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The best CBD product for sleep depends on your needs and type of products you prefer. We reviewed CBD gummies, oils, bath bombs, and lotions from reliable brands including Medterra, Joy Organics, and more.
Research into CBD is ongoing, but studies show that it may have beneficial health effects. Early results are promising for anxiety, pain, and even sleep.
But shopping for CBD can be difficult. Since the FDA doesn’t regulate CBD products in the same way it regulates drugs or dietary supplements, companies sometimes mislabel or misrepresent their products. That means it’s especially important to do your research before buying CBD.
Read on to find out about ten quality products and what you need to know about using CBD for sleep.
We stayed away from ingestible products with added vitamins, minerals, or supplements — like melatonin — since not much is known about how CBD interacts with these other ingredients. Melatonin products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A 2023 study analyzed the quantities of melatonin in samples of melatonin gummies.
Researchers found that not only were quantities declared inaccurately on the labels, but that some of the melatonin gummies actually contained CBD. The study also noted that “children might intentionally or unintentionally ingest melatonin gummies.”
Many people use CBD for insomnia and other sleep disorders. You can experience insomnia for many reasons, including physical pain and anxiety.
Since CBD shows promise in helping relieve pain and anxiety, it makes sense that it may help people sleep better.
For example, a 2023 study on the use of CBD for sleep compared CBD’s effectiveness with melatonin alone or mixed with minor cannabinoids.
Researchers found ongoing use of low dose CBD is safe and effective for boosting sleep quality, though its effects do not surpass those of using 5 mg melatonin.
Results also showed that adding low doses of CBN and CBC may not boost the effects of CBD or melatonin isolate.
As we mentioned, CBD’s potential interactions with vitamins, minerals, and supplements, including melatonin, are still unknown. This means it’s safer to avoid products that blend these ingredients since we don’t have research on their safety.
Still, carefully vetted CBD products, like those on our list, may help you sleep better. It’s also a good idea to check with a qualified healthcare professional first and scan product labels carefully, looking for potential allergens or sensitivities.
For example, research from 2018 looked at numerous studies on CBD and pain, dating between 1975 and March 2018. The review concluded that CBD shows a lot of potential as a pain treatment, especially for cancer-related pain, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia.
For stress levels
CBD also might be able to reduce anxiety, although further studies are needed. Two small studies — one from 2010 and another from 2019 — indicated that CBD might be able to lower anxiety in stressful social situations.
Research from 2018 suggests that CBD could reduce your overall stress levels. So, if stress keeps you up at night, CBD might be worth a try.
For anxiety
Some research from 2019 looked at the effects of CBD on anxiety and sleep. The researchers administered 25 mg of CBD per day to 72 women. After 1 month, 79.2% of participants reported lower anxiety levels, and 66.7% reported better sleep.
For wakefulness
What’s more, research from 2014, which looked at both human and animal studies, found that CBD could potentially promote wakefulness during the daytime. In other words, it might help you feel more awake during the day.
However, some people may experience side effects from CBD, some of which may include fatigue and drowsiness.
More research is needed on CBD and sleep, but the current research is promising.
Flavorings: Some CBD products contain ingredients to give them a specific flavor.
Other ingredients: If the product is, say, a CBD-infused tea, then the rest of the ingredients should be specified.
Other factors: Some labels specify whether it’s organic or not or locally grown. It’s up to you to determine whether this is important to you.
Dosage: Not all CBD labels tell you how much to take, especially since the preferred dosage varies from person to person. But labels should tell you how much CBD is in the bottle and how much is in each drop, gummy, capsule, or teabag.
What to look for from a third-party test
Reputable CBD products will be third-party tested and have a COA available to customers. This is where an independent lab tests to ensure that the product contains what it says.
Unfortunately, some companies say their products contain CBD, but they don’t. Reading the lab report can help you avoid these products.
How to read a lab report
On the lab report, look for:
CBD content: The report should confirm how much CBD is in the bottle or in a milliliter of the product.
Other cannabinoids: If it’s a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD product, the lab report should confirm the presence of other cannabinoids.
Flavonoids and terpenes: Some lab reports specify whether flavonoids or terpenes are present. (For more on common cannabis terms, see the terminology section in this article.)
