Our Validation Methodology
Transparency is at the core of everything we do. Here's exactly how we evaluate every supplement we validate.
The 50% Manufacturing Overhead
Every supplement has costs beyond raw ingredients. To ensure fair comparison, we add a 50% overhead allowance to ingredient costs before calculating markup. This accounts for legitimate manufacturing expenses.
Our Formula:
Manufacturing Cost = (Ingredient Cost × 1.5) + Packaging CostExample: $10 ingredients → $10 + $5 overhead + $0.60 packaging = $15.60 manufacturing cost
What 50% Overhead Covers:
- ✓Third-party testing (heavy metals, potency, microbiological)
- ✓GMP facility certification and compliance
- ✓Quality control and batch-to-batch testing
- ✓Insurance and liability costs
- ✓Basic processing labor and utilities
What 50% Overhead Does NOT Cover:
- ✗Marketing and advertising expenses
- ✗Influencer partnerships and sponsorships
- ✗Retail placement fees or distributor margins
- ✗Brand premium or lifestyle positioning
- ✗Executive compensation or profit margins
Actual overhead varies by company. 50% is conservative—products exceeding this are primarily charging for non-manufacturing costs like marketing.
5-Tier Value Rating System
After calculating manufacturing cost (with 50% overhead), we compare it to retail price to determine the markup percentage. Products are then assigned a Value Tier based on this markup:
| Tier | Rating | Markup Range | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIER 1 | ★★★★★Extreme Value | 0% - 300% | 10/10 |
| TIER 2 | ★★★★☆Good Value | 300% - 550% | 8/10 |
| TIER 3 | ★★★☆☆Fair Value | 550% - 900% | 6/10 |
| TIER 4 | ★★☆☆☆Poor Value | 900% - 1600% | 3/10 |
| TIER 5 | ★☆☆☆☆Excessive Markup | 1600%+ | 0/10 |
Example: Product X
- Ingredient Cost: $5.00
- Overhead (50%): $2.50
- Packaging: $0.60
- Manufacturing Cost: $8.10
- Retail Price: $39.99
- Markup: 393% → Tier 2 (Good Value)
Overall Score Breakdown
Each supplement receives a score from 0 to 10 based on four weighted categories:
- 30%Pricing - Value tier based on markup (see above)
- 30%Dosing - Clinical dose comparison
- 20%Transparency - Documentation and testing
- 20%Quality - Manufacturing standards
What Our Scores Measure (And What They Don't)
Our Scores Measure:
- ✓Value Efficiency: How much markup exists beyond manufacturing costs (including our 50% overhead allowance)
- ✓Clinical Dosing Accuracy: Whether ingredient amounts align with peer-reviewed research
- ✓Label Transparency: Disclosure of amounts, sources, and formulation details
- ✓Quality Signals: Third-party testing, certifications, and verifiable standards
Our Scores Do NOT Measure:
- ✗Packaging quality, design, or presentation
- ✗Flavor, taste, or sensory experience
- ✗Convenience factors (format, portability, ease of use)
- ✗Sustainability practices or environmental impact
- ✗Brand reputation, marketing, or lifestyle alignment
- ✗Customer service or return policies
Important: A lower score doesn't mean a product is "bad." Higher prices may be justified by factors outside our criteria (taste, premium packaging, brand trust). Our scores measure value and clinical alignment—not whether a product is "worth it" for your needs.
1Pricing Score (30%)
Pricing score is directly determined by the product's Value Tier (see 5-Tier Value Rating System above). We calculate manufacturing cost using our 50% overhead formula, then measure markup to retail price.
Ingredient Price Sources:
- Alibaba and Made-in-China for raw ingredient costs
- Manufacturer catalogs for bulk pricing
- Industry contacts for contract manufacturing rates
2Dosing Score (30%)
We compare each ingredient's amount to clinically effective doses established in peer-reviewed research. Products that provide under-dosed ingredients score lower.
How We Score:
| % of Clinical Dose | Score Range |
|---|---|
| 100%+ | 10 |
| 75-100% | 7.5-10 |
| 50-75% | 5-7.5 |
| 25-50% | 2.5-5 |
| 0-25% | 0-2.5 |
Sources:
- PubMed clinical trials and meta-analyses
- Examine.com dosage recommendations
- Cochrane systematic reviews
3Transparency Score (20%)
We evaluate how openly a brand shares information about their products, including third-party testing, ingredient sourcing, and manufacturing practices.
Factors Evaluated:
- Third-party testing: COAs (Certificates of Analysis) available?
- Label accuracy: Does testing match label claims?
- Ingredient sourcing: Origin of ingredients disclosed?
- Contaminant testing: Heavy metals, pesticides, microbes tested?
- Customer accessibility: COAs easy to obtain?
4Quality Score (20%)
We assess manufacturing standards and certifications that indicate quality control.
Factors Evaluated:
- GMP Certification: FDA-registered, cGMP-compliant facility?
- Third-party certifications: NSF, USP, Informed Sport?
- Ingredient forms: Bioavailable forms used?
- Formulation quality: Appropriate excipients, fillers?
Final Determination
Products receive one of two validation statuses based on their overall score:
Note: The Value Tier (★★★★★) is separate from validation status. A product could be "Validated" (good overall) but have a poor Value Tier (overpriced), or vice versa.
Disclaimers
Cost Estimates: Manufacturing costs are approximations based on wholesale pricing data. Actual costs vary by supplier, volume, and formulation.
Not Medical Advice: Our scores measure value and formulation quality, not medical efficacy. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any supplement.
Data Freshness: Prices and formulations change. We update analyses periodically but cannot guarantee real-time accuracy.
Our Independence
No paid reviews. Brands cannot pay for improved scores or favorable treatment.
Affiliate disclosure. We may earn commissions through product links. Commission rates do not influence scores.
Corrections. Errors are corrected publicly. Brands can dispute with evidence, but cannot pay to change scores.
Corrections Policy
Found an error? Email corrections@validora.org with evidence. We review within 5 business days and document all corrections.
Ready to see our methodology in action?
Browse ValidationsMethodology Version: 2.0 (February 2026)
Core criteria and thresholds are frozen. Minor clarifications may occur.