much more useful:
Total CBD ÷ container size = approximate CBD concentration
For example, a four-ounce container containing 5,000mg CBD provides approximately:
1,250mg CBD per ounce
A four-ounce container containing 10,000mg CBD provides approximately:
2,500mg CBD per ounce
This doesn’t tell you exactly how much CBD you’re applying each time because application amounts vary.
But it gives you a better way to compare two products than simply looking at the largest number printed on the front of the jar.
Is 2,000mg CBD Cream Strong?
Compared with many of the CBD creams that were common during the industry’s earlier years, 2,000mg CBD cream would have been considered a relatively concentrated topical.
The market has changed considerably.
Today, consumers can find CBD creams containing 5,000mg, 10,000mg and substantially more.
That’s one reason words such as “strong,” “maximum strength” and “high potency” aren’t particularly useful by themselves.
I would rather know the actual CBD content and container size.
Those are numbers you can compare.
Is 5,000mg CBD Cream Strong?
A 5,000mg CBD cream would generally fall into the high-potency end of the topical market compared with many conventional CBD creams.
But again, container size matters.
Five thousand milligrams in a small container creates a different concentration than the same 5,000mg distributed through a much larger container.
That’s why I don’t recommend comparing CBD creams based only on the largest number on the label.
Is 10,000mg CBD Cream Stronger Than 5,000mg?
If both creams are the same size, yes.
A 10,000mg CBD cream contains twice as much total CBD as a 5,000mg CBD cream.
For example, in two four-ounce containers:
5,000mg CBD = approximately 1,250mg per ounce
10,000mg CBD = approximately 2,500mg per ounce
That makes the 10,000mg formula twice as concentrated in terms of CBD.
Whether someone needs or prefers that concentration is a separate question.
Don’t Forget About CBG
CBD isn’t necessarily the only cannabinoid you’ll find in modern topical products.
Some formulations combine CBD with CBG, short for cannabigerol.
For example:
5,000mg CBD + 500mg CBG = 5,500mg total cannabinoids
and:
10,000mg CBD + 1,000mg CBG = 11,000mg total cannabinoids
That’s different from a product containing 5,500mg or 11,000mg of CBD alone.
When comparing products, check whether the advertised number represents:
- CBD only
- CBG only
- A combination of cannabinoids
I prefer companies to clearly tell consumers how much of each cannabinoid is actually present.
Does Higher CBD Potency Mean Better?
No.
This is especially important for us to say because Quiet Monk specializes in high-potency topicals.
More CBD doesn’t automatically make a product better.
Higher potency simply means the product contains a greater amount or concentration of CBD.
Different customers have different preferences.
Someone buying their first CBD topical may be looking for something completely different from a customer who has used concentrated CBD creams for years.
The rest of the formulation matters too.
Potency is only one characteristic of a topical product.
Cooling vs. Non-Cooling CBD Creams
CBD potency and cooling intensity are also completely different things.
Many topical products contain menthol, which creates a cooling sensation on the skin.
A strong cooling sensation doesn’t mean a cream contains more CBD.
A lower-potency topical with substantial menthol can feel much more noticeable on the skin than a higher-potency product without menthol.
Think about these characteristics separately:
CBD potency: How much CBD is actually in the product?
Cooling intensity: Does the formula contain menthol or another ingredient that creates a cooling sensation?
Don’t judge CBD strength by how strongly you can feel a product on your skin.
What Else Should You Compare Besides CBD Strength?
If I were comparing two CBD creams, I wouldn’t make the decision based solely on milligrams.
I’d also look at the following.
Container Size
Always compare the amount of CBD with the amount of cream in the container.
Other Cannabinoids
Check whether the formula contains CBG or other cannabinoids in addition to CBD.
Ingredients
Read the complete ingredient list, particularly if you have sensitive skin or want to avoid menthol, fragrances or particular botanical ingredients.
Third-Party Testing
This is one of the first things I look for with CBD products.
A reputable CBD company should make independent laboratory results available so consumers can review cannabinoid testing rather than simply accepting the number printed on the label.
THC Information
If avoiding THC matters to you, don’t assume that every CBD cream is THC-free.
Check the product specifications and laboratory report.
Price
A higher-potency product will often cost more upfront.
Looking at the price alongside the amount of CBD and size of the product provides a more useful comparison than looking at price alone.
intended as medical advice. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult an appropriate healthcare professional if you have questions about using CBD.
