L-citrulline guide
L-citrulline vs citrulline malate: dose and cost per 6 g
Citrulline malate is part malic acid, so 8 g of it is not 8 g of citrulline. How to convert doses, why the label ratio matters, and the cost per 6 g.
Citrulline is an amino acid that the body converts to arginine, which is used to make nitric oxide. It shows up in most pre-workout formulas, either as plain L-citrulline or as citrulline malate. The two are not interchangeable gram for gram, and that affects both the dose and the price.
What is the difference between L-citrulline and citrulline malate?
- L-citrulline is the amino acid on its own. Every gram of powder is a gram of citrulline.
- Citrulline malate combines citrulline with malic acid (malate), a compound involved in energy metabolism. Many labels state a 2:1 ratio of citrulline to malate. Check yours, because the ratio sets how much citrulline you get.
Most of the exercise research on citrulline malate used a single 8 g dose, as a 2021 critical review in the European Journal of Applied Physiology notes, and the review's best suggestion for timing was about 1 hour before exercise. Whether the malate adds anything beyond the citrulline is not settled. The review calls for studies that compare the two forms directly, and it describes the overall evidence for citrulline malate as ambiguous.
How do you convert citrulline malate to L-citrulline?
Multiply the citrulline malate dose by the citrulline share of the ratio, treating the ratio as parts by weight. That is how the 2021 review works out that 8 g of a 2:1 product gives 5.3 g of citrulline.
| Citrulline malate dose | At 2:1 (about 67% citrulline) | At 1:1 (50% citrulline) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 g | about 4 g | 3 g |
| 8 g | about 5.3 g | 4 g |
| 9 g | 6 g | 4.5 g |
| 12 g | 8 g | 6 g |
Rounded arithmetic. Check the ratio on your label.
Going the other way: to get 6 g of citrulline, you need about 9 g of 2:1 citrulline malate or 12 g of 1:1. That is a big difference in scoops and in cost.
Can you trust the ratio on the label?
Not always. A 2018 study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tested the citrulline malate it gave participants and found a ratio of about 1.11:1, lower than the 2:1 the manufacturer stated. The researchers also tested four more products sold as 2:1, and only one came close to its stated ratio. The authors wrote that coaches and athletes should be aware of the gap between the chemical analyses and the manufacturers' claims.
The 2021 review describes this as a quality control issue. At about 1.1:1, an 8 g scoop gives about 4.2 g of citrulline instead of the 5.3 g a 2:1 ratio would give. You cannot check the ratio at home. With plain L-citrulline, there is no ratio to get wrong.
Which form is cheaper per gram of citrulline?
With citrulline malate you pay for the malate too, so at the same price per kilogram, plain L-citrulline gives you more citrulline: about 1.5 times as much as a 2:1 product, and twice as much as a 1:1 product. That is why our L-citrulline list prices plain L-citrulline per 6 g and leaves citrulline malate off: a gram of citrulline malate is not a gram of citrulline.
Here are today's cheapest plain L-citrulline products per 6 g:
| Product | Store | Per 6 g |
|---|---|---|
| BulkSupplements L-Citrulline Powder · 1 Kilogram | BulkSupplements | $0.23 |
| PureBulk L-Citrulline Powder · 1 kilogram | PureBulk | $0.23 |
| Nutricost L-Citrulline (Base) Powder · 600 Grams | Nutricost | $0.33 |
| NutraBio L-Citrulline Powder · 75 Servings | NutraBio | $0.67 |
| Piping Rock L-Citrulline · 2400 mg · 180 Quick Release Capsules | Piping Rock | $0.92 |
Prices checked November 7, 2026. Store prices change; the price at checkout is final. See the full l-citrulline list
If you already own citrulline malate, you can compare it yourself. Divide the price by the total grams in the tub, multiply by 6, then divide by the citrulline share (0.67 for 2:1, 0.5 for 1:1). That gives the price per 6 g of citrulline, the same unit as the list. See how it works for the method.
If a pre-workout lists citrulline inside a proprietary blend, the label only has to give the blend's total weight, so you cannot do this math at all. See proprietary blends explained for what to look for, and the beta-alanine tingle for the other ingredient most pre-workouts share.
How much citrulline did studies use?
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements describes few clinical trials with conflicting results, and says there is little research support for using citrulline to enhance performance. It reports few safety concerns for up to 9 g for 1 day, or 6 g a day for up to 16 days. A 2019 meta-analysis of 12 studies (198 participants) found a small benefit for high-intensity strength and power, and the confidence interval of every individual study crossed the line of no effect.
We price per 6 g because it is an amount used in studies. It is a unit for comparing prices, not a recommendation of what to take.
Does citrulline have side effects?
The NIH lists gastrointestinal discomfort as a reported side effect. Research on long-term use is limited. Ask a doctor before taking citrulline if you take any medication, have a medical condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions
Is 8 g of citrulline malate the same as 8 g of L-citrulline?
No. At a 2:1 ratio, 8 g of citrulline malate contains about 5.3 g of citrulline. At 1:1, it contains 4 g.
How much citrulline malate equals 6 g of L-citrulline?
About 9 g of 2:1 citrulline malate, or 12 g of 1:1. Check the ratio on the label.
Is L-citrulline or citrulline malate better?
There is no clear evidence that one works better at the same citrulline dose. Plain L-citrulline is simpler to dose because there is no ratio to trust, and at the same price per kilogram it gives more citrulline.
Why is citrulline malate not on your list?
Because part of every gram is malic acid, and some products have been found to contain a different ratio than the label states. We price plain L-citrulline so every gram compared is citrulline.
Sources
- A critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance (Gough et al., 2021) (opens in a new tab)
- Citrulline malate supplementation does not improve German Volume Training performance or reduce muscle soreness (Chappell et al., 2018) (opens in a new tab)
- Acute effects of citrulline supplementation on high-intensity strength and power performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Trexler et al., 2019) (opens in a new tab)
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance (opens in a new tab)
Every price on the list is worked out the same way, and checked daily.
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.
