First Run Cost Estimator
Estimate the total cost of your first supplement production run. Adjust dosage form, volume, and formulation type to see a breakdown of manufacturing, packaging, testing, and setup costs.
Example: 1,000 bottles of 60-count capsules, private label
| Manufacturing | $2,400 - $4,800 |
| Packaging, testing & setup | $1,630 - $8,850 |
| Estimated total | $4,030 - $13,650 |
Adjust the inputs below to see your own estimate.
Per capsule. Shell ($0.01-$0.05) + ingredients ($0.01-$0.05) + encapsulation ($0.005-$0.02). Gelatin or HPMC (vegetarian). High estimate calibrated to $4.80/bottle at 60ct, consistent with Champion Bio $5/bottle at 5K units. Premium branded ingredients may exceed this range (use custom formulation type).
Use the manufacturer's existing formula with your label. Fastest and least expensive to start. Per-unit costs reflect commodity-to-standard ingredient pricing.
Estimated Cost Breakdown
1,000 bottles × 60 units = 60,000 total units
| Category | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing$0.04-$0.08 per unit | $2,400 | $4,800 |
| Packaging | $330.00 | $1,850 |
| Setup / batch fee | $300.00 | $2,000 |
| Testing panel | $500.00 | $3,000 |
| Label designOne-time | $500.00 | $2,000 |
| Estimated Total | $4,030 | $13,650 |
| Per bottle (estimated) | $4.03 | $13.65 |
The estimated total includes one-time fixed costs (setup fee, testing panel, label design) on top of per-bottle manufacturing and packaging. Fixed costs are the same regardless of order size, so they shrink as a percentage of total at higher volumes.
Per-unit costs decrease at higher volumes (20-35% savings from 5,000 to 50,000 bottles). These estimates use a single range across all volumes. Contact manufacturers for volume-specific quotes.
Based on 2025-2026 industry data. Last updated: March 2026. Read the full cost guide →
Manufacturers offering capsules
Makers Nutrition
Commack, New York · MOQ: 500 bottles (private label), 1,500 bottles (custom)
NutraScience Labs
Farmingdale, New York · MOQ: Not publicly disclosed
Lief Labs
Valencia, California · MOQ: 2,500 units
Vitaquest International
West Caldwell, New Jersey · MOQ: 4,100+ bottles (varies by format)
Robinson Pharma
Santa Ana, California · MOQ: Not publicly disclosed
+54 more vendors
Estimates for planning purposes only. Per-unit costs decrease at higher volumes (20-35% savings from 5K to 50K bottles). Actual costs vary by manufacturer, formulation complexity, ingredient sourcing, and specifications. Contact manufacturers for exact quotes.