Our Pick: Thorne
Check price on Amazon →Thorne Melaton Review: Melaton-3, Melaton-5 and the Melatonin-Free Pair
Thorne Melaton-3 is a plain, labeled 3 mg capsule from a practitioner brand, 60 count, $16.00 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026), about 27 cents a night, and it is the one to buy if Thorne is the brand you were sent to. The line is four products: Melaton-3, a 5 mg version the Amazon listing confusingly titles Melaton-3 as well, and two melatonin-free capsules, Deep Sleep Complex and Valerian Root. This review sorts the four, says what each title actually states, and puts Pure Encapsulations and NOW on the same table so the price is judged against the market.
By The Sleep Desk2026-09-05~11 min read Ranked on verified label facts, never box claimsHow we research
Upgrade PickThorne Deep Sleep Complex, L-Theanine, Chamomile and Maizinol, 60 Capsules
Thorne · 4.1
$52.00
Buy Thorne Melaton-3, 60 capsules at $16.00 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026), if Thorne is the brand a practitioner named. It is a labeled 3 mg capsule with nothing else stated on the title, about 27 cents a night, and it is the flagship of a very short line. If you want 5 mg from the same maker, the listing titled Melaton-3, 5 mg (Thorne's Melaton-5) is 60 capsules for $22.00. If nobody named Thorne and you simply want 3 mg, NOW Melatonin 3 mg is 180 veg capsules for $9.17, about 5 cents a night, and that is the benchmark this review keeps returning to.
Thorne is a practitioner-channel supplement brand with a broad catalog and a very narrow melatonin line. On Amazon the melatonin part of it is two capsules, Melaton-3 and Melaton-5, sold in 60-counts. The rest of what Thorne sells for sleep is deliberately melatonin-free: Deep Sleep Complex, whose title lists L-theanine, chamomile and Maizinol, and Valerian Root, a 200 mg Sleeproot extract in a 30-count. That makes this a review of four products, two with melatonin and two without, and the two without are where a lot of Thorne buyers actually end up.
How we judged it: every Thorne listing was verified live through the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026, and every amount, count and ingredient here comes from the listing title or the Supplement Facts panel. One listing quirk is worth flagging up front: the 5 mg capsule's Amazon title reads "Melaton-3, 5 mg," which is Thorne's Melaton-5; we call it Melaton-5 and note the title. We are a verification desk, not a lab; we do not claim to have measured anything, and we weigh consistent owner reports rather than the loudest review. No brand paid for a placement. If you buy through our links we may earn an Amazon commission at no extra cost to you. Melatonin is a dietary supplement: talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you take other medication, are pregnant or nursing, or are shopping for a child.
The short version
- Our Pick inside the line: Thorne Melaton-3, labeled 3 mg, 60 capsules, $16.00, about 27 cents a night. The flagship and the one practitioners most often name.
- Melaton-5 (Amazon title: "Melaton-3, 5 mg"), 60 capsules, $22.00, about 37 cents a night, for people who have already settled on 5 mg.
- Deep Sleep Complex, 60 capsules, $52.00, about 87 cents a night, is melatonin-free; the title lists L-theanine, chamomile and Maizinol. Valerian Root, 200 mg Sleeproot extract, 30 capsules, $30.00, is $1.00 a night and also melatonin-free.
- The practitioner premium: Thorne and Pure Encapsulations both charge about 26 to 27 cents a night for 3 mg. NOW charges about 5 cents. The capsules state nothing that explains the gap; the channel does.
- Thorne sells no amount below 3 mg, no time-release, no gummy and no liquid. For a low amount, Life Extension or Pure Encapsulations; for staying asleep, Natrol or Life Extension.
