Empty capsules size 00 are one of the standard capsule sizes used to hold powdered supplements, herbs, and nutraceutical ingredients. If you have ever opened a store-bought supplement and poured out the powder, there is a good chance it came in size 00 capsules. They are large enough to hold a meaningful amount of powder, yet still small enough for most people to swallow comfortably.
In the spectrum of empty capsules, size 00 capsules sit near the middle. They are bigger than size 0 and size 1, but smaller than size 000. That balance is exactly why so many people gravitate toward 00 capsules when they begin making their own supplements. They offer practical capacity without becoming intimidating to take.
For DIY supplement users, empty capsules in size 00 are often the default starting point. They work well with common powders such as mushroom blends, greens, amino acids, and herbal extracts. Instead of relying on pre-mixed products filled with additives, you can fill empty capsules yourself and know exactly what is going into your body. That simple shift is what draws many people into the DIY approach in the first place.
How Much Powder Fits In Size 00 Capsules?
One of the first questions people ask after choosing empty capsules size 00 is how much powder they can actually hold. The answer is not as straightforward as a single number, because different powders behave very differently. To understand the real capacity of size 00 capsules, you need to consider the following factors:
Powder Density Matters More Than You Think
The amount that fits inside 00 capsules depends heavily on density, not just volume. A finely milled extract may pack tightly into size 00 capsules, while a fluffy botanical powder may take up more space and weigh less per capsule. That is why two different supplements can fill the same empty capsules but contain very different milligram amounts.
Average Capacity Of Size 00 Capsules
On average, size 00 capsules hold between 500-1000mg of powder, depending on the ingredient. Heavier powders like certain minerals may reach the higher end of that range, while lighter herbal powders fall closer to the lower end. This range is why many people consider empty capsules size 00 a practical middle ground for daily supplementation.
How To Calculate Your Exact Capsule Fill
If you want a precise answer for your specific powder, weighing it is the only reliable method. We built a simple tool to make this easier; use our Capsule Size Calculator to estimate how much your powder will fit into different capsule sizes. You will just need a small digital scale and a tablespoon to get an accurate starting point for your empty capsules.
Why Size 00 Capsules Are The Most Popular For DIY Supplements
There is a reason size 00 capsules keep popping up in DIY supplement communities. After working with thousands of customers filling their own empty capsules, we have seen clear patterns in what people prefer. The popularity of 00 capsules comes down to a few practical advantages:
A Balance Between Capacity And Comfort
Most people want to fit a meaningful dose into as few capsules as possible, but they also want something they can swallow without hesitation. Size 00 capsules strike that balance. They are large enough to reduce the total number of empty capsules needed per serving, yet still manageable for most adults.
Fewer Capsules Per Serving Saves Time
If your supplement protocol includes mushroom powders, greens blends, or amino acids, smaller capsule sizes can mean swallowing four or five capsules at once. With 00 capsules, you can often cut that number down. Over time, that difference adds up, making your routine feel simpler and more sustainable.
Most Versatile Choice for Capsule Filling Machines
Another reason empty capsules size 00 remain the standard is versatility. Size 00 is considered one of the most versatile because it’s considered the size that can hold the most while still being easy to swallow for the vast majority of adults. This makes it more versatile because you can choose from a greater range of dosages and use a secondary powder to fill up the free space leftover. Our Capsule Formulation Tool walks you through this process and calculates how much of each ingredient you have to mix so that each capsule will hold exactly the dosage you choose once they’re filled completely.
Otherwise, you’d have to estimate or calculate the dosage that each capsule size would hold of your specific single ingredient, and then choose the capsule size that holds closest to the dosage you want. Therefore, choosing size 00 and then adding in a secondary powder let’s you choose any dosage up to the amount that a size 00 can hold (which is quite a lot for a capsule).
Empty Gelatin Capsules vs. Vegan Capsules: What’s The Difference?
Once you decide on empty capsules size 00, the next question is usually about the material. Not all empty capsules are made the same way, and the shell itself can matter depending on your preferences and dietary needs. The two most common options are empty gelatin capsules and plant-based alternatives:
What Are Empty Gelatin Capsules Made From?
Empty gelatin capsules are made from gelatin, which is derived from animal collagen. They have been used in the supplement industry for decades because they are reliable, easy to fill, and tend to lock together securely once assembled. Many people choose empty gelatin capsules because they are widely available, cost-effective, and compatible with most capsule filling machines.
Note: The source of your gelatin capsules is important. In China, there was a scandal that resulted in discovering that non-human grade gelatin was being used for capsules. (Kwok & Lyn, 2012)
This is why our gelatin capsules are never made in China. We only carry the best quality, 100% bovine-gelatin capsules produced in Europe and South America.
What Are Vegan Capsules Made From?
Vegan capsules are made from plant-based ingredients. The most common is called HPMC, or hypromellose. However, here at Blated, we are strongly against this ingredient because it is an artificially modified form of cellulose (plant matter/sawdust). In our opinion, the amount of synthetic chemicals added to cellulose to create HPMC makes it far from the ideal choice for a “vegan” capsule. Most companies choose to sell HPMC capsules but label them as “vegetable cellulose,” which isn’t the full picture.
