Our Pick: Nature Made

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Melatonin Tablets, Ranked (2026): The 7 Worth Buying

Buy Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 tablets for $10.73 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026). A swallowed tablet is the cheapest way to take melatonin, and this is the cheapest way to buy a pharmacy brand at a sensible 3 mg: about 4.5 cents a night. Six more tablets below cover 1 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, extended-release, vegan and bulk value.

By The Sleep Desk2026-09-05~12 min read Ranked on verified label facts, never box claimsHow we research

Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 TabletsBest Overall

Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 Tablets

Nature Made · 4.8

$10.73

Amazon Basics Melatonin 3 mg, Vegan, Unflavored, 260 TabletsBest Value

Amazon Basics Melatonin 3 mg, Vegan, Unflavored, 260 Tablets

Amazon Basics · 4.4

$7.55

Nature Made Melatonin 5 mg Extra Strength, 300 TabletsUpgrade Pick

Nature Made Melatonin 5 mg Extra Strength, 300 Tablets

Nature Made · 4.5

$24.97

Buy Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 tablets at $10.73 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026). That works out to about 4.5 cents a night, for a labeled 3 mg that sits inside the range many sleep clinicians cite as a starting point, from a brand you can find at any pharmacy. If you can swallow a tablet with a glass of water, there is no cheaper credible way to take melatonin.

This page is about conventional swallowed tablets. Fast-dissolve tablets, the kind that melt on the tongue, are a different format with a different price and a different lead time, and they have their own ranking. The case for the plain tablet is simple: no sugar, no flavor, no serving-size ambiguity, the lowest cost per night of any format, and a bottle that lasts months. The case against it is that you need water, you need to take it a half hour or so ahead per typical label directions, and some people simply will not do that at bedtime.

Every tablet here is from a recognized brand (Nature Made, Nature's Bounty, Solgar, Amazon Basics, Nutricost), every fact comes from the Amazon listing title or the Supplement Facts panel, and every price was verified live on September 5, 2026. We are a verification desk, not a lab: we do not claim to have tested anything. No brand paid for a placement; if you buy through our links we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Melatonin is a dietary supplement, so a doctor or pharmacist decides whether it belongs in your routine, especially alongside other medication.

The short version

  • Our Pick: Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 tablets, $10.73, about 4.5 cents a night. A pharmacy brand at a sensible amount, eight months per bottle.
  • Lowest amount and lowest price: Nature's Bounty Melatonin 1 mg, 180 tablets, $4.09, about 2.3 cents a night.
  • Best 10 mg tablet: Solgar Melatonin 10 mg, 60 tablets, $13.74, stated vegan, gluten free and kosher. Best value 10 mg: Nutricost 10 mg, 240 tablets, $10.00.
  • Best extended-release tablet: Nature Made Melatonin 4 mg Extended Release, 90 count, $7.69. Best vegan budget: Amazon Basics 3 mg, 260 vegan tablets, $7.55, under 3 cents a night.
  • Tablets need water and lead time. If you will not do that at bedtime, a fast-dissolve is the honest alternative; it costs more per night and dissolves on the tongue.

At a glance

TabletMelatoninReleaseCountCost per nightPrice (9/5/26)Check price
Nature Made 3 mg3 mgImmediate240$0.045$10.73Check price on Amazon
Nature's Bounty 1 mg1 mgImmediate180$0.023$4.09Check price on Amazon
Nature Made 5 mg Extra Strength5 mgImmediate300$0.10$29.97Check price on Amazon
Solgar 10 mg10 mgImmediate60$0.23$13.74Check price on Amazon
Nature Made 4 mg Extended Release4 mgExtended90$0.085$7.69Check price on Amazon
Amazon Basics 3 mg Vegan3 mgImmediate260$0.029$7.55Check price on Amazon
Nutricost 10 mg10 mgImmediate240$0.042$10.00Check price on Amazon

Seven swallowed melatonin tablets. Amount and count are from the Amazon listing title; prices are live figures verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026. Cost per night is price divided by count.

