7 of the Best CBD Oils for Blissful Sleep

Had a few restless nights? Turns out 30 to 40 percent of American adults have symptoms of insomnia and according to a 2020 poll, 84 percent feel daytime sleepiness due to lack of sleep or low quality sleep.

CBD (aka cannabidiol) might help. Though cannabis research is still in its early days, recent studies have found that CBD has promise for treating insomnia and one of its common causes, anxiety.

Even though it won’t get you high, CBD tends to have an overall calming and soothing effect for many people that’s good for winding down at the end of the day. Plus, its potential anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects might be just what you need to help you fall and stay asleep.

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There’s limited research on CBD and sleep but most of what we know suggests that the sleep-aiding qualities of CBD have to do with its ability to curb pain and anxiety.

But emerging research hints at the possibility that CBD might directly impact sleep, too. A 2017 review found that CBD may help with insomnia, but that THC might negatively impact sleep quality — even though it helps you fall asleep faster.

A 2019 study found that people with sleep disorders initially had better sleep when taking CBD but that the improvements didn’t last.

tl;dr: CBD might help you catch better Zzz’s, but there’s not enough research to call CBD a legit sleep aid. That said, if you’re experiencing anxiety or pain that’s keeping you up at night, there’s evidence to back up CBD’s ability to curb both of these things. Less anxiety and lower pain levels mean you’re probs gonna fall asleep quicker and stay in dreamland longer.

Terpenes and sleep

Many CBD products contain terpenes, which are aromatic compounds that have therapeutic benefits of their own. Research shows that certain terpenes help reduce stress and anxiety and some even have sedative effects.

You’ll find terpenes in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD, but they’re removed from CBD isolates.

Because the FDA doesn’t lay out testing and labeling requirements for CBD products, quality can be all over the map. With so much variability in potency, ingredients, and price point, it can be hard to wade through the options.

So we did the work for you and selected products that are:

• made by a company that provides proof of third-party testing by an ISO 17025-compliant lab
• made with U.S.-grown hemp
• contain no more than 0.3 percent THC, according to the certificate of analysis (COA)
• get passing results for pesticides, heavy metals, and molds, according to the COA

We also took a close look at other factors like:

• company certifications and manufacturing processes
• product potency
• overall ingredients
• indicators of user trust and brand reputation, such as:
  • customer reviews
  • whether the company has been subject to an FDA warning letter
  • whether the company makes any unsupported health claims

Also — as a heads up — we didn’t include any products that are mixed with other vitamins or supplements (like melatonin) because there’s limited research on how CBD interacts with other vitamins and supplements.

Best overall CBD oil for sleep

Charlotte’s Web CBD Oil

• Price: $$
• CBD type: full-spectrum
• CBD per container: 1,800 milligrams (mg) per 30 milligrams (mL)
• CBD per serving: 60 mg/ mL
• Flavors: mint chocolate, lemon twist, orange blossom
• COA: available online

Charlotte’s Web is one of the most respected CBD brands around and is known for developing a CBD cannabis strain nicknamed “Hippie’s Disappointment” for its rich CBD profile and low THC content.

This potent oil comes in flavors like lemon twist and orange blossom and delivers 60 mg of CBD per dropperful. It’s also made with Colorado-grown hemp.

Reviewers say the stuff really helps them relax and get to bed quicker. Many also say they wake up feeling better rested after using it.

Also worth noting: full-spectrum CBD products contain trace amounts of THC, so it’s possible that you’ll feel the psychoactive effects of THC if taken at high enough doses. That also means you *might* test positive for THC on a drug test.

Best full-spectrum CBD oil for sleep

CBDistillery Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Tincture

• Price: $$
• CBD type: full-spectrum
• CBD per container: 500 mg
• CBD per serving: 17 mg/dropper
• Flavors: flavorless
• COA: available online

This non-GMO, flavorless tincture features simple, clean ingredients with a full-spectrum formulation that retains the plant’s naturally-occurring terpenes, including caryophyllene — a terpene that’s been found to have sedative effects — and bisabolol — another terpene with antianxiety and sedative effects.

Online, you’ll find tons of happy customer reviews for CBDistillery’s tincture. Plus, the company offers discounts to veterans, active military, firefighters, EMTs, and police officers.