Comparing Past and Current CBD Creams
The table below shows how discontinued creams compare to current Quiet Monk CBD formulas when used correctly.
| Discontinued Cream | Closest Current Formula | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000mg CBD Cream | 5,000mg Cooling CBD Cream | Use a small amount; apply lightly |
| 1,500mg CBD Cream | 5,000mg Cooling CBD Cream | Start with a pea-sized amount |
| 2,000mg CBD Cream | 10,000mg CBD Cream | Spot-treat only; do not overapply |
In most cases, customers find they use less cream overall, making higher-concentration formulas last longer.
How Much CBD Cream Should You Apply?
Follow the directions provided with the individual product.
Moving from a 1,000mg or 2,000mg cream to a 5,000mg or 10,000mg formula doesn’t mean you should automatically apply the same amount.
The formulations and concentrations are different.
I also recommend patch testing any new topical product on a small area of skin first, particularly if it contains menthol, fragrances, essential oils or botanical ingredients you haven’t used before.
If irritation occurs, discontinue use.
Which CBD Cream Strength Should You Choose?
There isn’t one correct strength for everybody.
Instead of simply choosing the largest milligram number, consider:
- How much CBD does the product contain?
- How large is the container?
- What is the approximate CBD concentration?
- Does it contain CBG or other cannabinoids?
- Do you want a cooling or non-cooling formula?
- Has it been independently tested?
- What other ingredients are in the formula?
- How does the price compare with the amount of CBD you’re receiving?
Those questions give you a much better basis for comparing products.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 1,000mg mean in CBD cream?
A 1,000mg CBD cream generally contains approximately 1,000 milligrams of CBD throughout the entire container. It doesn’t mean that each application contains 1,000mg.
What is a 1,500mg CBD cream?
A 1,500mg CBD cream contains approximately 1,500mg of total CBD in the container. You may also see this written as CBD cream 1500mg or 1500 mg CBD cream.
What is the difference between 1,500mg and 2,000mg CBD cream?
If the products are the same size, a 2,000mg CBD cream contains approximately 33% more total CBD than a 1,500mg cream.
What is the difference between 2,000mg and 5,000mg CBD cream?
If the products are the same size, a 5,000mg CBD cream contains 2.5 times as much total CBD as a 2,000mg cream.
Is 5,000mg CBD cream stronger than 2,000mg?
If both products are the same container size, the 5,000mg product contains a greater concentration of CBD. Container size should always be considered when comparing strengths.
Is 10,000mg CBD cream stronger than 5,000mg?
If both products are the same size, a 10,000mg CBD cream contains twice as much total CBD as a 5,000mg CBD cream.
Is CBD lotion strength measured the same way as CBD cream?
Generally, yes. A product labeled 2000mg CBD lotion, for example, would ordinarily be describing approximately 2,000mg of CBD in the entire container. The formulation and consistency may differ from a cream.
Does menthol make CBD cream stronger?
No. Menthol creates a cooling sensation but doesn’t increase the CBD content of a product.
What happened to Quiet Monk’s 1,000mg, 1,500mg and 2,000mg CBD creams?
Quiet Monk CBD discontinued these lower-strength creams as we simplified our topical lineup around higher-concentration products.
Older Quiet Monk product URLs for these discontinued strengths may now direct to this comparison guide so previous customers can understand how those products compare with the strengths available today.
Final Thoughts
CBD cream strengths have changed considerably over the years.
When we first offered 1,000mg, 1,500mg and 2,000mg CBD creams, those potency levels represented a much larger portion of the market than they do today.
Now it’s possible to find creams and other CBD topicals containing 5,000mg, 10,000mg, 20,000mg or considerably more.
But bigger numbers aren’t the entire story.
Look at CBD content, container size, concentration, additional cannabinoids, ingredients and third-party testing together.
At Quiet Monk CBD, we’ve moved away from our older 1,000mg, 1,500mg and 2,000mg creams and toward higher-concentration formulations.
That doesn’t mean higher potency is automatically the right choice for everyone.
It simply gives consumers more choices.
Understanding what those milligram numbers actually mean makes those choices much easier to compare.
About the Author
Steven Gregoire is the founder of Quiet Monk CBD, a U.S. CBD company specializing in high-potency CBD topicals. He has worked directly with CBD topical formulations and customers for years and writes about CBD from a practical perspective, with a focus on helping consumers understand potency, ingredients, formulations and third-party testing.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult an appropriate healthcare professional if you have questions about using CBD.
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