Trust tool
Are you overpaying for vitamins?
Enter a supplement's price, servings and active dose to see its cost per effective dose and whether it sits inside, below or well above a typical UK price band for that nutrient. If your number is well above the band, you are probably paying a premium for the same active you could buy cheaper. This is a value check, not advice on whether to take anything. Information only, not medical advice.
Typical UK price bands
| Nutrient | Reference dose | Typical band |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | per 10 mcg (400 IU) | 0.2p to 1.5p per 10 mcg (400 IU) |
| Magnesium (elemental) | per 100 mg elemental | 4p to 20p per 100 mg elemental |
| Omega-3 (EPA + DHA) | per 1 g EPA + DHA | 15p to 60p per 1 g EPA + DHA |
| Collagen | per 10 g | 25p to 90p per 10 g |
| Iron (elemental) | per mg elemental | 0.3p to 2p per mg elemental |
| Creatine | per 5 g | 8p to 35p per 5 g |
How the verdict is decided
We work out your cost per effective dose, then compare it with the typical UK band for that nutrient. Inside the band is fair value; below it is a bargain; above the top of the band is where you are likely overpaying, and we show by how much against the cheap end. The bands are indicative reference ranges from mainstream UK retail prices, normalised to a reference dose, not a live price feed, so treat the result as a prompt to compare. Bands as of 2026-06-11.
Information only, not medical advice. This tool is educational and is not a substitute for a registered clinician. It does not diagnose anything and does not recommend that you take any supplement. Always read product labels and speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting, stopping or combining supplements.
Read more
For the exact figure on one product, use the cost per effective dose calculators. To decide whether you need a supplement at all, try do you actually need this supplement, and to total a whole routine, the supplement stack daily cost tool. More on the tools hub.
Frequently asked questions
How does the overpaying check work?
You enter what you pay, how many servings are in the pack, and the active dose per serving. The tool works out the cost per effective dose, the price of the reference amount of the active ingredient, then compares it with a typical UK price band for that nutrient. If your number sits well above the band, you are likely paying a premium for the same active you could buy cheaper elsewhere.
Where do the price bands come from?
They are indicative bands drawn from the price ranges we see across mainstream UK retailers, normalised to a reference dose, and they are a rule of thumb rather than a live feed. Prices move, so treat the verdict as a prompt to compare, not a precise valuation. Our individual cost per effective dose calculators give the exact figure for any one product.
Does a higher price ever buy something real?
Sometimes. You might pay more for a gentler mineral form, a vegan source, third-party testing or a trusted brand, and those can be worth it to you. The point of this tool is that you should know what the premium is before you decide, so you are choosing to pay more rather than paying more without realising.
Should I just always buy the cheapest?
Not blindly. Cheapest per effective dose is the right starting point, but check the form is one you tolerate, the dose suits your needs, and the product is from a reputable seller. And the bigger question, whether you need the supplement at all, is one for your diet, your GP or a blood test. This tool is about value, not about whether to take something.
Editor, Her Vitals
Oliver leads Her Vitals's editorial coverage of women's life-stage health and supplements. He curates and reviews existing branded products across trying to conceive, pregnancy, postnatal, perimenopause, menopause and the senior years, weighing what the evidence supports against guidance from bodies such as EFSA, the NHS and NICE, and is clear that the content is information rather than medical advice.
Last reviewed: 11 June 2026