At a glance
| Product | Melatonin | Other actives (per title) | Count | Cost per night | Price (9/5/26) | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorne Melaton-3 | 3 mg | None stated | 60 | $0.27 | $16.00 | Check price on Amazon |
| Thorne Melaton-5 (title: Melaton-3, 5 mg) | 5 mg | None stated | 60 | $0.37 | $22.00 | Check price on Amazon |
| Thorne Deep Sleep Complex | None (melatonin-free) | L-theanine, chamomile, Maizinol | 60 | $0.87 | $52.00 | Check price on Amazon |
| Thorne Valerian Root | None (melatonin-free) | Valerian 200 mg Sleeproot extract | 30 | $1.00 | $30.00 | Check price on Amazon |
| Pure Encapsulations 3 mg (benchmark) | 3 mg | None stated | 60 | $0.26 | $15.50 | Check price on Amazon |
| NOW Melatonin 3 mg (benchmark) | 3 mg | None stated | 180 | $0.05 | $9.17 | Check price on Amazon |
The four Thorne sleep products and two 3 mg benchmarks, one column set. Melatonin per serving, ingredients and count are from the Amazon listing title; the 5 mg capsule's title reads "Melaton-3, 5 mg." Prices are live Amazon figures verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026. Cost per night is price divided by count at one capsule nightly.
Thorne Melaton-3, 3 mg, 60 Capsules
Thorne
Thorne's flagship: a plain labeled 3 mg capsule, 60 for $16.00, about 27 cents a night.
Our verdict: The Thorne product, and the reason the brand appears on practitioner shelves for sleep. A labeled 3 mg capsule with nothing else on the title, 60 count, $16.00, about 27 cents a night. It is a clean way to buy the category's most common amount from a practitioner-channel maker, and it costs about five times what NOW asks for the same amount. Buy it if Thorne was named; otherwise the benchmarks below do the same job for less.
Verified: Labeled 3 mg melatonin per capsule, 60 count. Live at $16.00 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
Three milligrams, nothing added, practitioner pricing. Thorne Melaton-3 states 3 mg per capsule and 60 capsules, at $16.00 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026). The title states no flavor, no added ingredients and no release claim. $16.00 divided by 60 is about 27 cents a night. Three milligrams sits at the top of the 0.5 to 3 mg range many sleep clinicians cite as a starting point, which makes it a defensible amount for a first bottle, reported here as general guidance and not as a prescription.
Two things Thorne does not sell that the mainstream brands do: any amount below 3 mg, and any time-release format. A buyer who wants to start lower has to leave the brand for Life Extension 300 mcg or the Pure Encapsulations 0.5 mg; a buyer who wakes at 3 a.m. has to leave it for the slow-release tablets in best time-release melatonin. Within its narrow lane, Melaton-3 is exactly what it says. Best melatonin 3 mg ranks the amount across every brand.
Who should buy it
Buy it if a practitioner named Thorne, if you already buy other Thorne products and want sleep from the same maker, or if a plain 3 mg capsule with nothing added is exactly what you want and the price is not the deciding factor.
What we don't like
About 27 cents a night is roughly five times NOW's cost for the same amount, the title publishes no other-ingredient information, and the brand offers no lower amount and no time-release for anyone who needs to move in either direction.
- Melatonin per serving
- 3 mg (1 capsule)
- Form
- Capsule, swallowed
- Count
- 60
- Added ingredients
- None stated in the title
- Sugar
- Not published in the title
- Cost per night
- $16.00 / 60 = about $0.27
- Age on label
- Adults
What we like
- Labeled 3 mg, nothing else on the title
- Practitioner-channel brand with a wide supplement catalog
- 5 mg sibling in the same line
Worth noting
- About five times NOW's cost per night
- No lower amount, no time-release
Thorne Melaton-5, 5 mg, 60 Capsules (Amazon title: Melaton-3, 5 mg)
Thorne
The 5 mg capsule, 60 for $22.00, about 37 cents a night; the Amazon title says Melaton-3.
