Quick answer
Most dab temperature charts use three ranges. Low: 315 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Medium: 450 to 600 F. High: 600 to 900 F. THC boils at about 315 F. CBD boils at 320 to 356 F. Terpenes boil between 310 and 390 F. A thermometer gives the real number. A chart gives a starting point.
Cannabis Dab Temperature and Lung Health: A Practical Guide
Why boiling points matter
Heat turns cannabinoids and terpenes into vapor. Below the boiling point, the oil stays in the banger. Above it, the oil vaporizes and you inhale it. Above 700 F, oil and any plant residue scorch. Scorched oil tastes bitter and irritates the throat.
cannabis dab temperature for different concentrates
Concentrates test at 60 to 90 percent THC in many lab reports. Flower tests at about 15 to 25 percent. A rice-grain size dab of concentrate holds as much THC as several servings of flower.
The three ranges
- Low, 315 to 450 F. THC and most terpenes vaporize. Flavor is strong. Vapor is thin.
- Medium, 450 to 600 F. More oil vaporizes per draw. Flavor drops. Vapor is thicker.
- High, 600 to 900 F. Large vapor clouds. Terpenes break down. Throat irritation rises.
Terpene boiling points
- Pinene: about 311 F
- Myrcene: about 332 F
- Limonene: about 349 F
- Linalool: about 388 F
- Caryophyllene: about 266 F. Published figures differ.
These numbers come from lab chemistry, not from controlled trials on dabbing. Charts copy each other. Source data is thin. No national standard sets dab temperatures.
cannabis dab temperature chart for beginners
Torch and cool-down times
Many beginners do not own an infrared thermometer. Use time as a stand-in.
- Heat a quartz banger for 30 to 45 seconds.
- Wait 30 to 60 seconds.
- Touch the oil to the floor of the banger and cap it.
- Draw slow. A banger that is too hot makes the oil sizzle and burn.
Cool-down time changes with banger thickness, quartz grade, and room temperature. Test in 10-second steps and note the result. Quartz holds heat longer than titanium. Titanium heats faster and cools faster.
Cold start dabs
A cold start skips most of the guesswork. Put the oil in a cold banger. Heat the walls for 5 to 8 seconds. Cap it and draw. Heat again for 3 to 5 seconds if vapor stops. This method cuts the risk of overheating the oil.
Electric devices
E-nails and portable vaporizers use a dial or a preset. Common presets are 350 to 450 F. A dial reading is the coil temperature, not the oil temperature. The oil runs cooler than the coil. Calibrate against a torch hit you already like.
Safety and law
Cannabis is a Schedule I substance under federal law in the United States. State law differs by state. Dabbing delivers a large THC dose in one hit. High-temperature dabs can form irritant compounds. Data on the long-term health effects of dabbing is limited. Start with a small amount and wait 15 minutes before a second hit. Keep a fire extinguisher near a torch. Ventilate the room.