Capsule sizes 00, 0 and 1, explained
Capsule size looks like a packaging decision. It is really a formulation decision, and it is easier to make early.
Size is a volume, not a weight
Capsule sizes describe the volume of the shell, not how many milligrams it holds. The same size 0 capsule holds a very different weight of a dense mineral than of a light botanical extract, because what fits is governed by the bulk density of your blend. This is why a formula quoted in milligrams cannot be matched to a capsule size on paper alone.
Bigger is not automatically better
A larger shell means fewer capsules per serving, which reads well on a label. It also means a larger capsule to swallow, and 00 is at the upper end of what many people are comfortable with. Two size 1 capsules and one size 00 can deliver a similar dose to very different reception.
How the decision usually goes
Start from the dose you need per serving, measure or estimate the bulk density of the finished blend, and work out the fill weight each size can carry. Then sanity-check the result against how many capsules a customer will actually take at once. If the answer is four, the formula may need concentrating rather than the capsule enlarging.
Where this lands with us
We fill sizes 00, 0 and 1, in vegetarian or gelatin shells. If the size is still open, it is worth settling alongside the formula rather than after it, which is what formulation support covers.
Tell us what you want made
Send the formula, the format and the run size you have in mind. We will come back with real numbers.
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