Our verdict: Thorne's 5 mg, and a listing to read carefully: the Amazon title says "Melaton-3, 5 mg," which is the brand's Melaton-5. Sixty capsules at $22.00 is about 37 cents a night, the most expensive melatonin-containing capsule on this page and about six dollars more than the 3 mg for the same count. Buy it only if 5 mg is an amount you have already used and tolerated.
Verified: Labeled 5 mg melatonin per capsule, 60 count; the Amazon listing title reads "Melaton-3, 5 mg." Live at $22.00 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
The title is a trap; the capsule is straightforward. The listing for Thorne Melaton-5 is titled "THORNE Melaton-3, 5 mg Melatonin Supplement, 60 Capsules" on Amazon, at $22.00 (verified September 5, 2026). The amount in the title, 5 mg, is what matters, and it is what we report. Check the bottle when it arrives; a buyer expecting 3 mg and receiving 5 has taken a two-thirds step up without meaning to.
At 5 mg the value comparison is brutal. NOW Melatonin 5 mg is 180 capsules for $12.23, about 7 cents a night, and Nature's Bounty 5 mg softgels are 90 for $6.59, about 7 cents as well. Both are Tier A brands. Best melatonin 5 mg ranks the amount on value; this capsule is on that page for completeness, not for its price.
Who should buy it
Buy it if you have already used 5 mg, you want it from Thorne specifically, and you have read the listing title closely enough to know you are getting Melaton-5.
What we don't like
The Amazon title says Melaton-3 for a 5 mg product, about 37 cents a night is roughly five times the mainstream 5 mg capsules, and 5 mg is above the range the general guidance favors for a first bottle.
- Melatonin per serving
- 5 mg (1 capsule)
- Form
- Capsule, swallowed
- Count
- 60
- Added ingredients
- None stated in the title
- Sugar
- Not published in the title
- Cost per night
- $22.00 / 60 = about $0.37
- Age on label
- Adults
What we like
- Labeled 5 mg from the same practitioner line
- Plain capsule
Worth noting
- Amazon title reads Melaton-3 for a 5 mg product
- About 37 cents a night
- Above the commonly cited starting range
Thorne Deep Sleep Complex, L-Theanine, Chamomile and Maizinol, 60 Capsules
Thorne
No melatonin: L-theanine, chamomile and Maizinol per the title, 60 for $52.00.
Our verdict: The product a lot of Thorne buyers actually want, and the most expensive thing on this page. Deep Sleep Complex contains no melatonin; its title lists L-theanine, chamomile and Maizinol, and it comes 60 to a bottle at $52.00, about 87 cents a night. It is the brand's answer to the reader who has decided against melatonin, and it is priced like a specialty formula rather than a supplement.
Verified: Melatonin-free capsule; the listing title lists L-theanine, chamomile and Maizinol. 60 count. Live at $52.00 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
Thorne's sleep formula without the hormone. Thorne Deep Sleep Complex lists L-theanine, chamomile and Maizinol in its title, 60 capsules, at $52.00 (verified September 5, 2026). The title does not state the amount of any of the three, and we do not guess; the Supplement Facts panel does. L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea, chamomile is a botanical, and Maizinol is a branded corn-derived ingredient; we describe each no further than the label does.
The melatonin-free shelf has cheaper members. OLLY Ultra Strength Sleep Softgels are $18.99 for 60, and Life Extension Glycine 1000 mg is $12.00 for 100. The whole field is ranked in best melatonin-free sleep aids, and best melatonin with L-theanine covers the products that pair the amino acid with melatonin rather than replacing it.
Who should buy it
Buy it if you have decided against melatonin, a practitioner pointed you to Thorne, and the price of a multi-ingredient formula is acceptable. It is the brand's melatonin-free flagship.
What we don't like
About 87 cents a night is the most expensive product on this page by a wide margin, the title states no amounts for its three ingredients, and cheaper melatonin-free formulas exist from recognized brands.
