FFitCalc

Creatine Calculator

Loading and maintenance doses for you.

Your details

kg

Daily maintenance dose

3g/day

Take every day, indefinitely

Saturation time

3–4weeks

Without loading

Saturation

~1week

If you load

Tub (300 g)

100days

At maintenance

Loading vs steady dosing

Loading (per day)23 g/day × 5–7 days
Maintenance3 g/day

Creatine monohydrate is the most researched sports supplement, shown to improve strength, power and muscle mass. Your muscles hold a limited store; the goal is to saturate it. You can load quickly (~0.3 g/kg/day for a week) or simply take a steady daily dose and reach the same saturation in 3–4 weeks.

Recommendations

  • Take 3 g of creatine monohydrate every day — timing doesn't matter, so pick whatever you'll remember.
  • Skipping loading is perfectly fine — you'll fully saturate in about a month with no downside.
  • Consistency beats timing. Missing a day occasionally won't undo your stores.

Watch out

  • Creatine is well tolerated in healthy people. If you have kidney disease or are pregnant, check with your doctor first.
  • Some people notice a small, temporary rise in scale weight from increased muscle water — this is normal, not fat.

Pro tips

  • Plain creatine monohydrate is the gold standard — fancier forms aren't worth the premium.
  • Take it with a meal or a carb/protein drink for slightly better uptake.

Creatine monohydrate is one of the few supplements with overwhelming evidence behind it. Getting the dose right is simple — this calculator personalises it to your bodyweight.

Loading vs steady dosing

Both routes end at the same fully-saturated muscle creatine stores. Loading (~0.3 g/kg/day for 5–7 days) just gets you there in about a week; a steady 3–5 g/day takes 3–4 weeks. Neither is superior long-term.

How it works

Creatine helps regenerate ATP, your muscles' rapid energy currency, improving performance in short, intense efforts. Over time that supports more training volume and strength gains.

Frequently asked questions

A daily maintenance dose of 3–5 g of creatine monohydrate is standard for most people. Larger athletes can sit at the higher end (~0.03 g/kg).

No. Loading (~20 g/day for a week) saturates muscles faster, but taking 3–5 g daily reaches the same level in 3–4 weeks with fewer stomach issues.

There's no need to cycle. Creatine is safe for continuous long-term use in healthy people — just take your maintenance dose every day.

Sources

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