Residual solvent analysis: Extraction processes can create by-products called residual solvents. Some companies that offer products without THC use heavy chemicals to produce CBD isolate.
Presence of heavy metals, molds, and pesticides: Not all lab reports test for this, but high quality CBD products should be free of these harmful toxins.
To work out how much to take, look at the packaging. It might state how much CBD is in 1 mL. If not, find out how much is in the entire bottle and work it out from there.
Generally, one dropper of CBD oil is 1 mL. If you want to start with a small dose, you can always take a half or even a quarter of a dropper.
CBD tinctures or oils are dropped underneath the tongue. Once you drop it there, hold it for about 30 seconds before swallowing.
Generally, CBD is well tolerated by many people. However, it’s important to be aware that there are some side effects. According to research from 2017, the side effects of CBD include:
diarrhea
changes in appetite
changes in weight
fatigue
drowsiness
jitteriness
CBD can also interact with some medications. Medications that come with a grapefruit warning may be unsafe to use with CBD. To be safe, always talk with your doctor or healthcare professional before trying CBD.
CBD products can also contain THC. It’s important to know whether or not the CBD product you’re using contains THC, as it can still show up on a drug test.
If you’ve tried tips for better sleep, drank some sleepy tea, and tested CBD for sleep and still haven’t found better rest, talk with your doctor or healthcare professional. After performing an examination and learning more about your lifestyle and sleep habits, they may be able to identify a cause.
Be sure to mention any possible contributing factors to your doctor or healthcare professional during your visit. These factors include any supplements or medications you may take or if you experience depression, anxiety, or chronic pain.
Your doctor or healthcare professional may recommend you visit a sleep specialist and undergo a sleep study test to find the best course of action for your sleep disturbance.
CBD may help your body transition from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep to non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep more quickly. More specifically, a 2014 study shows that CBD may help improve REM sleep behaviors in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Another small 2016 case report that was done on a 10-year-old girl also suggests that CBD may help with anxiety and insomnia for those living with PTSD.
Taking CBD can be a little confusing if you’re new to it, and it can get more complicated when you’re ingesting CBD.
First, you need to figure out the right CBD dosage. Start with a small amount, such as 5 to 10 mg per day. If you don’t notice a difference after a week, increase the amount by 5 mg. Continue this process until you feel a difference.
Research from 2014 suggests that higher dosages of CBD may be beneficial for improving insomnia symptoms. However, taking lower doses may have the opposite effect and promote wakefulness.
In a 2023 review of 34 studies on CBD use for insomnia management, all the studies reported improvement in insomnia symptoms for at least some portion of participants.
Researchers also noted that CBD by itself or with equal parts THC may be helpful for insomnia relief.
Overall, CBD is thought to be safe. While research on its effects is ongoing, some known possible side effects include:
diarrhea
appetite changes
weight changes
fatigue
drowsiness
Taking CBD at least 1 hour before bedtime may help you score some soothing sleep.
Research around CBD is generally still growing, and more studies on CBD and sleep are still needed.
What we do know right now is that CBD is considered safe to use and may even help with sleep.
Sleeping pills do have the potential for more serious side effects compared with what we know about CBD side effects. It’s always best to talk with a qualified healthcare professional before trying any sleep aids or CBD.
If you have insomnia, or if pain and anxiety are preventing you from getting a good night’s rest, you may want to consider trying CBD. Remember to speak with your doctor before trying any new medications or supplements, and be sure to research CBD products before choosing one for sleep.
Healthline has sole editorial control over this article. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. The information in this article is intended to be general in nature. It’s not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional.
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.
Last medically reviewed on April 9, 2024
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Chagas MHN, et al. (2014). Cannabidiol can improve complex sleep-related behaviours associated with rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson's disease patients: A case series. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24845114/
Fitzgerald T, et al. (2015). Residual effects of sleep medications are commonly reported and associated with impaired patient-reported outcomes among insomnia patients in the United States. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/sd/2015/607148/
Saleska JL, et al. (2023). The safety and comparative effectiveness of non-psychoactive cannabinoid formulations for the improvement of sleep: A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37162192/