- Melatonin per serving
- None (melatonin-free)
- Form
- Capsule, swallowed
- Count
- 60
- Added ingredients
- L-theanine, chamomile, Maizinol (amounts not in the title)
- Sugar
- Not published in the title
- Cost per night
- $52.00 / 60 = about $0.87
- Age on label
- Adults
What we like
- Melatonin-free, three named actives on the title
- Practitioner-channel formula
Worth noting
- About 87 cents a night
- Ingredient amounts not in the title
Thorne Valerian Root, 200 mg Sleeproot Extract, 30 Capsules
Thorne
A labeled 200 mg valerian extract, melatonin-free, 30 for $30.00, a dollar a night.
Our verdict: The simplest product in the line and the priciest per capsule. Thorne Valerian Root states 200 mg of a branded Sleeproot valerian extract per capsule, no melatonin, 30 count, $30.00, exactly a dollar a night. It is for the reader who wants a single botanical from a practitioner brand and is willing to pay for a one-month bottle. Valerian is a traditional sleep botanical; we describe it as the label does and no further.
Verified: Labeled 200 mg valerian root Sleeproot extract per capsule, melatonin-free, 30 count. Live at $30.00 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
One ingredient, one month, one dollar a night. Thorne Valerian Root states 200 mg of Sleeproot extract per capsule, melatonin-free, 30 capsules, at $30.00 (verified September 5, 2026). Sleeproot is a branded valerian extract; the title says nothing about standardization and neither do we. $30.00 divided by 30 is $1.00 a night, the highest per-night figure on this page.
Valerian from the mainstream brands is far cheaper per capsule. Nature's Way Valerian Nighttime is 100 tablets for $16.97, about 17 cents a night. Best valerian root supplements ranks the field, and melatonin vs valerian root lays out how the two categories differ without claiming either works better.
Who should buy it
Buy it if you want a single-botanical valerian capsule from a practitioner brand and a one-month bottle at a dollar a night is acceptable. It is Thorne's simplest sleep product.
What we don't like
A dollar a night for a 30-count is the most expensive capsule on the page, and Nature's Way sells valerian for about a sixth of the cost per night.
- Melatonin per serving
- None (melatonin-free)
- Form
- Capsule, swallowed
- Count
- 30
- Added ingredients
- Valerian root, 200 mg Sleeproot extract
- Sugar
- Not published in the title
- Cost per night
- $30.00 / 30 = $1.00
- Age on label
- Adults
What we like
- Labeled 200 mg valerian extract, single ingredient
- Melatonin-free
Worth noting
- $1.00 a night, 30-count
- Mainstream valerian is far cheaper
Pure Encapsulations Melatonin 3 mg, 60 Capsules
Pure Encapsulations
The same amount from the other practitioner brand, at about 26 cents a night.
Our verdict: The benchmark that proves Thorne's price is the channel's price. Pure Encapsulations 3 mg, 60 capsules, $15.50, about 26 cents a night, against Melaton-3 at about 27. Fifty cents a bottle separates them. Choose by which brand your practitioner stocks, and if a lower amount matters, note that Pure Encapsulations also sells 0.5 mg and Thorne does not.
Verified: Labeled 3 mg melatonin per capsule, 60 count. Live at $15.50 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
A penny a night apart. Pure Encapsulations Melatonin 3 mg states 3 mg per capsule and 60 capsules, at $15.50 (verified September 5, 2026). That is about 26 cents a night. Melaton-3 is $16.00 for the same count. The two are interchangeable on amount, count, form and price.
The full line is in the Pure Encapsulations melatonin review. Both practitioner capsules sit on the same table as the value brands in best melatonin capsules and softgels.
Who should buy it
Buy it instead of Melaton-3 if Pure Encapsulations is the brand your practitioner stocks, or if you may later want the 0.5 mg capsule from the same maker.
What we don't like
About 26 cents a night for 3 mg, and nothing on the title that a far cheaper 3 mg capsule lacks.