Our PickBest Melatonin Tablet Overall
Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 Tablets

Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 Tablets

Nature Made

A pharmacy-brand 3 mg tablet at about 4.5 cents a night, 240 to the bottle.

4.8

Our verdict: The tablet to buy. A labeled 3 mg, which is where most first-time and long-time users land, from a brand on every pharmacy shelf, at $10.73 for 240, or about 4.5 cents a night. There is nothing to add and nothing to argue with, which is the highest compliment a supplement can earn.

Verified: Labeled 3 mg melatonin per tablet, 240 count. Live at $10.73 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

Boring is the point. The Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg tablet states 3 mg, comes 240 to a bottle, and costs $10.73. It has no flavor to dislike, no sugar to count, and no two-piece serving to decode. Swallow one with water before bed, per the label, and the bottle lasts eight months.

Why 3 mg: many sleep clinicians cite 0.5 to 3 mg as a sensible starting range, on the general principle that higher amounts are associated with next-day grogginess without a corresponding benefit. That is guidance rather than a prescription, but it is the reason 3 mg is the most-bought tablet amount and why it is the default here. If you want to start lower still, the Nature's Bounty 1 mg below is the value answer.

Nature Made sells the same tablet in a 120 count at $7.45 for a first bottle, and the brand's line runs to 5 mg, 10 mg and a 4 mg extended-release, all covered in the Nature Made melatonin review. On label accuracy, a 2017 published analysis found melatonin content in supplements varying widely from the label across the products sampled; a pharmacy-shelf brand's accountability is the practical hedge a buyer has, and it is why this bottle wins over a cheaper private label. The 3 mg field across every format is in our best 3 mg melatonin guide.

Who should buy it

Buy it if you can swallow a tablet with water, you want a moderate 3 mg, and you want the lowest cost per night from a brand you already trust. It is the bottle for anyone who takes melatonin regularly and does not want to think about it.

What we don't like

A swallowed tablet needs water and a half hour or so of lead time per typical label directions, the title does not state any inactive ingredient, and 240 tablets is a long commitment to one amount.

Melatonin per serving
3 mg (1 tablet)
Form
Tablet, swallowed, immediate release
Count
240
Added ingredients
Not published in the title
Sugar
Not published in the title
Cost per night
$10.73 / 240 = about $0.045
Age on label
Adults

What we like

  • About 4.5 cents a night from a pharmacy-shelf brand
  • 3 mg sits inside the commonly cited starting range
  • No flavor, no sugar, no serving-size ambiguity
  • Eight months per bottle

Worth noting

  • Needs water and lead time
  • Big commitment to one amount
Lowest Amount, Lowest Price
Nature's Bounty Melatonin 1 mg, 180 Tablets

Nature's Bounty Melatonin 1 mg, 180 Tablets

Nature's Bounty

A 1 mg tablet from a household brand at about 2.3 cents a night.

4.6

Our verdict: The cheapest credible melatonin tablet we have found, and the lowest amount on this page. $4.09 for 180 is about 2.3 cents a night, and 1 mg is a genuinely low amount that leaves room to take two if a label and a pharmacist agree. For anyone who has decided to start low, this is the bottle.

Verified: Labeled 1 mg melatonin per tablet, 180 count, stated 100% drug free in the listing title. Live at $4.09 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

Low amount, low price, household brand. The Nature's Bounty Melatonin 1 mg states 1 mg and 180 tablets, at $4.09, which is about 2.3 cents per tablet. The title carries the label's structure/function language ("Promotes Relaxation and Sleep Health") and the phrase "100% Drug Free," which distinguishes a melatonin supplement from doxylamine or diphenhydramine sleep aids that are drugs.

The case for starting at 1 mg: it is inside the low end of the 0.5 to 3 mg range many clinicians favor as a starting point, and a 1 mg tablet is the easiest way to find your amount, because it can be taken as one or, where the label allows, more than one. Owners who report grogginess on 5 or 10 mg products and step down to 1 mg are the most consistent fans of this bottle.

