Magnesium glycinate is one of the most popular forms of supplemental magnesium, chosen primarily for its absorption profile and gentle effect on the stomach. Unlike magnesium oxide or citrate, which can cause loose stools at higher doses, glycinate is well-tolerated across the dosing range. It's widely used for sleep support, stress management, and general magnesium repletion — an important consideration given that roughly half the U.S. population falls short of the recommended daily intake. Typical doses range from 200–400mg per day.
This page compares magnesium glycinate products by cost per month at a reference dose of 200mg/day. Rankings are based on the amount of magnesium listed on the Supplement Facts label — the number next to "Magnesium" — divided into the product's price. One product per brand in each table; lowest cost per month wins.
Prices as of April 30, 2026. Prices update daily; this page updates monthly. For current prices and full interactive filters, see the Magnesium Glycinate compare page.
| Rank | Brand | Product | Form | Cost per month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natures Craft | Potent Magnesium Glycinate Powder 400mg - Calm Magnesium Po… | Powder | $1.32 | $19.99 |
| 2 | Nutricost | Nutricost Magnesium Glycinate Powder (250 Grams) (Unflavore… | Powder | $4.22 | $19.95 |
| 3 | Micro Ingredients | Magnesium Powder, 12oz (56 Servings) | Magnesium Glycinate… | Powder | $5.35 | $19.98 |
| 4 | Nobi Nutrition | Magnesium Glycinate Powder 400MG | Sleep & Relaxation Supp… | Powder | $9.97 | $19.95 |
| 5 | Trace Minerals | Trace Minerals Magnesium Glycinate Powder - Daily Magnesium… | Powder | $17.49 | $20.99 |
| Rank | Brand | Product | Form | Cost per month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allcoovita | Magnesium Glycinate 400 MG per Serving 100% Chelated for Hi… | Capsules | $1.50 | $8.99 |
| 2 | Purely Holistic | Magnesium Glycinate 400mg | 4+ Month Supply | Sleep, Rela… | Tablets | $3.33 | $29.97 |
| 3 | Amazon Elements | Amazon Elements - Chelated Magnesium, 240 tablets, 270 mg p… | Tablets | $3.50 | $18.89 |
| 4 | Horbäach | Horbäach Magnesium Glycinate | 250mg | 120 Softgels | No… | Softgels | $4.00 | $9.99 |
| 5 | Simpli Supplements | Magnesium Glycinate 400mg per Serving – High Absorption – G… | Capsules | $4.15 | $9.97 |
See all products with full filter and sort options →
Chelated vs. "buffered" glycinate. Some products labeled "magnesium glycinate" are actually a mix of glycinate and magnesium oxide, sometimes called "buffered." The oxide is added to hit a higher per-capsule mg number at lower cost. This isn't necessarily bad — oxide is fine for repletion — but it partially defeats the purpose of choosing glycinate for absorption and GI tolerance. Check the "Other Ingredients" section or the fine print below the Supplement Facts panel for "magnesium oxide" if this matters to you.
The "Magnesium" mg on the label is what you're paying for. Magnesium glycinate labels can be confusing because they often show two different numbers. Here's what to look for:

The line that reads "Magnesium (as magnesium glycinate) — 90mg" 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 below it — "Magnesium Glycinate — 500mg" — is the weight of the entire compound, which is only about 14% magnesium. You can safely ignore that number when comparing products. If a product's marketing says "500mg magnesium glycinate" but the Supplement Facts label says "Magnesium 90mg," those are describing the same capsule. The label number is what matters for dosing.
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.
Capsule count and serving size. Many magnesium glycinate products require 2–3 capsules per serving because each capsule can only hold so much of the bulky chelate. A bottle of 120 capsules at a 2-capsule serving size is a 60-day supply, not 120 days. Our rankings account for this automatically — cost per month reflects the labeled serving size and servings per container, not the capsule count.
Powder saves money but tastes rough. Magnesium glycinate powder is consistently cheaper per month than capsules. The tradeoff is flavor — glycinate has a distinctive taste that most people find unpleasant without mixing it into something. If you're price-sensitive and don't mind the taste, powder is the better value.
Third-party testing. Look for NSF, USP, or Informed Sport certification if purity verification matters to you. Most budget brands skip third-party testing; this doesn't mean they're unsafe, but it does mean you're trusting their internal QC.
Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in hundreds of enzymatic processes. Evidence for supplementation is strong when dietary intake is inadequate, which is common. The glycinate form specifically is supported by research showing good bioavailability and fewer GI side effects compared to oxide and citrate. Research on glycinate for sleep quality is promising but still limited — most of the strong magnesium-sleep evidence comes from studies using other forms. Typical supplemental doses of 200–400mg per day are well within the tolerable upper intake level of 350mg from supplements (set by the NIH). Side effects at normal doses are rare; excessive intake can cause nausea and diarrhea.