- Melatonin per serving
- 3 mg (1 capsule)
- Form
- Capsule, swallowed
- Count
- 60
- Added ingredients
- None stated in the title
- Sugar
- Not published in the title
- Cost per night
- $15.50 / 60 = about $0.26
- Age on label
- Adults
What we like
- Price parity with Melaton-3
- 0.5 mg and 20 mg siblings in the same line
Worth noting
- About 26 cents a night
- 60 count
NOW Melatonin 3 mg, 180 Veg Capsules
NOW
The value 3 mg capsule: 180 for $9.17, about 5 cents a night, from a Tier A brand.
Our verdict: The benchmark that hurts. NOW sells a labeled 3 mg veg capsule, 180 count, for $9.17, about 5 cents a night, against about 27 cents for Melaton-3. Same amount, same form, a bottle three times the size, and a fifth of the cost. Unless the practitioner relationship is the reason you are buying Thorne, this is the better purchase.
Verified: Labeled 3 mg melatonin per veg capsule, 180 count. Live at $9.17 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
What 3 mg costs outside the practitioner channel. NOW Melatonin 3 mg states 3 mg per veg capsule and 180 capsules, at $9.17 (verified September 5, 2026). $9.17 divided by 180 is about 5 cents a night, and the bottle lasts six months. The title also carries NOW's own phrases, "Free Radical Scavenger" and "Healthy Sleep Cycle," which we quote as the maker's words and not as findings.
NOW also sells the amount in a 60-count for $4.27, as chewable lozenges (90 for $4.88), and at 1, 5, 10 and 20 mg, plus a sustained-release 5 mg. The whole line is in the NOW melatonin review, and best cheap melatonin ranks the value shelf.
Who should buy it
Buy it instead of Thorne if nobody named a brand and you want 3 mg from a recognized maker at the lowest cost per night in a capsule.
What we don't like
Not a practitioner brand, and a 180-count is a long commitment if 3 mg turns out not to be your amount.
- Melatonin per serving
- 3 mg (1 veg capsule)
- Form
- Veg capsule, swallowed
- Count
- 180
- Added ingredients
- Not published in the title
- Sugar
- Not published in the title
- Cost per night
- $9.17 / 180 = about $0.05
- Age on label
- Adults
What we like
- About 5 cents a night, a fifth of Melaton-3
- Six-month bottle
- Tier A brand with a deep line
Worth noting
- Not sold through practitioners
- Long commitment to one 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.
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Quick shop: every pick
Skip the scroll: the whole lineup, with a live price check on each.
- Thorne Melaton-3, 3 mg, 60 CapsulesThe One to BuyThorne · $16.00Check price on Amazon
- Thorne Melaton-5, 5 mg, 60 Capsules (Amazon title: Melaton-3, 5 mg)If You Have Settled on 5 mgThorne · $21.30Check price on Amazon
- Thorne Deep Sleep Complex, L-Theanine, Chamomile and Maizinol, 60 CapsulesThorne's Melatonin-Free CapsuleThorne · $52.00Check price on Amazon
- Thorne Valerian Root, 200 mg Sleeproot Extract, 30 CapsulesThe Single-Botanical OptionThorne · $30.00Check price on Amazon
- Pure Encapsulations Melatonin 3 mg, 60 CapsulesBenchmark: The Other Practitioner 3 mgPure Encapsulations · $15.50Check price on Amazon
- NOW Melatonin 3 mg, 180 Veg CapsulesBenchmark: 3 mg for a Fifth of the MoneyNOW · $9.17Check price on Amazon
How we chose
Every product on this site is ranked on the same protocol: the melatonin per serving as the label states it, the delivery form and release profile, what else is in the formula, the count, the cost per night when the listing publishes the count, and how honest the label is about all of it. For a brand review we apply that protocol across the whole line, name the best value inside it, and put one or two competitors on the same table so the brand is judged against the market rather than against itself. We read the Supplement Facts panel and the live Amazon listing, we verify price and availability through the Amazon Creators API (this page: September 5, 2026), and we weigh the consistent testimony of owners. We do not run a lab and we never present a brand's claim as our finding. Thorne's melatonin-free products are described only by the ingredients their titles list; we make no claim about what those ingredients do.
