NOW Foods Empty Capsules Gelatin #1 500 gel caps

What this is

This is a resealable pouch of approximately 500 empty gelatin capsules from NOW Foods in capsule size "1", supplied unfilled so you can encapsulate your own powders at home. The shells are bovine sourced, the pouch is filled by weight rather than hand-counted, and the net weight is 38 g (1.34 oz.). The capsules arrive empty — the powder is yours to supply.

Empty shells are about as simple as a product gets in our Capsules & Supplies range: they hold whatever you put in them and contribute nothing else. The back panel dates NOW's range of powdered vitamins, minerals and herbs for home encapsulation to 1972, and this pouch is the size "1" gelatin shell from that line.

What the shells are made of

The complete ingredient list printed on the pouch is bovine gelatin and water — two ingredients, nothing else. The front panel states "Bovine Sourced" directly beneath the product name, so these are not a vegetarian or vegan capsule, and the pack does not present them as one. The back panel notes that NOW also supplies veg capsules in "0" and "00" sizes for anyone who needs a plant-derived shell instead.

Seen through the pouch window, the shells are colorless and translucent. There is a small Non-GMO mark on the front panel; no certifying body is named on the artwork, and there is no kosher symbol on this pouch.

How much a size "1" shell holds

The pouch states that these "1" gelatin capsules hold 250 – 400 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders. That figure is printed as a range rather than a single number because a capsule is a fixed volume, not a fixed weight: the same shell takes a different mass of a dense mineral salt than it does of a light, fluffy botanical powder. Where your own powder falls inside that window depends on how it packs down.

The practical consequence is that you match the shell to the amount you actually want to encapsulate. If the serving you have in mind sits above roughly 400 mg, a size "1" will not take it in one go, and a size with a higher printed capacity is the one to look at.

The other sizes listed on this pack

The back panel prints the rest of the range alongside this one: NOW also supplies "3", "0", "00" and "000" gelatin sizes, plus veg capsules in "0" and "00". The number on the front of a pouch is a size code rather than a quantity, and it does not tell you the capacity on its own.

Because of that, the figure to compare between packs is the fill capacity printed on each one — on this pouch, 250 – 400 mg. Checking that against the amount you plan to fill is more reliable than going by the size code alone.

What people fill them with

The back panel lists the powder categories NOW offers for filling empty capsules: amino acid powders, herb powders, green super foods, mineral powders, vitamin C powders, vitamin B powders, and a further general group. None of those powders is included with this pack — the list is a reference to NOW's own separate products, and this pouch contains empty shells and nothing else.

If you are working out what to put in them, the NIH consumer guide to dietary supplements gives general background on supplement use, and the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database lets you look up how labeled products state their own amounts.

Who it's for

This pack suits adults who already encapsulate their own powders and want a gelatin shell in the 250 – 400 mg capacity band, supplied in quantity. Buying shells unfilled is what lets you set the amount in each capsule yourself rather than accepting whatever a finished product is dosed at.

It is not the right pack for two groups. Anyone who needs a vegetarian or vegan shell should look at a cellulose-based capsule rather than this bovine gelatin one. And anyone filling a serving heavier than the printed 250 – 400 mg window needs a size with a higher stated capacity. Browse related items in Supplements if you would rather buy a ready-made encapsulated product than fill your own.

Good to know

The allergen statement printed on the pouch reads: not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients, and produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Both halves of that sentence are the pack's own wording, and the second half matters if you are sensitive to any of those.

The pouch carries no directions, no storage instruction and no caution panel. For dosing and handling, follow the label of whatever powder you are encapsulating, since that is the product carrying the instructions. Keep this pack out of reach of children. It is distributed and quality tested by NOW Foods, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA. The FDA's questions and answers on dietary supplements covers how supplements are regulated in general terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these capsules vegetarian?

No — these shells are made from bovine gelatin and water, and the front of the pouch states "Bovine Sourced". They are not suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet. The back panel points to NOW's veg capsules in "0" and "00" sizes as the plant-derived alternative.

How much powder fits in a size "1" capsule?

The pouch states 250 – 400 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders. It is printed as a range because the shell holds a fixed volume, so a dense powder reaches the top of that window while a light one sits nearer the bottom.

Are the capsules counted out or weighed?

They are weighed — the front panel says "Filled by Weight" and gives the count as approximately 500 against a net weight of 38 g (1.34 oz.). A count given that way is close rather than exact.

Does anything come with the capsules?

No — the pouch contains empty capsule shells only. No powder, no filling tray or tamper, and no instruction sheet is included or printed on the pack.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Your order is shipped discreetly. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe product specifications directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

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. For adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition or a known allergy to any listed ingredient. Keep out of reach of children.