Magnesium citrate is one of the most popular forms of magnesium because it absorbs well and dissolves easily in water. People take it to top up a magnesium shortfall, support sleep and muscle relaxation, or — at higher doses — help with occasional constipation. Most research on magnesium repletion uses 200–400 mg/day of elemental magnesium, taken with food. The "citrate" part is just the carrier: each magnesium atom is paired with citric acid, which is what gives the compound its tart taste and good water solubility.
This page compares magnesium citrate products by cost per month at a reference dose of 400 mg/day. Rankings are based on the amount of elemental magnesium listed on the Supplement Facts label divided into the product's price. One product per brand in each table; lowest cost per month wins.
Prices as of May 3, 2026. Prices update daily; this page updates monthly. For current prices and full interactive filters, see the Magnesium Citrate compare page.
| Rank | Brand | Product | Form | Cost per month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best Naturals | Best Naturals Magnesium Citrate Powder 1 Pound (1 LB (Pack… | Powder | $2.54 | $26.98 |
| 2 | BulkSupplements | BulkSupplements.com Magnesium Citrate Powder - Magnesium Su… | Powder | $3.56 | $16.97 |
| 3 | Swanson | Swanson 100% Pure Magnesium Citrate Powder - Unflavored 630… | Powder | $5.89 | $17.92 |
| 4 | Micro Ingredients | MiracleMag Calm Magnesium Powder, 1lb | Magnesium Citrate… | Powder | $8.25 | $25.99 |
| 5 | Nutricost | Nutricost Magnesium Citrate Powder (Raspberry Lemonade, 500… | Powder | $9.43 | $22.95 |
| Rank | Brand | Product | Form | Cost per month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brieofood | Brieofood Magnesium Citrate 400 mg (Elemental Mg) per Servi… | Tablets | $2.40 | $9.99 |
| 2 | Micro Ingredients | Pure Magnesium Citrate Supplements 500mg, 300 Capsules | F… | Capsules | $4.56 | $18.99 |
| 3 | NOW Foods | NOW Supplements, Magnesium Citrate 200 mg, Enzyme Function*… | Tablets | $4.80 | $19.99 |
| 4 | UpNourish | UpNourish Pure Magnesium Citrate (Citrato de Magnesio) 1120… | Capsules | $5.59 | $18.99 |
| 5 | DEAL SUPPLEMENT | Magnesium Citrate 400mg Per Serving, 300 Veggie Capsules –… | Capsules | $5.68 | $18.95 |
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The "Magnesium" line on the Supplement Facts panel is the number that matters. Magnesium citrate labels often show two separate rows that can trip up first-time buyers. Here's what to look for:

The line that reads "Magnesium (as magnesium citrate) — 340 mg" is the one that matters. That's the amount of magnesium you're actually getting per serving, and it's the number our rankings use for cost comparison.
The line above it — "Magnesium Citrate — 1120 mg" — is the weight of the entire compound, which is only about 30% magnesium. You can safely ignore that number when comparing products.
TrueServing already extracts the correct number for you — every product in our rankings uses the magnesium amount from the Supplement Facts label, not the compound weight.
Powder is unusually well-represented in this category. Unlike most magnesium forms, citrate dissolves easily in water with a tart, lemonade-like taste, making powder a practical daily option. Powder is typically cheaper per dose than capsules because you're not paying for capsule shells or tablet binders. The tradeoff is convenience — capsules travel better and don't need measuring. Hitting 400 mg from capsules can mean swallowing two to four pills per day, while a powder product might deliver the same amount in a single half-tablespoon scoop.
Watch for "magnesium blends" with no per-form breakdown. Many products mix citrate with Magnesium Glycinate, Magnesium Malate, or Magnesium Oxide and list a single combined magnesium total. That's fine for general use, but it makes it impossible to verify how much of the dose is actually citrate. If you specifically want citrate — for example, because you're using it for bowel regularity alongside magnesium repletion — stick to single-form products or blends that disclose milligrams per form.
Citrate has a mild laxative effect. Magnesium citrate draws water into the intestines, which is why it doubles as a stool softener at higher doses. At 400 mg/day split across meals, most people tolerate it fine, but some get loose stools — especially when starting out or taking the full dose at once. Splitting into two or three smaller doses through the day usually helps. If your priority is a form that's gentler on digestion, Magnesium Glycinate is the more common choice; for daytime energy support, Magnesium Malate is worth considering.
Evidence for magnesium repletion in people with low intake or low serum magnesium is strong, and citrate's bioavailability is well established — it's consistently among the better-absorbed forms in head-to-head studies, well above Magnesium Oxide. Evidence for downstream benefits like sleep, blood pressure, migraine prevention, and exercise recovery is moderate and varies by endpoint. The NIH sets a tolerable upper intake of 350 mg/day from supplements for adults, primarily to avoid GI side effects like loose stools and cramping; that limit applies to supplemental magnesium and not the magnesium you get from food. People with kidney disease, those on certain antibiotics or diuretics, and anyone taking prescription magnesium should talk to a clinician before supplementing. If you tolerate citrate but want a form less likely to loosen stools, Magnesium Glycinate and Magnesium Malate are common alternatives; for cognitive-specific research, see Magnesium Threonate.