Melatonin is sold in the United States as a dietary supplement, not a drug. 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. Nothing here is medical advice or an individualized amount; we report what labels direct and note the general guidance, widely cited by sleep clinicians, that lower amounts (often 0.5 to 3 mg) are worth starting with. Melatonin can interact with blood thinners, immunosuppressants, blood-pressure and diabetes medication, so ask a pharmacist if you take any of those; valerian and other botanicals can interact with medication too. Do not drive after taking any sleep supplement. If you are pregnant or nursing, consult a doctor rather than this page. For children, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises talking to a pediatrician first and keeping gummies out of reach.
Questions, answered
Is Thorne Melaton-3 worth buying?
Yes, if a practitioner named Thorne or you already buy other Thorne products; it is a plain, labeled 3 mg capsule, 60 count, $16.00 at our September 5, 2026 check, about 27 cents a night. No, if you are shopping 3 mg on value: NOW sells the same amount in a 180-count for $9.17, about 5 cents a night, and Pure Encapsulations charges the same as Thorne for the same thing.
What is the difference between Thorne Melaton-3 and Melaton-5?
The amount: Melaton-3 states 3 mg per capsule and Melaton-5 states 5 mg. Both are 60-count plain capsules. One listing quirk matters: the 5 mg product's Amazon title reads "Melaton-3, 5 mg," so read the milligram figure in the title rather than the product name. Melaton-3 is $16.00 and Melaton-5 is $22.00.
Does Thorne Deep Sleep Complex contain melatonin?
No. Its Amazon title lists L-theanine, chamomile and Maizinol, and states no melatonin. It is Thorne's melatonin-free sleep formula, 60 capsules for $52.00, about 87 cents a night. The title does not state the amount of any of the three ingredients; the Supplement Facts panel does.
How much Thorne melatonin should I take?
We cannot tell you an amount; melatonin is a dietary supplement and the right amount is a conversation with a doctor or pharmacist. What we can report is that many sleep clinicians cite 0.5 to 3 mg as a sensible starting range, that more is not better, and that Thorne's lowest capsule is 3 mg, at the top of that range. For anything lower you would need another brand.
Thorne or Pure Encapsulations melatonin?
At 3 mg they are interchangeable: Thorne Melaton-3 at $16.00 for 60 and Pure Encapsulations 3 mg at $15.50 for 60, about 27 and 26 cents a night. Choose by which brand your practitioner stocks. Pure Encapsulations also sells 0.5 mg and 20 mg capsules and a sustained-release capsule; Thorne instead offers a 5 mg capsule and two melatonin-free formulas.
Why is Thorne melatonin so expensive?
It is a practitioner-channel brand, sold through clinicians as well as Amazon, and the channel carries a premium. Pure Encapsulations, the other practitioner brand in our catalog, is priced almost identically, which suggests the cost is the channel's norm. The capsule itself states nothing on the title that a 5-cent-a-night NOW capsule lacks.
Can I take Thorne melatonin every night?
Labels direct nightly use as needed, and many owners take it that way, but that is a question for a pharmacist rather than a review site, especially if you take blood thinners, immunosuppressants, blood-pressure or diabetes medication, all of which melatonin can interact with. Do not drive after taking it, and if you are pregnant or nursing, consult a doctor before using any product on this page.
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Part of Brand Reviews
Keep reading
Pure Encapsulations Melatonin Review
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Best Melatonin Capsules and Softgels
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Best Melatonin-Free Sleep Aids
Where Deep Sleep Complex and Valerian Root sit against the cheaper melatonin-free field.
Melatonin vs Valerian Root
How the two categories differ, without claiming either works better.