Best Mass Gainers – Our Top Choices

Not everyone desperately wants to lose weight. In fact, many people are pursuing the exact opposite goal — gaining weight or building muscle mass.

Whether you’re a bodybuilder, someone with an active lifestyle, or someone looking to enhance your physique, you’ll likely need to increase your daily nutrient intake significantly.

While whole food remains the best source, many people struggle to consume enough calories throughout the day. Protein powders can help you increase your protein intake, but they lack the calories, carbs, fats, and other nutrients you need.

If you’ve found yourself facing this challenge, there’s a solution to help your body get what it needs with a different kind of powder — mass gainers.

Best Mass Gainers

With numerous mass gainers available today, we’re highlighting four of our top recommendations you should consider.

For variety, we’ll showcase two lower-calorie options and two higher-calorie products with more comprehensive nutrient profiles.

Let’s dive in!

What Is A Mass Gainer?

Mass gainers provide the perfect solution for anyone who feels their protein powders aren’t enough. They contain a wide range of macronutrients — not just protein — designed to maximize your healthy diet.

Since mass gainers contain macronutrients equivalent to an entire meal, they must be used carefully. They should complement a healthy diet and regular exercise routine for optimal results.

To ensure you make an informed decision when shopping for mass gainers, we’ll cover everything you need to know before purchasing. We’ll also provide our top recommendations currently available.

Let’s begin!

The Five Pillars Of A Quality Mass Gainer

The first thing you’ll notice when examining mass gainers is the vast array of brands and products available. They’ll all make similar bold claims and guarantees, but not all will deliver on their promises.

To distinguish between a quality mass gainer and a subpar product, you need to understand the five pillars of every mass gainer:

Calories

Whether you love or hate them, calories are units of energy. The more calories a meal contains, the more energy it provides.

Three macronutrients determine a meal’s caloric content — protein, carbohydrates, and fat. You’ll find 4 calories per gram of protein or carbs, and 9 calories per gram of fat.

While everyone needs daily calories, it’s crucial to source them from quality ingredients.

Protein

Known as the building block of life, protein is one of six essential macronutrients your body requires daily. It provides energy, builds muscle, strengthens bones, boosts immunity, burns fat, aids recovery, and supports heart health.

The baseline recommendation is 0.36g of protein per pound of bodyweight, though this should increase when building mass.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules in specific ratios.

Their primary function involves providing and storing energy, but they serve additional purposes. Carbs help preserve muscle, improve cardiovascular health, and support proper digestion.

In a standard 2,000-calorie diet, target 225-325mg of carbs daily. When consuming more calories, carb intake shouldn’t exceed 50-60% of total calories.

Dietary Fiber

A carbohydrate type, dietary fiber differs from other carbs because it resists digestion. However, it plays a crucial role in weight management, digestive regulation, blood sugar control, and cholesterol maintenance.

Most Americans struggle to meet daily fiber requirements. Women should target 20-25 grams daily, while men should aim for 30-40 grams.

Fats

When most people hear “fats,” they immediately think of harmful types. However, healthy fats are essential for proper body function.

Saturated fats are less beneficial, while unsaturated fats should be prioritized. Fats are categorized into various groups including fatty acids, lipids, oils, animal fats, and vegetable fats.

Our bodies store consumed fats for protection, warmth, and energy. Total fat intake should never exceed 30% of daily calories.

These five macronutrients — calories, protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and fats — form the foundation of quality mass gainers. Individual requirements vary based on goals and lifestyle factors.

Ultimately, assess your current macronutrient intake, determine your target intake, then find a mass gainer that bridges that gap.

What else can be found in a mass gainer?

Beyond the basics, mass gainers provide substantial amounts of other nutrients. Vitamins and minerals can make a significant difference, particularly since many people are deficient in at least one.

Since most mass gainer users maintain active gym routines, many products include popular exercise-enhancing ingredients for added daily benefits.

Common additions include caffeine, citrulline, beta-alanine, and HMB. Since mass building requires combining nutrition with exercise, these ingredients help maximize workout effectiveness.

Using A Mass Gainer Properly And Safely

While mass gainers can significantly benefit your diet and weight goals, they can cause more harm than good when misused. This is easily overlooked, given how simple it is to obtain necessary calories and protein.

Below, we’ll address common questions about mass gainers and how to safely avoid negative outcomes when adding them to your diet.

Who should use mass gainers?

As the name suggests, mass gainers are designed for those seeking increased muscle mass and weight gain. This requires consuming more calories than you burn while ensuring those calories come from healthy sources.

Many active individuals eat recommended daily macronutrient amounts but don’t achieve desired gains. Mass gainers provide that additional dietary boost.

Can you use a mass gainer as a meal replacement?

The simple answer is no — and this won’t change. Despite common misconceptions, mass gainers aren’t meal replacements. Many assume they can substitute breakfast, lunch, or dinner with mass gainer shakes, but that’s not their intended purpose.

As mentioned previously, mass gainers supplement your diet rather than replace meals. They shouldn’t help you reach basic daily requirements, but should support increased calorie needs for active lifestyles.

When should you take mass gainers?

Timing depends largely on your daily routine. For daily exercisers, post-workout consumption is optimal. On rest days, consider taking it before bed or first thing in the morning.

Personal preference matters significantly. Some people experience digestive issues with certain mass gainers and adjust their schedule based on when they feel best.

How do you take a mass gainer?

Mass gainers come in powder form — similar to protein powder — and can be added to beverages, shakes, or smoothies. Product labels provide directions indicating how many scoops deliver specific macronutrient amounts.

Since most mass gainers resist easy stirring, you may need a shaker or blender to properly mix. Once blended, simply drink and enjoy!