And while increasing your daily calorie intake can be fun, in reality, squeezing additional high-calorie meals into your daily diet can be time-consuming — not to mention potentially unhealthy for extended periods.
This is where the best mass gainers come in handy. Essentially high calorie proteinsshakes of mass (or weight) – when they are used to support a balanced and healthy diet – they are super convenient Supplement to quickly and efficiently achieve your bulk, while also giving you greater control over the amount of protein, carbohydrates and fat you consume.
To help you find the best mass gainers for your training, we asked for the help of a sports performance nutritionist to discover all the essential information you need to buy. In keeping with their advice, we list a handful of our top recommended mass gainers to pack on muscle in 2023.
Black Friday Mass Gainer Deals
- Bulk Mass Gainer – It was
£19.99now £10.99 (save £9 or 45% - Myprotein Impact Weight Gainer – It was
£19.99now £13.99 (save £6 or 30%) - < a href="https://www.theproteinworks.com/total-mass-matrix" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Protein Works Total Mass Matrix – It was
£22.99,now £12.64 (save £10.35 or 45%)
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[product-summary-view headline=” best=”” mass=”” gainers=”” showheadline=”true”/>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/a45000603/best-foods-to-gain-weight/” target=”_blank”>10 Best Foods to Gain Weight & How to Eat to Gain Muscle Mass</a></strong></p><h2 class=”body-h2″>What Is a Mass Gainer?</h2><p class=”body-text”>As <a href=”https://www.mrsport.org/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Yiannis Fleming</a>, a sports performance coach and qualified nutritionist, puts it: ‘A mass gainer is essentially a higher-calorie protein powder, with a little added carbs and fats to bolster the caloric content.’</p><p class=”body-text”>Mass gainers, like high-calorie protein powders, are therefore best suited to those struggling to consume enough calories to put on muscle, or for anyone that’s bulking and looking to supplement their regular diet with additional carbs and fats.</p><p class=”body-text”>‘This type of protein powder makes it easier to consume calories on a consistent basis in comparison to having to consume those calories from whole foods,’ Fleming adds.</p><p class=”body-text”>‘Mass gainers aren’t supposed to replace a balanced diet, but rather complement this and allow you to consume the calories you need on those busy, unplanned days when you need to rely on convenience.’</p><p><strong>Read more: <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/building-muscle/a750047/the-best-way-to-bulk-up/” target=”_blank”>The Scientifically-backed Way to Build Bulk Fast</a></strong></p><h2 class=”body-h2″>What Mass Gainers Are Most effective?</h2><p>Most decent mass gainers contain 30-50g of protein, which is all you should need. ‘As they contain added cabs and fats, it’s important to note that one downside is that mass gainers are not very filling. Which is great if you struggle to consume enough calories daily and have high energy demands, but people tend to overestimate the amount of calories they need.'</p><p>Fleming adds that in order to use mass gainers effectively, to ‘keep in mind that if you’re attempting to “bulk” in order to gain muscle quickly, you may also store fat, especially if a mass gainer contains much more calories than you need. In this instance, it would therefore be better to focus on including more satiating whole foods.'</p><p><strong>Read more: <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/a43304334/bodybuilder-4000-calorie-bulking-diet/” target=”_blank”>A Bodybuilder Shares His 4000 Calorie Bulking Diet Where No Food is Off Limits</a></strong></p><h2 class=”body-h2″>Are Mass Gainers Healthy?</h2><p>Mass gainers are ‘essentially just powdered food’, so when used correctly, yes, they are healthy. However, as Fleming explains, ‘context is important’.</p><p>‘Someone who is consistently under-eating and struggling to manage their bodyweight would likely find health benefits from including a mass gainer as it contains additional calories (energy) for them,’ he says. ‘Remember that being chronically underweight or underfed is unhealthy, too.</p><p>‘Whereas, someone with a higher body fat percentage who is already overeating would likely make their health markers worse if they were to consume high-calorie mass gainer shakes, since they would be eliciting further fat storage.’</p><p><strong></strong><strong>Read more: <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/a35244649/high-calorie-healthy-weight-gain-foods/” target=”_blank”>7 Healthy High-Calorie Foods & Snacks for Weight Gain</a></strong></p><h2 class=”body-h2″>Are Mass Gainers Safe?</h2><p>Mass Gainers don’t contain any dangerous ingredients, so there’s nothing to worry about there. That being said, as with any typical diet, ‘you should be careful to not consume too much added sugar for metabolic health or saturated fat for heart health, which is often in moderate doses in mass gainers’, says Fleming.</p><p>’However, so long as your macros and calories are in order, you shouldn’t need to worry about gaining the wrong kind of gains from this powdered food. If calories are controlled, this is equivocal.'</p><p><strong><strong><a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/g43617423/best-protein-powders/” target=”_blank” data-vars-ga-ux-element=”Hyperlink”>Best Protein Powders</a> |</strong> <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/building-muscle/a756812/mh-tried-tested-whey-protein” target=”_blank” data-vars-ga-outbound-link=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/building-muscle/a756812/mh-tried-tested-whey-protein” data-vars-ga-ux-element=”Hyperlink” data-vars-ga-call-to-action=”Best Whey Protein Powder”>Best Whey Protein Powder</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/g43363892/best-vegan-protein-powders/” target=”_blank” data-vars-ga-outbound-link=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/g43363892/best-vegan-protein-powders/” data-vars-ga-ux-element=”Hyperlink” data-vars-ga-call-to-action=”Best Vegan Protein Powder”>Best Vegan Protein Powder</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/g34643127/best-protein-bars/” target=”_blank” data-vars-ga-outbound-link=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/g34643127/best-protein-bars/” data-vars-ga-ux-element=”Hyperlink” data-vars-ga-call-to-action=”Best Protein Bars”>Best Protein Bars</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/a26075019/pre-workout-complete-guide/” target=”_blank” data-vars-ga-outbound-link=”https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/a26075019/pre-workout-complete-guide/” data-vars-ga-ux-element=”Hyperlink” data-vars-ga-call-to-action=”Best Pre-workout”>Best Pre-workout</a></strong> </p>”/>
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2
Whole Supp Nourishing Superfood Shake
2
Whole Supp Nourishing Superfood Shake
Now 35% Off
Ok, so this Superfood Meal Replacement Shake from Whole Supp isn’t technically an out and out ‘mass gainer’, but that’s not to say that you can’t use it to aid weight gain anyway. Packing 400 calories per serving, it’s definitely on the low end compared to other shakes on this list, but in the the context of a calorie surplus, treating it as an additional meal around your regular diet will nevertheless help when gaining weight. Plus, if 1000+ calorie shakes are too much for your needs, this could be a good alternative.