Nature's Bounty also makes the 3 mg Quick Dissolve (240 count, $7.74), which is the brand's fast-dissolve alternative, and 5 mg softgels at $6.59 for 90. The brand is reviewed in full in the Nature's Bounty melatonin review, and every 1 mg product across formats is ranked in our best 1 mg melatonin guide.

Who should buy it

Buy it if you want to start at a low amount, you want the lowest price on this page, or you are a senior or anyone who has found higher amounts leave you groggy the next morning.

What we don't like

1 mg will feel like nothing to someone used to a 10 mg gummy, the title does not state inactive ingredients, and a swallowed tablet needs water and lead time.

Melatonin per serving
1 mg (1 tablet)
Form
Tablet, swallowed, immediate release
Count
180
Added ingredients
Not published in the title
Sugar
Not published in the title
Cost per night
$4.09 / 180 = about $0.023
Age on label
Adults

What we like

  • About 2.3 cents a night, the cheapest on this page
  • 1 mg is a genuinely low amount with room to adjust
  • Household brand, stated 100% drug free

Worth noting

  • Underpowered for anyone used to 5 to 10 mg
  • Needs water and lead time
Upgrade PickBest 5 mg Tablet
Nature Made Melatonin 5 mg Extra Strength, 300 Tablets

Nature Made Melatonin 5 mg Extra Strength, 300 Tablets

Nature Made

Ten months of 5 mg tablets in one pharmacy-brand bottle.

4.5

Our verdict: The 5 mg tablet for people who have settled on that amount and take it nightly. 300 tablets is ten months, $29.97 is about 10 cents a night, and it is Nature Made. The only reason not to buy it is if you have not yet confirmed 5 mg is your amount, in which case a smaller bottle of something is the smarter first purchase.

Verified: Labeled 5 mg melatonin per tablet, 300 count, stated extra strength. Live at $29.97 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

A bulk bottle is only a bargain if you already know what you want. The Nature Made Melatonin 5 mg Extra Strength states 5 mg and 300 tablets at $29.97, about 10 cents a night. "Extra Strength" is Nature Made's name for its 5 mg tier, one step up from the 3 mg pick and one below its 10 mg Maximum Strength.

5 mg is above the commonly cited starting range, which runs roughly 0.5 to 3 mg in the guidance many clinicians offer. That does not make 5 mg wrong; it is the most common amount on the fast-dissolve shelf and a great many owners settle there. It does mean a 300-count bottle is the second bottle you buy, not the first.

If a smaller commitment makes more sense, the same brand's 10 mg Maximum Strength comes in a 70 count, and the 3 mg above in a 120. For 5 mg across every format, including softgels and fast-dissolve that cost less per night than this tablet, see our best 5 mg melatonin guide.

Who should buy it

Buy it if you have used 5 mg before, you take melatonin most nights, and you want a pharmacy brand at a bulk price that removes reordering from your life for most of a year.

What we don't like

$29.97 is the highest sticker price on this page, 300 tablets is a serious commitment to 5 mg, and Nature's Bounty softgels deliver the same labeled 5 mg for about 7 cents a night versus 10 here.

Melatonin per serving
5 mg (1 tablet)
Form
Tablet, swallowed, immediate release
Count
300
Added ingredients
Not published in the title
Sugar
Not published in the title
Cost per night
$29.97 / 300 = about $0.10
Age on label
Adults

What we like

  • Ten months of a pharmacy-brand 5 mg tablet
  • About 10 cents a night
  • Part of a 3, 5, 10 mg ladder from one brand

Worth noting

  • Highest sticker price on the page
  • Only makes sense once 5 mg is confirmed as your amount
Best 10 mg Tablet
Solgar Melatonin 10 mg, 60 Tablets

Solgar Melatonin 10 mg, 60 Tablets

Solgar

A labeled 10 mg stated vegan, gluten free and kosher, from Solgar.

4.5

Our verdict: The 10 mg tablet with the best label on this page: vegan, gluten free and kosher, all stated in the title, from a manufacturer with a long record. $13.74 for 60 is about 23 cents a night, the premium for that record. Ten milligrams is the top of the mainstream range, so this is a bottle for people who already know they want it.

