How to Choose the Best Capsule Filling Machine for Home Use
Making your own supplement capsules at home sounds intimidating until you actually do it. Then you realize it takes about 10 minutes, saves you 50-80% compared to store-bought supplements, and gives you complete control over what goes into your body. The right capsule filling machine makes all the difference between a frustrating mess and a clean, efficient process.
Here's everything you need to know to pick the right one.
What to Look for in a Home Capsule Filling Machine
Capacity per batch. The biggest factor in how much you'll actually use your machine. A 100-hole machine fills 100 capsules in about 10 minutes. A 24-hole machine fills 24 capsules per batch, meaning you'll refill the machine 4 times to make the same number. For anyone making capsules regularly — even just for personal daily use — 100 capsules per batch is the standard you want.
Ease of use out of the box. Some machines require assembly. Some require additional accessories sold separately (like a tamper or capping plate). The best capsule filling machines for home use arrive fully assembled and include everything you need — tamper, spreader card, instructions — so you can open the box and start filling within minutes.
Capsule size compatibility. Every capsule filling machine is size-specific. The holes in the machine need to match the exact size of capsule you're filling. Size 00 is the most popular for daily supplements. Size 0 is good for smaller doses. Size 000 is the largest, popular for kratom and high-dose herbs. Size 1 is the smallest, easier for kids or anyone who has trouble swallowing larger capsules. Pick your machine based on which size you'll be using most often.
Guarantee length. Capsule filling has a small learning curve. Your first batch may not be perfect. A 60-day guarantee gives you actual time to learn the process before deciding if it's right for you. Most competitors offer only 30 days — barely enough time to try it a few times.
What's included. Compare what comes in the box. A machine that arrives with a tamper, spreader card, capsule calculator, and a recipe guide is genuinely more valuable than one that's "just the machine" — even if both are priced the same.
How Much Money Can You Save Making Capsules at Home?
The savings are significant. A bottle of 60 turmeric capsules from a typical brand costs $15-25. Buy a 1-pound bag of organic turmeric powder ($15-20) and 1,000 empty capsules ($10-15), and you can make roughly 1,000 turmeric capsules for $25-35 total. That's about 3 cents per capsule compared to 25-40 cents per capsule at the store — a savings of 80-90%.
For families that take supplements daily, this can add up to hundreds of dollars per year. And you're getting pure ingredients with no fillers, binders, or additives.
What Can You Fill in a Home Capsule Filling Machine?
If it's a powder, you can capsule it. The most popular uses include:
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Herbal powders — turmeric, ashwagandha, moringa, ceylon cinnamon, beet root
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Mushroom powders — lion's mane, cordyceps, reishi, chaga, turkey tail
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Vitamins and minerals — magnesium, vitamin C, zinc, calcium
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Nootropics — L-theanine, alpha-GPC, bacopa
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Kratom — one of the most popular uses, typically in size 000 capsules
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Custom blends — mix multiple powders together to create your own signature supplement
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Oils and tinctures — coconut oil, black seed oil, CBD oil (fill carefully to avoid spills)
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Probiotics — make small fresh batches instead of storing bottles for months
Why the Capsule-It Is Our Top Recommendation
We built the Capsule-It because we use it. Every design choice came from years of filling capsules ourselves and figuring out what makes the process faster and cleaner. It fills 100 capsules in under 10 minutes, comes fully assembled, includes everything you need (tamper, spreader card, capsule calculator, recipe eBook), and is backed by a 60-day guarantee — the longest in the category.
The Capsule-It comes in all four standard sizes (000, 00, 0, 1), so you can pick the right size for whatever you're filling. With 2,200+ verified reviews and an average 4.8-star rating, it's the most-trusted capsule filling machine for home use on the market.
If you're making capsules for a larger family or running a small supplement-making business, our Capsule-It Pro 400 fills 400 capsules per batch — four times the capacity of the standard model.
New to making capsules? Our Capsule-It Starter Kit includes the machine plus empty capsules and everything you need to start your first batch the day it arrives.
Empty Capsules and Other Supplies
A capsule filling machine is only half the equation. You'll also need empty capsules in your chosen size. We carry both gelatin and vegetarian options in sizes 000 through 1. Browse our empty capsule collection to pair with your machine.
Not sure which size you need? Check our capsule size guide to compare capacities and find the right fit for your supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best capsule filling machine for home use?
For most home users, a 100-hole semi-automatic capsule filling machine like the Capsule-It is the best balance of capacity, ease of use, and price. It fills 100 capsules in under 10 minutes, arrives fully assembled, and includes everything you need to start making capsules right away. For families or anyone making capsules regularly, this capacity is far more practical than smaller 24-hole or 50-hole machines.
How long does it take to fill 100 capsules at home?
With a 100-hole machine like the Capsule-It, filling 100 capsules takes about 10 minutes once you've done it a couple of times. Your very first batch may take 15-20 minutes as you get familiar with the process. After that, it becomes a quick weekly or monthly routine.
Can I use one capsule filling machine for different capsule sizes?
No. Capsule filling machines are size-specific. The holes need to precisely match the size of capsule you're filling. If you want to fill multiple sizes (for example, size 00 for your daily multivitamin and size 000 for your kratom), you'll need a separate machine for each size.
What size capsule should I use?
Size 00 is the most popular size for home use. It holds 600-1,100 mg of powder, which is enough for most supplements while still being easy to swallow. Size 0 is smaller (400-800 mg), better for daily vitamins. Size 000 is the largest (800-1,600 mg), commonly used for kratom and high-dose herbs. Size 1 (300-600 mg) is the smallest, best for kids or smaller doses.
Do I need to buy empty capsules separately?
Yes. The machine fills empty capsules, but the capsules themselves are sold separately. You'll need empty capsules in the same size as your machine. Both gelatin and vegetarian (HPMC) capsules work in the Capsule-It.
How much money will I save making my own capsules?
Most home users save 50-80% compared to buying pre-made supplements. The exact savings depend on what you're filling — high-priced ingredients like premium mushroom blends have the biggest savings, while basic vitamins offer smaller (but still significant) cost reductions.
Is making capsules at home hard to learn?
No. The basic process is load the capsule bottoms into the machine, pour in your powder, tamp it down, and close the capsules with the capping plate. Most people get the hang of it on their second batch. The Capsule-It comes with a getting-started recipe eBook to walk you through your first few batches.
Can I fill oils or liquids in a capsule filling machine?
Yes, but carefully. Use a dropper or syringe to fill each capsule with your oil or liquid. The machine holds the capsules in place while you fill them. Close the capsules gently to avoid spills. Coconut oil, black seed oil, CBD oil, and other liquid supplements all work.
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Reviewed by Derek, Co-Founder of Herb Affair — May 2026