Each serving contains 400 calories, plus 31g of protein and 5g of BCAA’s, as well as 13g of fat, 7g of fibre and over 30 vitamins and minerals.
Per 100g serving
Protein 31g Calories (kcal) 400 Carbohydrates 40g Fat 13g 
This mass gainer from Bulk is packed with 40g protein – a blend of 40% whey concentrate, 40% milk protein concentrate and 20% egg white powder – which Bulk claims provides your body with proteins that each offer a different rate of absorption.
Ideal for gradually and conveniently building mass, this weight gainer packs 520 kcal per 135g serving, 66g of carbohydrates sourced from ultra fine Scottish oats, and 8.9g of fat.
It’s available in a choice of five flavours, including chocolate, vanilla, banana, strawberry, and chocolate cookies, and is both suitable for vegetarians and Halal.
Per 135g serving
Protein 40g Calories (kcal) 520 Carbohydrates 66g Fat 8.9g 4
Protein Works Total Mass Matrix Extreme
4
Protein Works Total Mass Matrix Extreme
Now 50% Off
This is where the calorie content starts to ramp up. Packing a hefty 962 kcal per 256g serving, this Total Mass Matrix Extreme mass gainer from Protein Works is ideal for hitting ambitious daily calorie targets.
In terms of its other nutritional values, it contains a massive 53g of protein per serving – a blend of whey concentrate, slow-release micellar casein and soy protein – a huge 173g of carbohydrates and all with just 7.9g of fat, which is less than the previous pick despite the larger serving size.
Per 265g serving
Protein 53g Calories (kcal) 962 Carbohydrates 173 Fat 7.9g 5
Myprotein Impact Weight Gainer
5
Myprotein Impact Weight Gainer
Now 29% Off
Myprotein’s Impact Weight Gainer contains a 31g blend of fast and slow digesting whey and milk proteins designed to help to support and maintain your protein intake throughout the day.
Per 100g serving, it contains 388 calories, 50g of carbohydrates and 6.2g of fat – ideal for a weight gain programme where you don’t want to store too much excess body fat.
Per 100g serving
Protein 31g Calories (kcal) 388 Carbohydrates 50g Fat 6.2g 6
PhD Nutrition Advanced Mass Gainer
6
PhD Nutrition Advanced Mass Gainer
The PhD Nutrition Advnanced Mass Gainer contains a 49.8g blend of slow-release micellar casein protein, quick-release high-quality whey isolate and whole egg protein for supporting your protein intake throughout the day.
This mass gainer also has a pretty large serving size of 300g, so it isn’t the most economical pick. That being said, it more than makes up for that with its enormous 1146 kcal per serving and 188.5g of complex carbohydrates.
While this mass gainer contains no added sugars, it does contain 17.7g of fat per serving, so be aware that this may result in excess fat storage.
Per 300g serving
Protein 49.8g Calories (kcal) 1146 Carbohydrates 188.4g Fat 17.7g 7
Protein Works Vegan Mass Gainer Extreme
7
Protein Works Vegan Mass Gainer Extreme
Now 60% Off
If you’re looking to pack on mass on a plant-based diet, this vegan mass gainer from Protein Works is a quality option. It consists of 53g of protein derived from pea, brown rice and soy proteins – great for supporting muscle recovery while also upping your calorie intake.
Containing a 746 calories per 200g serving, this is Protein Works’ ‘Extreme’ mass gainer, meaning it’s best suited to anyone looking to significantly increase their daily calories. For a lower calorie vegan alternative, opt for their regular vegan mass gainer.
Per 200g serving
Protein 53 Calories (kcal) 746 Carbohydrates 119 Fat 8.8g 
Bulk’s Vegan Mass Gainer is built around their signature plant-based protein blend, combining pea protein isolate, brown rice protein, pumpkin protein, flaxseed powder and quinoa flour, for a ