How Long Does a Tub of Creatine Last? (Calculator + How to Never Run Out)
Gabriel SánchezPublished 
A tub of creatine lasts as many days as it has servings: divide the grams in the tub by the grams you take each time, and divide again if you take it more than once a day. The creatine tub calculator does the maths with your own numbers and tells you the date it runs out.
The formula
Take the net weight printed on the tub, in grams. Divide it by the grams you take in one serving. That gives you the number of servings. If you take creatine once a day, that is also the number of days; if you split it into two servings, halve it.
Round down. A half serving at the bottom of the tub doesn't count as a day.
This calculator does not recommend an amount. Use the one you already take, or the one a professional gave you.
Why the label number might not match
US supplement labels list a serving size and the number of servings per container in the Supplement Facts panel (21 CFR 101.36). That number is worked out with the label's serving size. If your serving is different, the label's "servings per container" won't match your tub, so do the division with your own number.
Why tubs run out early
The most common reason is the scoop. A heaped scoop can hold noticeably more than a level one, and the scoops that come with tubs are not all the same size. If your tub keeps running out before you expect, weigh one serving on a kitchen scale and put that number in the calculator. You only need to do it once.
Spills and a damp scoop count too. Powder that gets wet clumps and is hard to measure, so keep the lid closed and the scoop dry.
Order the next tub a week early
The ISSN position stand describes creatine as something taken every day (Kreider et al., 2017). Running out is one of the easiest ways to break that routine: the tub is empty, the new one hasn't been ordered, and a few days turn into two weeks.
Once the calculator gives you the run-out date, put a reminder in your calendar seven days before it. That leaves time for delivery, even with a slow one.
If you do run out, it isn't a disaster. Creatine levels fall slowly after you stop; in one study they took about a month to return to baseline (Hultman et al., 1996). Start again with your usual routine when the new tub arrives.
Running out is one way to break the habit. Forgetting is the other.
Creatinely reminds you at the time you choose and keeps reminding you until you log today's creatine. (I make Creatinely.)
Make the most of each tub
- Keep the tub closed, dry and away from the steam of the kettle or the dishwasher.
- Leave the scoop on top of the lid, not inside the powder, so it stays dry.
- Check the best-before date when the new tub arrives and open the oldest one first.
For the habit side, the article on how to remember to take creatine has seven tricks that work with any tub size.
Frequently asked questions
How many servings are in a 500 g tub of creatine?
Divide 500 by the grams you take each time. The calculator on this page does the division for you and also gives the date the tub runs out.
Is the scoop that comes in the tub accurate?
Not always. A heaped scoop holds more than a level one, and scoop sizes vary by brand. Weigh one serving on a kitchen scale once and use that number.
Why doesn't the 'servings per container' on the label match my tub?
That number is calculated with the serving size printed on the label. If you take a different amount, divide the tub weight by your own serving instead.
What happens if I run out for a few days?
Creatine levels fall slowly after you stop, so a few days without it make little difference. Start again with your usual routine when the new tub arrives.
Sources
- 21 CFR 101.36: Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements (Supplement Facts panel, serving size and servings per container).
- Kreider RB et al. (2017). ISSN position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 14:18.
- Hultman E et al. (1996). Muscle creatine loading in men. Journal of Applied Physiology 81(1):232–237.
About the author
22, software developer and founder based in Madrid.
I'm Gabriel, I'm 22 and I live in Madrid. I write software, build my own products and I'm into maths, sport and fashion. Among other things I make three iPhone apps, Creatinely, LockTy and RepZet, and here I write about training, creatine and the small daily habits that add up. I also build apps and software for B2B clients as an independent developer. If you want to work together, write to me.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a professional about your own situation.
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