Verified: Labeled 10 mg melatonin per tablet, 60 count, stated vegan, gluten free and kosher in the listing title. Live at $13.74 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

If you are going to buy 10 mg, buy it from a brand like this. The Solgar Melatonin 10 mg tablet states 10 mg, 60 count, vegan, gluten free and kosher. The title also carries "High Dosage," which is the brand's own description and an accurate one: 10 mg is the top of the amounts sold by recognized brands in a plain tablet.

The honest framing on 10 mg: next-day grogginess is the most consistent owner complaint at this amount across every brand, and the general guidance many clinicians cite favors far lower starting points. Buy this because 10 mg is an amount you have used and tolerated, not because a bigger number seems like more help.

Solgar's better value is inside its own line: the 5 mg in 120 nuggets at $9.07 is about 7.6 cents a night. The brand is reviewed in the Solgar melatonin review, every credible 10 mg format is ranked in our best 10 mg melatonin guide, and the question of whether to go higher at all is the subject of best high-dose melatonin.

Who should buy it

Buy it if 10 mg is an amount you have already used, you want a vegan and kosher tablet, and you would rather pay for Solgar's manufacturing record than save a few dollars on a value brand.

What we don't like

About 23 cents a night is the most expensive on this page, and 10 mg is the amount most associated with next-day grogginess in owner reports.

Melatonin per serving
10 mg (1 tablet)
Form
Tablet, swallowed, immediate release
Count
60
Added ingredients
Not published in the title
Sugar
Not published in the title
Cost per night
$13.74 / 60 = about $0.23
Age on label
Adults

What we like

  • Stated vegan, gluten free and kosher
  • Established manufacturer
  • 5 mg nuggets in the same line for stepping down

Worth noting

  • Most expensive per night on the page
  • 10 mg is the top of the mainstream range
Best Extended-Release Tablet
Nature Made Melatonin 4 mg Extended Release, 90 Tablets

Nature Made Melatonin 4 mg Extended Release, 90 Tablets

Nature Made

A 4 mg extended-release tablet at about 8.5 cents a night, 90 count.

4.6

Our verdict: The value extended-release tablet. Nature Made's 4 mg Extended Release is marketed for staying asleep rather than falling asleep, states an unusual 4 mg, and at $7.69 for 90 is about 8.5 cents a night, less than Natrol's better-known 3 mg Time Release. If the middle of the night is your problem, start here.

Verified: Labeled 4 mg melatonin per extended-release tablet, 90 count. Live at $7.69 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

Extended release is a different product, not a stronger one. The Nature Made Melatonin 4 mg Extended Release is formulated to release its 4 mg over several hours instead of at once. Immediate-release melatonin is about falling asleep; extended-release is marketed for staying asleep. We say marketed because that is the positioning on the label, not a proven outcome.

Why 4 mg: it is an amount almost no other brand uses, and it lands between the 3 mg most people start with and the 5 mg fast-dissolve shelf. The general guidance to prefer lower amounts applies equally to a slow-release tablet; a 4 mg extended release is not a lower amount than a 3 mg immediate release, it is the same order of amount spread over more hours.

Its direct rivals are the Natrol Melatonin 3 mg Time Release (100 tablets, $10.83) and the NOW 5 mg Sustained Release (120 tablets, $9.17, formulated for a 4-hour release per its title). All three and the low-amount timed-release options are ranked in our best time-release melatonin guide.

Who should buy it

Buy it if your issue is waking during the night rather than getting to sleep, you want a pharmacy brand, and you want the lowest price per night among the recognized extended-release tablets.

What we don't like

Extended release is a marketing positioning rather than a guaranteed result, 4 mg is above the commonly cited starting range, and owners whose main problem is falling asleep often report preferring an immediate-release tablet.