Best CBD oil for accurate dosing

Lazarus Naturals CBD RSO

• Price: $$$
• CBD type: full-spectrum
• CBD per container: 1,000 or 5,000 mg
• CBD per serving: 100 mg per mL
• Flavors: flavorless
• COA: available online

Different from regular ol’ CBD oil, RSO or Rick Simpson Oil has higher concentrations of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. The THC percentage is still within the federally legal limit (we checked the COA), but this oil probably isn’t the best choice if you’re new to CBD since THC is more likely to cause side effects.

But a slightly higher THC concentration might also mean greater benefits thanks to the “entourage effect,” which is a theory that says keeping CBD, THC, terpenes, and flavonoids all together boosts CBD’s therapeutic benefits.

This CBD oil also contains anti-anxiety and sleep-inducing terpenes bisabolol and caryophyllene. It also offers a lot more control over serving size thanks to a special applicator. Each mL contains a whopping 100 mg of CBD, though, so keep that in mind when taking it.

Best broad-spectrum CBD oil for sleep

cbdMD CBD Oil Tincture

• Price: $
• CBD type: broad-spectrum
• CBD per container: 300, 750, 1,500, 3,000, 5,000, or 7,500 mg
• CBD per serving: 10, 25, 50, 100, 166.5, 250 mg/dropper
• Flavors: orange, berry, unflavored, or mint
• COA: available online

cbdMD makes this broad-spectrum tincture that comes in various concentrations, including a super potent option with tons (7,500 mg) of the good stuff per bottle. In addition to the hemp extract, this formulation includes MCT oil and is vegan and gluten-free.

Because it’s broad-spectrum, this oil doesn’t have any THC — but it does have some terpenes that make this oil a good pick for those sleepless nights: limonene (a citrusy anxiety-reducing terpene) and linalool (a relaxing, sleep-inducing terpene).

In addition to being at a decent price point, cbdMD’s formula is made with USA-grown hemp. The brand is also GMP certified.

Best rated CBD oil for sleep

NuLeaf Naturals Full-Spectrum CBD Oil

• Price: $$
• CBD type: full-spectrum
• CBD per container: 300, 900, 1,800, 3,000, or 6,000 mg
• CBD per serving: 60 mg/dropper
• Flavors: flavorless
• COA: available online

If you’re not in love with the sweet taste of flavored oils (or you’ve already brushed your teeth), a flavorless option might be the way to go.

This CBD oil made by Nuleaf Naturals is made with organic USA-grown hemp and organic virgin hemp seed oil. The full-spectrum formulation means the oil also contains an array of naturally-occurring cannabis compounds — including some sleep-friendly terpenes we’ve already talked about: bisabolol, caryophyllene, and linalool. But this one also has a bonus terpene that has sedative effects called nerolidol.

This oil has over 23,000 positive reviews (!!!). Many say it helps them fall and stay asleep. Others say it also helps with chronic pain that keeps them from getting restful Zzz’s.

Best flavored CBD oil for sleep

FABCBD CBD Oil

• Price: $$
• CBD type: full-spectrum
• CBD per container: 300, 600, 1,200, or 2,400 mg
• CBD per serving: 10 mg/dropper
• Flavors: natural, citrus, mint, vanilla, berry
• COA: available online

This non-GMO, full-spectrum CBD oil is made from organically-grown hemp farmed in Colorado.

In addition to bisabolol, caryophyllene, and linalool, this oil also has eucalyptol — another terpene that might be able to help you drift off.

The formula comes in a few yummy flavors like citrus, berry, and vanilla. But there’s an unflavored option, too, if that’s more your jam.

Not happy with your purchase? The company has a 30-day money-back guarantee and an easy returns process.

Best dual-purpose CBD oil for sleep

Lord Jones CBD Royal Oil

• Price: $$$
• CBD type: broad-spectrum
• CBD per container: 1,000 mg
• CBD per serving: 20 mg/dropper
• Flavors: flavorless
• COA: available on batch reports page

This fancy CBD oil has just two ingredients: CBD and grapeseed oil. You can ingest it or apply it right to your skin. Unlike coconut oil that’s often used in CBD oil formulations, grapeseed oil absorbs quickly into the skin.

This THC-free oil has sleep-inducing caryophyllene to help you drift off, but it’s also got the anti-inflammatory terpene guaiol, which might help relieve pain when applied topically.

If you end up loving the oil, Lord Jones also has a subscribe and save program so you can save money and keep using your new fave product.

Cannabis dispensaries are a great place to shop for CBD products because budtenders and retail buyers tend to have a handle on quality. Amazon is NOT the place to shop for CBD.

