NOW Foods Empty Capsules Gelatin #3 1000 gel caps

What this is

This is a resealable pouch of approximately 1,000 empty gelatin capsules from NOW Foods in the extra small "3" size. They are two-piece capsule shells — a body and a cap that slide together — supplied empty so you can fill them yourself with powdered vitamins, minerals or herbs. The front of the pouch prints the size as "3", the description as Extra Small Size and Bovine Sourced, and the net weight as 48 g (1.69 OZ.). Nothing is inside the shells: there is no active ingredient, no flavor and no fill of any kind.

What the shells are made of

The ingredient line on the back of the pouch reads, in full: Bovine Gelatin and Water. Two items, and that is the whole of it.

Gelatin is a protein obtained from collagen, and "bovine sourced" on this pouch means the collagen came from cattle rather than from pigs or from a plant material. This matters for two practical reasons. First, a gelatin shell is not vegetarian or vegan, so if that is a requirement, this is not the pouch for it — the back of this same pouch notes that NOW supplies veg capsules in the "0" and "00" sizes. Second, gelatin shells are sensitive to humidity in storage, which is why the pouch has a zip seal and a "Tear here" notch rather than a simple open top.

Because the capsules arrive empty, everything that ends up inside them is your decision, and the label on whatever powder you use becomes the document that matters. The FDA's questions and answers on dietary supplements and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements' overview, dietary supplements: what you need to know, are useful general background on how ingredients and amounts are described. Neither source refers to this product.

Product specifications

Working with the "3" size

The back of the pouch gives one capacity figure for this size: these extra small "3" gelatin capsules can hold 150 to 200 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders. That is the number to plan around, and it is printed for this size specifically. The same paragraph describes "3" as the smallest empty capsule size NOW offers, and lists the rest of the range as "1", "0", "00" and "000", with veg capsules available in "0" and "00".

The figure is a range rather than a single number because a capsule is a fixed volume while powders differ in density. A fine, light herb powder and a dense mineral salt will not weigh the same at the same fill level, so 150 to 200 mg describes the working window rather than a fixed amount. If you are matching a specific quantity, weighing the fill is the only reliable method.

The count works the same way. The pouch says Approx. 1000 and Filled by Weight — the shells go in by mass to a net 48 g rather than being counted out one at a time, so the number on the front is an approximation.

NOW prints no filling instructions and no storage line on this pouch. Follow the directions on whichever powder you are encapsulating; that powder's own label governs how the finished capsules should be handled and stored.

What the pouch lists for filling

The back panel prints a list of NOW's own powders offered for filling empty capsules, grouped by type. It is a useful thing to read before buying, because it shows what NOW expects these shells to be used for:

• Amino acid powders — AAKG, Amino-9 Essentials, L-Arginine, Branched Chain Aminos, L-Carnitine, L-Citrulline, L-Glutamine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, GABA, Glycine, L-Leucine, L-Lysine, L-Ornithine, L-Theanine, L-Tyrosine and L-Tryptophan.
• Herb powders — Maca, Psyllium Husks, Slippery Elm, Acacia Fiber, Glucomannan, Silymarin and CurcuFRESH Curcumin.
• Green super foods — Alfalfa, Barley Grass Juice, Chlorella, Kelp, Spirulina, Wheat Grass Juice and Barley Grass.
• Mineral powders — Bone Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Citrate, Coral Calcium, Magnesium Bisglycinate, Magnesium Citrate and Calcium/Magnesium.
• Vitamin C and B powders — Acerola, Calcium Ascorbate, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C Complex, Magnesium Ascorbate, Vitamin C Crystals and Inositol.
• Other powders — Acai, CoQ10, Liver Powder, MSM, D-Mannose, Joint Support, Probiotic-10 50 Billion, Sunflower Lecithin and AHCC.

At 150 to 200 mg, the "3" shell sits at the lower end of that list rather than with the bulky fiber powders. The NIH's Dietary Supplement Label Database is a neutral place to look up how commercial products state these same ingredients and amounts on their own labels.

Who it's for

This pouch is aimed at people who already encapsulate their own powders at home and want the smallest shell NOW supplies. Because it is a supply item rather than a finished formula, it sits with the rest of our capsules and supplies range rather than with the finished products in supplements and the wider health and wellness department. At 1,000 shells it is a bulk quantity, which suits someone who has already settled on the size they work with.

Good to know

The allergen statement on the back of 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 printed on the pack.

• The shells are gelatin from a bovine source and are therefore not vegetarian or vegan.
• The pouch carries a small Non-GMO mark. No certifying scheme is named beside it on the pack.
• Empty capsules contain no active ingredient. Anything you put inside them carries its own warnings, and those apply.
• Keep out of reach of children — both the empty shells and anything you fill them with.
• The NCCIH page on dietary and herbal supplement safety is general reading on interactions and on speaking to a clinician before starting something new.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much powder does a size "3" capsule hold?

The pouch states that these extra small "3" gelatin capsules hold 150 to 200 mg of most vitamin or mineral powders. The figure is a range because a capsule holds a fixed volume while powders vary in density, so a light herb powder and a dense mineral will not weigh the same in the same shell. Weigh the fill if the exact amount matters to you.

What are these capsules made of?

Bovine gelatin and water, and nothing else — that is the complete ingredient line printed on the back of the pouch. Gelatin is a protein derived from collagen, and "bovine sourced" on the front panel means it comes from cattle.

Are these capsules vegetarian or vegan?

No. These are gelatin capsules from a bovine source, which rules out vegetarian and vegan use. The back of this pouch notes that NOW also supplies veg capsules, in the "0" and "00" sizes.

How many capsules come in the pouch?

Approximately 1,000, as printed on the front panel. The pouch is filled by weight to a net 48 g (1.69 oz.) rather than counted out, so NOW gives the number as an approximation.

How is my order packaged for delivery?

Your order ships in discreet outer packaging. 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.