Melatonin per serving
4 mg (1 tablet)
Form
Tablet, swallowed, extended release
Count
90
Added ingredients
Not published in the title
Sugar
Not published in the title
Cost per night
$7.69 / 90 = about $0.085
Age on label
Adults

What we like

  • Cheapest recognized-brand extended-release tablet, about 8.5 cents a night
  • Pharmacy-shelf brand
  • An unusual 4 mg between the common 3 and 5

Worth noting

  • Marketed for staying asleep, not proven
  • Above the commonly cited starting range
Best ValueBest Vegan Budget Tablet
Amazon Basics Melatonin 3 mg, Vegan, Unflavored, 260 Tablets

Amazon Basics Melatonin 3 mg, Vegan, Unflavored, 260 Tablets

Amazon Basics

A vegan, unflavored 3 mg tablet at under 3 cents a night, 260 count.

4.4

Our verdict: The cheapest 3 mg tablet from a seller with accountability, and stated vegan. $7.55 for 260 is about 2.9 cents a night, which undercuts our Nature Made pick by more than a third at the same labeled amount. What you trade is the manufacturing transparency of a pharmacy brand for Amazon's house label.

Verified: Labeled 3 mg melatonin per tablet, 260 count, stated vegan and unflavored in the listing title, described as an 8 month supply. Live at $7.55 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

The value shelf, done properly. Amazon Basics Melatonin 3 mg states 3 mg, vegan, unflavored, 260 tablets and an 8 month supply in its title, with the structure/function line "Helps with occasional sleeplessness." At $7.55 it is about 2.9 cents per tablet, the lowest cost per night for a 3 mg tablet on this site.

Vegan, stated: most tablet titles say nothing about whether the tablet is vegetarian. This one does, which matters because it makes Amazon Basics the vegan budget answer without guessing. For a vegan tablet from a manufacturer with a longer quality record, Solgar's 10 mg above is stated vegan too, at a very different amount and price.

Amazon's house line also includes a 10 mg Extra Strength tablet (120 count, $6.70) and 5 mg vegan capsules under the Amazon Elements label (195 count, $9.05). The whole house line is in the Amazon Basics melatonin review, the vegan field is in best vegan melatonin, and every cost-per-night leader is in best cheap melatonin.

Who should buy it

Buy it if you want a vegan 3 mg tablet at the lowest possible cost per night from a seller that is not going to disappear, and manufacturing pedigree matters less to you than price.

What we don't like

A house brand's manufacturing is less transparent than Nature Made's or NOW's, the title does not state inactive ingredients beyond vegan and unflavored, and a swallowed tablet needs water and lead time.

Melatonin per serving
3 mg (1 tablet)
Form
Tablet, swallowed, immediate release, vegan
Count
260
Added ingredients
Not published beyond vegan, unflavored
Sugar
Unflavored per title
Cost per night
$7.55 / 260 = about $0.029
Age on label
Adults

What we like

  • Under 3 cents a night, cheapest 3 mg tablet on the site
  • Stated vegan and unflavored
  • Amazon house-brand accountability

Worth noting

  • Less manufacturing transparency than a pharmacy brand
  • Needs water and lead time
Best Value 10 mg Tablet
Nutricost Melatonin 10 mg, 240 Tablets

Nutricost Melatonin 10 mg, 240 Tablets

Nutricost

Eight months of 10 mg tablets for ten dollars, stated gluten-free and GMO-free.

4.3

Our verdict: The value 10 mg tablet. Nutricost states 10 mg, 240 count, gluten-free and GMO-free, at $10.00, which is about 4.2 cents a night, a fifth of Solgar's per-night cost at the same labeled amount. It is a value brand rather than a pharmacy brand, which is why it is the value slot and not the 10 mg pick.

Verified: Labeled 10 mg melatonin per tablet, 240 count, stated gluten-free and GMO-free in the listing title. Live at $10.00 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

For people who have settled on 10 mg and take it nightly, the math is hard to ignore. Nutricost Melatonin 10 mg states 10 mg, 240 tablets, gluten-free and GMO-free, at $10.00. That is about 4.2 cents per tablet and eight months per bottle.

