What is the filled volume of a size 2 hard gelatin capsule?

• A. 200 mg
• B. 250 mg
• C. 300 mg
• D. 350 mg

Answer: (B)

Hard gelatin capsule capacity is described by fill weight rather than a fixed volume because powders have different densities. The capsule’s internal cavity is a fixed space, so the amount of material it can hold is expressed as how many milligrams of substance it contains, not as a precise milliliter measurement. For a size 2 capsule, the typical fill mass is about 250 mg, which corresponds to roughly 0.25 mL for materials with a density near 1 g/mL. That’s why 250 mg is the standard fill for this size. If the density were higher, more mass could fit; if lower, less mass would fit. The other options (200, 300, 350 mg) fall outside the common fill capacity for size 2, making 250 mg the best match.