Copper upper limit: how much is too much per day?

For adults 19 and older, the upper limit (UL) of copper is 10,000 mcg per day, counting all sources together, food and supplements included.

Ages 14 and older · Source: National Academies Dietary Reference Intakes · Data as of 2026-10-03

Every life stage

Group	Age	RDA or AI mcg/day	UL mcg/day
Male	14–18	890 RDA	8,000
Male	19–30	900 RDA	10,000
Male	31–50	900 RDA	10,000
Male	51–70	900 RDA	10,000
Male	71+	900 RDA	10,000
Female	14–18	890 RDA	8,000
Female	19–30	900 RDA	10,000
Female	31–50	900 RDA	10,000
Female	51–70	900 RDA	10,000
Female	71+	900 RDA	10,000
Pregnancy	14–18	1,000 RDA	8,000
Pregnancy	19–30	1,000 RDA	10,000
Pregnancy	31–50	1,000 RDA	10,000
Lactation	14–18	1,300 RDA	8,000
Lactation	19–30	1,300 RDA	10,000
Lactation	31–50	1,300 RDA	10,000

RDA = Recommended Dietary Allowance; AI = Adequate Intake, used where there is not enough data for an RDA. UL = Tolerable Upper Intake Level. “Not set” means the tables give no value. Ages under 14 are in the National Academies tables and are not covered here.

What counts toward the limit

This UL covers your total intake: copper from food, water and supplements added together.

Table footnote, as recorded in Ceiling’s data: “UL is total intake from food, water and supplements.”

How Ceiling uses this

Ceiling adds up every supplement you scan and compares your daily total with this number. Ceiling counts supplements only, so food and water come on top of the total it shows. Ceiling is coming soon on iPhone. No account; everything stays on your iPhone.

What is the upper limit of copper?