Vitamin D supplements compared
We compare what each label says: dose per serving, form, servings and independent testing. We have not tested any product, and we do not say how much you should take.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting vitamin D, especially if you are pregnant, take medicines or have a health condition. Medical disclaimer.
Last checked November 10, 2026. How we evaluate · Corrections and updates
What the official figures say
The US Food and Drug Administration publishes one reference figure for each nutrient, the Daily Value (FDA, content current as of March 5, 2024):
- FDA Daily Value for vitamin D: 20 mcg a day, the figure the %DV on labels is based on.
The FDA describes Daily Values as the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day, and the %DV on a Supplement Facts label is based on them. It is one figure for the label, so it does not show differences by age, sex or pregnancy, or an upper limit. The FDA Daily Value table does not give an upper limit, and we state none. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a fact sheet on vitamin D; we have not read it for this page, and we link it as a place to look for amounts by age, sex and pregnancy and for upper limits. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about medicines and about any serving above the Daily Value. Source: FDA, Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, content current as of March 5, 2024.
How to read a vitamin D label
- Units. Labels may print IU, mcg or both, and a product name can quote one unit while the Supplement Facts panel uses another. Compare figures in the same unit.
- Serving size. Check how many capsules, tablets, softgels or scoops make one serving before you compare doses or count servings.
- Form. The label names the form, such as D3 (cholecalciferol) or D2 (ergocalciferol).
- Percent Daily Value. The %DV on a label compares one serving with the Daily Value above. The records here give it for adults and children 4 or more years of age.
- Other ingredients. Read the "Other ingredients" list for allergens and added ingredients.
- Independent testing. A testing or certification mark on a label is a statement on the label record, and we have not checked any mark with the certifier. The table quotes the marks a record states (Kosher, Halal and GMP statements are not listed). Check each one on the certifier's own site.
- Your total. The amounts on different labels add up across every supplement and multivitamin.
Comparison
Only products whose label data we have read appear here: on the maker's own page, or in the National Institutes of Health's Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), which records labels as submitted. A label can change after it was recorded. Selection is not a sales ranking. We will add Amazon best-seller positions only with a dated source.
| Product | Per serving | % DV on label | Servings | Form | Marks on the label | Label record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorne Vitamin D-5,000 (60 capsules) | 125 mcg (5,000 IU per the page FAQ) | not shown, see note | 60 | D3 (cholecalciferol) | NSF Certified for Sport (per the maker's page; not yet checked on NSF's site) | Source |
| Nature Made D3 2000 IU (50 mcg), 100 tablets | 50 mcg (2,000 IU) | 250% | 100 | D3 (cholecalciferol) | USP Verified | Source |
| Sports Research Vitamin D3 125 mcg (5000 IU), 30 softgels | 125 mcg (5,000 IU) | 625% | 30 | D3 (cholecalciferol) | IGEN Non-GMO Tested | Source |
| Jarrow Formulas Vitamin D3 125 mcg 5000 IU, 100 softgels | 125 mcg (5,000 IU) | 625% | 100 | D3 (cholecalciferol) | IGEN Non-GMO Tested | Source |
| NOW High Potency Vitamin D-3 10,000 IU, 30 softgels | 250 mcg (10,000 IU) | 1,250% | 30 | D3 | No testing mark stated in the record | Source |
Of the 5 products, 4 print a %DV, from 250% to 1,250% of the Daily Value. The Thorne row was read from the maker's page, which does not print a %DV. A clinician can say whether a serving above the Daily Value is appropriate for you.
Marks are quoted from each product's label record and have not been checked with the certifier. Kosher, Halal and GMP statements are not listed.
Products are added as their labels are read. Where a maker's site blocks automated reading, we wait until the label is available on the maker's page or in the DSLD instead of copying it from a retailer.
More comparisons
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Questions
Does a higher dose mean a better product?
A higher dose is a larger number on the label, not a measure of quality. We do not rank products by dose.
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