Here’s what to look out for:

CBD type

One study that looked into the effects of vaping CBD, found that CBD isolate didn’t help people with insomnia but one containing CBD and low amounts of THC (like found in full-spectrum products) helped people get better Zzz’s. So, if you’re looking to catch improved shut-eye, a full-spectrum product might be your best bet.

Plus, many terpenes found in full-spectrum products (like linalool, bisabolol, and caryophyllene) have anti-anxiety and sedative effects that might give your CBD oil an extra boost.

If you prefer to steer clear of THC, many broad-spectrum products also contain terpenes and are also worth a shot.

Potency

If you’re new to CBD it makes sense to start with a small dose before working your way up to the big leagues. But some research suggests that 160 mg might be a good place to start if you’re having sleep troubles. That’s a pretty high dose, though, so go slow if you’re just starting out.

Third-party testing

If you shop for CBD online, check out the company to make sure that it provides an up-to-date certificate of analysis (COA) from a third-party lab that shows the product’s CBD content, THC content (if applicable), and that it contains passing levels of molds, pesticides, solvents, and other contaminants.

The COA should be available on a company’s website, or sometimes, by emailed request. When reading labels, make sure that you can clearly find:

• total CBD content
• per serving CBD content
• passes pesticide, heavy mold, and mold testing

Not a fan of gulping down earthy-tasting oils? CBD also comes in many other forms like gummies (usually pretty yummy) and capsules (hardly hit your taste buds).

Some pain-relieving or lavender-scented topicals might also help you sleep better by lowering your pain levels and helping you relax.

Other CBD products you may want to consider if you’re looking into CBD to help you doze off include CBD bath bombs and bath salts.

Take a CBD sleep oil 30 minutes to 1 hour before bedtime.

Make sure to follow the instructions on your product’s packaging — but typically, you can use the dropper to put a few drops directly in your mouth, in your fave food or beverage (night time tea, anyone?), or even add it to your favorite moisturizer to apply topically.

For best results, pair your CBD dose with good sleep hygiene like turning off electronics and keeping your bedroom a drama-free zone.

Dosage

Everyone responds to CBD a little differently, so it may take some experimentation to find your ideal dose for sleep. While research shows a larger dose of 160 mg is ideal for sleep, 10 mg is a good starting place for many adults — from there, you can slowly up your dose, if needed, until you get the desired results.

If you’re feeling groggy the day after taking a CBD product for sleep, you probably want to dial your dose back a bit.

CBD is pretty safe but may produce minimal side effects, a few of note include:

• diarrhea
• weight changes
• appetite changes
• fatigue

And it’s also important to point out that CBD can interact with your meds if you’re taking any. Talk to a healthcare professional to make sure there’s no risk of interactions before dropping CBD oil under your tongue.

P.S. Combining CBD with a high fat meal has the potential to increase your risk of side effects. Yikes! By all means, enjoy those tasty fries after ingesting CBD, just maybe stick close to a bathroom.

Why can’t I sleep?

Insomnia can happen for a lot of reasons like stress or depression. You might also struggle to doze off if you work shifts or otherwise don’t have a regular sleep schedule. Being inactive can also make it tougher to get shut-eye.

Will CBD oil make me sleepy?

While some research suggests that CBD can help improve insomnia, most research suggests that the sleep-aiding qualities of CBD have to do with its ability to curb pain and anxiety.

So, CBD might not make you feel sleepy, but it could help relieve the pain or anxiety that’s keeping you up at night.

Is taking CBD oil better than taking sleeping pills?

There’s not enough evidence that CBD is an effective sleep aid, but taking CBD might be a better first step than popping sleeping pills, which have more serious potential side effects.

When should I take CBD oil for sleep?

Always check the instructions on your product’s packaging, but you can usually take a CBD sleep oil 30 minutes to 1 hour before bedtime.

What’s the most effective CBD oil for sleep?

Current research suggests that CBD products containing low amounts of THC are most effective for sleep, so full-spectrum products are a great place to start. Full-spectrum products typically contain terpenes that might give CBD oils a power boost.

But if you’re not comfy taking products with THC, many broad-spectrum products also contain terpenes and are def worth a try.

We’ll be honest — it could take some trial and error and a small chunk of change to find the CBD oil for sleep that’s best for you. But compared to the benefits of feeling well-rested and ready to take on the day? Yeah, that’s priceless.

Is CBD legal?The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.