Shatter typically tests between 70% and 90% THC, and most dispensary batches land close to 80%. That makes it one of the most potent forms of legal cannabis, roughly three to four times stronger than dried flower that averages 15% to 25% THC. The chart below shows how shatter compares with other concentrate types.
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What is the THC percentage of shatter?
Shatter is a solvent-extracted concentrate, usually made with butane or propane, that is purged into a glass-like sheet. Because the process strips away plant material, waxes, and water, the remaining oil is mostly cannabinoids.
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Total THC in shatter commonly falls between 70% and 90%, with an average near 80%. The rest of the mass is other cannabinoids such as CBG and CBD, plus residual terpenes.
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Shatter THC percentage chart: how concentrates compare
Use this chart as a general range rather than a guarantee. Every batch is different, and lab results shift with strain, extraction method, and how well the product was purged.
- Dried flower: 15% to 25% THC
- Hash and kief: 20% to 60% THC
- Bubble hash: 30% to 60% THC
- Wax, budder, and crumble: 60% to 80% THC
- Shatter: 70% to 90% THC
- Live resin: 65% to 85% THC
- Rosin: 60% to 85% THC
- Distillate: 85% to 95% THC
Is higher THC shatter always better?
No. Potency is only one measure of quality, and the highest number on the shelf is not automatically the best dab. Terpenes, flavonoids, and minor cannabinoids shape flavor and the character of the effect, and some of the most flavorful shatter tests lower than a bland 90% batch.
A very high THC percentage can also make dosing harder. Small differences in dab size translate into large differences in the amount of THC you inhale.
How do you read a shatter potency label?
Most legal labels list both THCA and THC, and the total is what matters. Raw THCA converts to THC when it is heated, so labs apply a conversion factor.
Total THC = (THCA x 0.877) + delta-9 THC.
For example, a shatter testing 75% THCA and 3% THC has a total THC near 69% to 70%. If the label lists only total THC, you can use that number directly.
How much THC is in one dab of shatter?
At 80% THC, one gram of shatter contains about 800 mg of THC. A typical dab is 25 mg to 50 mg of shatter, which delivers roughly 20 mg to 40 mg of THC per hit.
That is a lot for a new consumer. A common starting point for inhaled concentrates is 2 mg to 5 mg of THC, a piece about the size of a grain of rice or smaller. Wait at least 15 minutes before taking more.
Does shatter lose potency over time?
Yes, slowly. THC degrades into CBN when it is exposed to heat, light, and air, so a gram stored at room temperature can test a few points lower after several months.
Keep shatter in an airtight glass container, away from light, and store it somewhere cool. Refrigeration helps, but let the jar come to room temperature before opening it to avoid condensation.
Why do lab results vary from batch to batch?
Potency depends on the starting material, the solvent, and the purge, so two grams of the same strain can differ by several points. Sampling and lab methods add normal variability on top of that.
Treat any published chart as a range, and check the label on the exact package you buy.