We believe the only good type of vegan capsules are those made from the naturally-occuring polysaccharide created through fermentation, pullulan. They contain no animal products and are often preferred by those following plant-based diets. In size 00 capsules, the oxygen barrier capability of pullulan shells outperforms gelatin by 9 times, and it outperforms synthetic HPMC by over 300 times!
For this reason, Blated only offers vegan capsules made from 100% pullulan gum.
Does Capsule Material Affect Your Supplement?
For most powdered supplements, the difference between empty gelatin capsules and vegan pullulan capsules does not significantly change how the powder is delivered if stored and used within a year. What matters more is the quality of the capsule and keeping your formulation simple, free of unnecessary additives. At Blated, we focus on single-ingredient capsule shells so your empty capsules contain only what they are supposed to contain.
How To Choose The Right Capsule Size For Your Goals
Even though empty capsules size 00 are the most popular, they are not necessarily the right fit for everyone or every supplement. Choosing the correct capsule size depends on your dosage needs, the density of your powder, and your comfort level with swallowing capsules. Before committing to a large batch of empty capsules, consider the following:
Start With Your Target Dosage
Your ideal capsule size starts with how much of an ingredient you plan to take per serving, since some herbs are used in smaller amounts while others require gram-level servings that may mean multiple 00 capsules per dose. Looking at common serving ranges helps you decide if size 00 capsules will keep your routine practical or if you will need to adjust how many empty capsules you prepare at once. If you are unsure about typical amounts for specific herbs or powders, our community-driven DIY Dosage List is a helpful starting point, as it compiles common dosages and density insights to help you better understand how different ingredients behave in empty capsules size 00.
Compare Sizes Before You Commit
Capsule sizing is not always intuitive when you are just looking at numbers. Size 00 capsules are larger than size 0 and smaller than size 000, but how that feels in practice can vary from person to person. We walk through the differences in detail in How to Pick the Best Capsule Size, including a visual chart that makes comparisons easier.
Think About Long-Term Practicality
It is easy to focus only on how much fits inside 00 capsules, but your daily experience matters too. If you are taking multiple supplements, using empty capsules can simplify your routine by reducing the total number per serving. On the other hand, if you are sensitive to larger capsules, a slightly smaller size may make the habit easier to maintain over time.
How Empty Capsules Size 00 Fit Into A DIY Supplement Routine
Once you understand capacity and material, the bigger picture is how size 00 empty capsules actually function in a real, daily routine. Making your own supplements is not about turning your kitchen into a laboratory. It is about simplifying what you already take and removing the unnecessary extras that often come with pre-packaged products.
From Bulk Powder To Finished Capsules
Many people start with bulk powders because they want control over sourcing and cost. Instead of paying for branding, sweeteners, and fillers, you are buying the ingredient itself and placing it into empty capsules on your own terms. If you are new to the process, we break everything down step by step in The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Own Supplements, including mixing techniques and practical setup tips.
Using Capsule Filling Machines For Efficiency
Filling a few size 00 capsules by hand is manageable, but preparing a week or a month at a time is far more efficient with a capsule filling machine. This is where 00 capsules really shine, since they are widely supported by manual filling equipment and offer a strong balance between output and ease of use. For many people, preparing a batch of empty capsules once a week reduces the mental load of measuring powders every single day.
When Capsules Are Not The Best Option
There are also times when capsules are not the most practical solution, especially if you are taking larger gram-level servings of certain botanicals or amino acids. In those cases, some people choose to take powders directly, but taste can become a barrier. That is one reason we developed Blate Papes, edible Gel Films™ made from potato starch that allow you to swallow powder without tasting it, offering an alternative to traditional empty gelatin capsules or larger size 00 capsules when capsule counts start to climb.
Sources:
- Gullapalli, R. P., & Mazzitelli, C. L. (2017). Gelatin and non-gelatin capsule dosage forms. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 106(3), 546-558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2017.02.006
- Wood-Yang, A. J., Palacios, J. I., Sankaranarayanan, A., & Prausnitz, M. R. (2025). Stabilization of Self-Pressurized Gelatin Capsules for Oral Delivery of Biologics. Pharmaceutics, 17(9), 1156. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17091156
- Magramane, S., Nikolett Kállai-Szabó, Farkas, D., Károly Süvegh, Romána Zelkó, & Antal, I. (2025). Comparative Evaluation of Gelatin and HPMC Inhalation Capsule Shells Exposed to Simulated Humidity Conditions. Pharmaceutics, 17(7), 877–877. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17070877
- Stranzinger, S., Faulhammer, E., Li, J., Dong, R., Zeitler, J. A., Biserni, S., Calzolari, V., Khinast, J. G., & Markl, D. (2019). Predicting capsule fill weight from in-situ powder density measurements using terahertz reflection technology. International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X, 1, 100004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpx.2018.100004
- Kwok, D., & Lyn, T. E. (2012, June 18). Toxic capsules help the medicine go down in China. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/toxic-capsules-help-the-medicine-go-down-in-china-idUSBRE85H0AE/