Value brand versus pharmacy brand: Nutricost is a recognized direct-to-Amazon supplement brand with a broad line and consistent owner reports, which is what earns it a slot here. It does not have the pharmacy-shelf accountability of Nature Made or the manufacturing record of Solgar, which is why those brands hold the pick slots and Nutricost holds the value slot. Both things are true.

Nutricost's line covers 3 mg and 5 mg tablets at the same 240 count and roughly the same price, so the ten-dollar bottle exists at every mainstream amount. The brand is reviewed in the Nutricost melatonin review. And the standing caution: 10 mg is the amount most associated with next-day grogginess in owner reports, so a 240-count bottle belongs to someone who has already found 10 mg works for them.

Who should buy it

Buy it if 10 mg is your confirmed amount, you take it most nights, and you want the lowest cost per night from a recognized value brand rather than paying Solgar's premium.

What we don't like

A value brand without pharmacy-shelf accountability, 240 tablets of 10 mg is a large commitment to the top of the mainstream range, and the title does not state inactive ingredients.

Melatonin per serving
10 mg (1 tablet)
Form
Tablet, swallowed, immediate release
Count
240
Added ingredients
Not published beyond gluten-free, GMO-free
Sugar
Not published in the title
Cost per night
$10.00 / 240 = about $0.042
Age on label
Adults

What we like

  • About 4.2 cents a night for a labeled 10 mg
  • Stated gluten-free and GMO-free
  • 3 mg and 5 mg tablets in the same line at the same price

Worth noting

  • Value brand, not a pharmacy brand
  • Large commitment to a 10 mg amount

The bedtime kit

The six things that round out a melatonin routine: the standard fast-dissolve, a sub-milligram option, a time-release tablet for staying asleep, a magnesium for melatonin-free nights, a bedtime tea, and a kids bottle. Prices are approximate at time of writing.

More picks worth comparing

Beyond this guide, the highest-rated picks across every category and budget, with a live price check on each.

Natrol 5 mg Fast Dissolve

Best Overall

Natrol 5 mg Fast Dissolve

5 mg · 90 ct · ~$9

Check Price
OLLY Sleep Gummies 3 mg

Best Gummy

OLLY Sleep Gummies 3 mg

3 mg · 70 ct · ~$16

Check Price
Nature Made 3 mg Tablets

Best Value

Nature Made 3 mg Tablets

3 mg · 120 ct · ~$7

Check Price
Life Extension 300 mcg

Best Low Dose

Life Extension 300 mcg

300 mcg · 100 ct · ~$8

Check Price
Natrol 10 mg Time Release

Best Time Release

Natrol 10 mg Time Release

10 mg · 100 ct · ~$17

Check Price
Zarbee's Kids 1 mg Gummies

Best for Kids

Zarbee's Kids 1 mg Gummies

1 mg · 60 ct · ~$15

Check Price

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Quick shop: every pick

Skip the scroll: the whole lineup, with a live price check on each.

  1. Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 TabletsBest Melatonin Tablet OverallNature Made · $10.73Check price on Amazon
  2. Nature's Bounty Melatonin 1 mg, 180 TabletsLowest Amount, Lowest PriceNature's Bounty · $5.67Check price on Amazon
  3. Nature Made Melatonin 5 mg Extra Strength, 300 TabletsBest 5 mg TabletNature Made · $24.97Check price on Amazon
  4. Solgar Melatonin 10 mg, 60 TabletsBest 10 mg TabletSolgar · $13.74Check price on Amazon
  5. Nature Made Melatonin 4 mg Extended Release, 90 TabletsBest Extended-Release TabletNature Made · $7.69Check price on Amazon
  6. Amazon Basics Melatonin 3 mg, Vegan, Unflavored, 260 TabletsBest Vegan Budget TabletAmazon Basics · $7.55Check price on Amazon
  7. Nutricost Melatonin 10 mg, 240 TabletsBest Value 10 mg TabletNutricost · $10.00Check price on Amazon

How we chose

Tablets are ranked on the site's standard protocol: the melatonin per tablet as the label states it, immediate or extended release, what else is in the formula per the title, the count, the cost per night, and how honest the listing is. We read the Supplement Facts panel and the live Amazon listing and verify price and availability through the Amazon Creators API (this page: September 5, 2026). We weigh consistent owner reports, we do not run a laboratory, and we never claim physical testing. Pick slots go to recognized brands; a private label with no accountability does not displace a pharmacy brand on price.

