We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission or other tangible benefit. Optum Store, Optum Perks, and Healthline Media are owned by RVO Health. Here’s our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
Pure Encapsulations is our top choice for the best calcium supplement, followed closely by Nature Made. Read on for the full list and what to look for when you’re shopping.
- Best overall: Pure Encapsulations Calcium Citrate | Skip to review
- Best value: Nature Made Calcium with Vitamin D3 | Skip to review
- Best for women: Care/of Calcium Plus | Skip to review
- Best for women over 50: Garden of Life my kind Organics Plant Calcium | Skip to review
- Best for bone health: Thorne Advanced Bone Support | Skip to review
Calcium is an important mineral that’s crucial for
What’s more, it is involved in many other aspects of health and is
While it’s recommended to meet your calcium needs through your diet from foods like dairy products, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens, some people may need additional help from a supplement to ensure adequate intake.
Selecting a high quality calcium supplement can be challenging, especially if you’re not sure what to look for.
Keep reading for our picks of the best calcium supplements, along with tips for how to choose the right supplement for your needs.
A note on price
General price ranges with dollar signs ($–$$$) are indicated below. One dollar sign means the product is rather affordable, whereas three dollar signs indicate a higher price range.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $0.20 per serving
- $$ = $0.20–$0.40 per serving
- $$$ = over $0.40 per serving
Most products require you to just take one capsule daily, but some have a greater serving size.
Here’s a quick look at how our top picks compare:
| Price range | Type | Form | % DV per serving | Serving size | Active ingredients | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Encapsulations Calcium Citrate | $$ | calcium citrate | capsules | 23% | 2 capsules | calcium |
| Nature Made Calcium | $ | calcium carbonate | tablets | 46% | 1 tablet | • vitamin D3 • calcium |
| Care/of Calcium Plus | $$ | calcium (from calcareous marine algae) | tablets | 37% | 2 tablets | • calcium • vitamin D3 • magnesium • vitamin K2 |
| Garden of Life mykind Organics Plant Calcium | $$$ | calcium (from organic algae) | tablets | 62% | 3 tablets | • vitamin D • calcium • magnesium • vitamin K2 • strontium • vanadium • organic plant • calcium blend |
| Thorne Advanced Bone Support | $$ | dicalcium malate | capsules | 23% | 2 capsules | • vitamin D3 • calcium • vitamin B6 • folate • vitamin B12 • magnesium • boron |
This article evaluates calcium supplements based on the following criteria:
- Quality: We looked for products from reputable companies that have ideally been third-party tested or manufactured by third-party certified facilities.
- Type of calcium: We prioritized supplements that feature forms of calcium that are easy to absorb.
- Dosage: We included supplements that provide a range of doses to help you find a product that meets your needs.
- Additional ingredients: Many of our picks pair calcium with other nutrients to support bone health or maximize absorption, such as vitamin D, vitamin K, or magnesium.
- Vetting: All products included in this article have been vetted and approved by our team of experts to ensure that they meet Healthline’s medical and business standards.
Why you should trust us
Every brand and product on our list has been reviewed by registered dietitians and vetted to ensure that it aligns with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:
- adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements, per Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations
- is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices established by the FDA
- is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
- is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust, such as having its supplements validated by third-party labs
With so many supplements on the market, picking the right product can be challenging.
Here are a few of the most important factors to consider:
- Extensive testing: In addition to buying supplements from a reputable manufacturer, be sure to look for products that have undergone testing to ensure purity and potency, ideally by a third-party lab.
- Type: Calcium carbonate is more widely available and cheaper, and it contains a higher amount of calcium. But it
may cause gas and bloating. Calcium citrate is more expensive but more easily absorbed in the body, which may be key for people who have low stomach acid or are taking proton pump inhibitors. - Ingredients: It’s important to check the ingredient label carefully and steer clear of products that contain high amounts of fillers, additives, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives. Many products also contain added ingredients like vitamin D, which can help
optimize the absorption of calcium. - Dosage: Though calcium requirements range from
1,000–1,300 mg daily for most adults, supplements with 200–500 mg are usually enough to help fill in the gaps in your diet. However, some people may need a higher amount,including those with certain dietary restrictions or health conditions.
Note that it’s important to only use supplements as directed and to talk with a healthcare professional before trying them, especially if you have any underlying conditions or are taking medications.
Additionally, always talk with your doctor before using a high dose calcium supplement, and remember to split supplementation into several smaller doses of less than 500 mg to
Useful supplement shopping guides
Check out these two articles to help make supplement shopping a breeze:
Calcium supplements can be a simple and effective way to increase your calcium intake.
They may be especially beneficial for certain groups, including:
- those who are unable to meet their calcium needs through food sources alone
- people with health conditions that can interfere with nutrient absorption
- postmenopausal people, as menopause
can lead to bone loss and decreased calcium absorption - those concerned about bone loss, as adequate calcium intake is
recommended to maintain bone health anddecrease bone density loss during menopause
It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before taking calcium supplements to determine whether or not they are necessary for you.
Though calcium is an essential mineral and plays a central role in bone health, excessive intake of calcium from supplements has been associated with several negative side effects, including:
increased risk of kidney stones, especially when combined with vitamin D or if supplements are taken between meals rather than with foodhigher risk of heart disease and heart attack- hypercalcemia, or high levels of calcium in the blood, which can cause a range of symptoms,
including digestive issues and bone pain
If you’re considering taking calcium supplements, talk with a healthcare professional first to determine whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
There are several forms of calcium available, each of which has its own pros and cons.
Calcium citrate is often preferred over other types because it’s more readily absorbed and less likely to cause side effects.
On the other hand, calcium carbonate may be associated with gas and bloating, but it’s also more affordable, readily available, and requires fewer tablets per serving to reach your desired dose.
Other forms are also available but are less common and have not been studied as extensively, including calcium phosphate, calcium ascorbate, and dicalcium malate.
The recommended DV for calcium is 1,300 mg for adults and children 4 years and older. However, individual calcium needs can vary based on your age and assigned sex at birth.
Here is the recommended dietary allowance for calcium for specific groups:
- 19–50 years: 1,000 mg per day
- 51–70 years: 1,000 mg per day for men, 1,200 mg per day for women
- 70 years and over: 1,200 mg per day
Vitamin D and calcium are two different nutrients. Calcium is a mineral found naturally in dairy products and leafy greens. Meanwhile, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is produced by the skin in response to sun exposure.
Though there are several differences between these two nutrients, both play a key role in bone health and are often combined in many supplements.
Vitamin D and calcium can be taken together. In fact, many calcium supplements also contain vitamin D, as it increases the absorption of calcium.
Calcium is an important mineral that plays a central role in bone health.
While its best to meet your calcium needs through food, some people may benefit from also taking a supplement.
There are many calcium supplements on the market, each of which varies based on the type of calcium, dosage, and ingredients it contains.
When selecting a calcium supplement, be sure to consider all of these factors and look for products that have undergone third-party testing to ensure that you’re getting the highest quality possible.
