Fish oil guide
Is Nature Made fish oil a good deal? Cost per g EPA + DHA
Nature Made 1,000 mg fish oil has 250 mg of EPA + DHA per softgel. What that means per gram of omega-3, how many softgels it takes, and what costs less.
Nature Made is one of the most common fish oils in US drugstores, which is why our fish oil list uses it as the brand to compare against. The big number on the front, 1,000 mg or 1,200 mg, is the fish oil. The number that matters is on the back: how much EPA and DHA each softgel holds.
How much EPA and DHA is in Nature Made fish oil?
Nature Made's labels list three numbers per serving: fish oil, total omega-3 fatty acids, and EPA plus DHA. Nature Made's product descriptions quote total omega-3. EPA and DHA are a smaller part of that total. From Nature Made's product pages (serving size: 2 softgels):
| Product | Fish oil per softgel | Total omega-3 per softgel | EPA + DHA per softgel | Softgels for 1 g EPA + DHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Oil 1,000 mg | 1,000 mg | 300 mg | 250 mg | 4 |
| Fish Oil 1,200 mg | 1,200 mg | 360 mg | 300 mg | About 3.3 |
Per-softgel figures are the two-softgel serving divided by two. Softgel counts are rounded.
About a quarter of each softgel is EPA + DHA. The rest is other fats in the oil, including omega-3s that are not EPA or DHA. For comparison, NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements describes a typical 1,000 mg fish oil supplement as providing 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA, or 300 mg combined. So Nature Made's 1,000 mg softgel holds a little less EPA + DHA than that typical figure. For the full label explanation, see 1,000 mg fish oil is not 1,000 mg omega-3.
Is Nature Made fish oil cheap per gram of omega-3?
Here are today's fish oils that cost less than Nature Made per gram of EPA + DHA, and by how much:
| Product | Store | Per 1 g EPA+DHA | vs Nature Made |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piping Rock Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil 1400 mg (850 mg Active Omega-3) · 190 Quick Release Softgels | Piping Rock | $0.15 | 62% less |
| Micro Ingredients Triple Strength Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements 4200mg Per Serving · 240-Softgel | Micro Ingredients | $0.21 | 46% less |
| Vitacost Everyday Essentials, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Natural Lemon · 1,000 mg · 150 Softgels | Vitacost | $0.21 | 46% less |
| NOW Foods Ultra Omega-3 Fish Oil · 180 Softgels | Vitacost | $0.22 | 44% less |
| Nutricost Fish Oil Softgels | Nutricost | $0.25 | 36% less |
| Nature Made Fish Oil 1000 mg Softgels · 250 softgels popular brand | Nature Made | $0.39 | — |
Prices checked November 7, 2026. Store prices change; the price at checkout is final. See the full fish oil list
For every option we track that costs less, see cheaper alternatives to Nature Made fish oil. The method is the same across the site; see how it works.
A low shelf price per bottle does not always mean a low price per gram. A bottle of standard 1,000 mg softgels can cost more per gram of EPA + DHA than a pricier bottle of concentrated softgels, because you need so many more of them.
Total omega-3 vs EPA + DHA: which number to compare?
Compare EPA + DHA. Those are the two omega-3s that fish oil research and dose guidance are written around. "Total omega-3" can include other omega-3 fatty acids, so it makes a softgel look stronger than its EPA + DHA content.
On Nature Made's labels the gap is 50 mg per softgel. That sounds small, but over four softgels a day it is the difference between 1.2 g and 1 g. When you compare any two fish oils, add the EPA and DHA lines and ignore the bigger numbers.
Standard vs concentrated fish oil
- Standard fish oil: about 250 to 360 mg EPA + DHA per softgel. Cheap per bottle, more softgels per gram.
- Concentrated fish oil: often 600 mg or more per softgel. Fewer softgels, and sometimes cheaper per gram.
If swallowing four softgels a day is a nuisance, a concentrate may cost about the same per gram, or less, and take one or two.
What does quality look like beyond price?
Check for independent testing marks on the specific bottle, such as USP Verified or IFOS. Nature Made's 1,000 mg fish oil page shows the USP Verified mark. Testing programs check that the label amount is in the bottle and screen for contaminants. See how to tell if a supplement is third-party tested.
Also check freshness. Buy a size you will finish before the best-by date, and store it away from heat.
How much EPA and DHA do you need?
There is no official daily recommendation for EPA and DHA in the US; NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements notes that the Institute of Medicine did not set one. The American Heart Association's 2017 advisory recalls its earlier advice that people with documented coronary heart disease get about 1 g a day of EPA + DHA, and says supplements are reasonable for these patients in consultation with a doctor. For doses by goal, see how much EPA and DHA per day.
Ask a doctor first if you take blood thinners such as warfarin, have a fish allergy, or are having surgery. NIH notes that fish oil taken with warfarin may lengthen clotting times.
Frequently asked questions
How much EPA and DHA is in Nature Made Fish Oil 1,000 mg?
Nature Made lists 500 mg of EPA and DHA per two-softgel serving, or 250 mg per softgel. The 600 mg of omega-3 per two softgels in the product description is total omega-3.
How much omega-3 is in Nature Made Fish Oil 1,200 mg?
Nature Made lists 360 mg of total omega-3 per softgel, of which 300 mg is EPA and DHA.
How many Nature Made fish oil softgels make 1 g of EPA + DHA?
Four of the 1,000 mg softgels (250 mg each), or about three and a third of the 1,200 mg softgels (300 mg each).
Is Nature Made fish oil worth it?
It is a standard-strength, USP Verified fish oil from a large brand. Whether it is good value depends on the price per gram of EPA + DHA; the live table shows what costs less today.
Is concentrated fish oil better than regular fish oil?
It has more EPA + DHA per softgel, so you take fewer. Per gram of EPA + DHA, it can cost the same or less.
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids fact sheet (opens in a new tab)
- American Heart Association: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and cardiovascular disease (2017 advisory) (opens in a new tab)
- Nature Made Fish Oil 1,000 mg softgels (opens in a new tab)
- Nature Made Fish Oil 1,200 mg softgels (opens in a new tab)
Every price on the list is worked out the same way, and checked daily.
See the fish oil price comparisonCheaper alternatives to Nature Made fish oilCheaper alternatives to Nordic Naturals fish oilCheaper alternatives to Sports Research fish oilNature Made vs Piping Rock fish oilNordic Naturals vs Piping Rock fish oilSports Research vs Piping Rock fish oilNordic Naturals vs NOW Foods fish oil
This is general information about prices and labels, not medical advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you are pregnant, take medication, or have a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and no supplement here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We don't sell the products; how we make money.