Melatonin is a dietary supplement in the United States. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We report what labels direct (typically one tablet before bedtime) and the general guidance many clinicians cite that lower amounts, often 0.5 to 3 mg, are a sensible starting point; we do not prescribe an amount. Melatonin can interact with blood thinners, immunosuppressants, blood-pressure and diabetes medication; ask a pharmacist. Do not drive after taking it. Seniors often favor lower amounts, and next-day grogginess is the common complaint at higher ones. If pregnant or nursing, consult a doctor.

Questions, answered

What is the best melatonin tablet?

Nature Made Melatonin 3 mg, 240 tablets at $10.73 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026), about 4.5 cents a night. It is a pharmacy-shelf brand at an amount inside the range many clinicians cite as a starting point, in a bottle that lasts eight months. The cheapest credible tablet is Nature's Bounty 1 mg at 180 for $4.09, and the cheapest 3 mg is Amazon Basics vegan 3 mg at 260 for $7.55.

Are melatonin tablets better than gummies?

They carry the same molecule; the differences are cost, sugar and clarity. A tablet states one tablet, one amount, no sugar, and costs a fraction of a gummy per night (about 4.5 cents for Nature Made 3 mg versus roughly 9 to 23 cents per gummy). Gummies win only on compliance: some people will take a gummy and will not swallow a tablet. We do not compare efficacy between formats; we report what labels state. Gummies vs tablets has the full comparison.

How long before bed should I take a melatonin tablet?

What the label directs. Typical labels for swallowed tablets direct one tablet before bedtime, and fast-dissolve labels commonly say about 20 minutes before bed. Owners of swallowed tablets consistently report allowing a half hour or so. We do not give individualized timing; our explainer on when to take melatonin lays out what labels and travel-health guidance say for jet lag and shift work.

What is the difference between extended-release and regular melatonin tablets?

A regular (immediate-release) tablet releases its melatonin at once and is about falling asleep. An extended-release tablet, like the Nature Made 4 mg Extended Release ($7.69 for 90), is formulated to release over several hours and is marketed for staying asleep. We say marketed because it is the label's positioning, not a proven outcome. If your problem is getting to sleep, most owners report preferring immediate release; if it is waking at 3 a.m., extended release is the product designed for that.

Is a 10 mg melatonin tablet safe?

Ten milligrams is the top of the range sold by recognized brands in a plain tablet, and it is the amount most consistently associated with next-day grogginess in owner reports. Whether it is appropriate for you is a question for a doctor or pharmacist, particularly if you take blood thinners, immunosuppressants, blood-pressure or diabetes medication. If you have used 10 mg and tolerate it, Solgar 10 mg (60 for $13.74, stated vegan and kosher) and Nutricost 10 mg (240 for $10.00) are the credible tablets. If you have not, the general guidance is to start far lower.

Which melatonin tablet is vegan?

Two on this page state it in the title: Amazon Basics Melatonin 3 mg (260 vegan, unflavored tablets, $7.55) and Solgar Melatonin 10 mg (60 tablets, stated vegan, gluten free and kosher, $13.74). Most tablet titles say nothing about vegetarian status, so we do not assume it. NOW's 3 mg veg capsules are the vegan answer in capsule form, and our best vegan melatonin guide covers the full field.

Can I cut a melatonin tablet in half?

Immediate-release tablets are often split by owners who want a smaller amount, but extended-release tablets should not be, because splitting breaks the matrix that controls the release. The label is the authority on whether a specific tablet may be divided. If you want a smaller amount without splitting, buy it: Nature's Bounty 1 mg (180 for $4.09) and Life Extension's 300 mcg and 500 mcg capsules exist for exactly that reason, and our best low-dose melatonin guide ranks them.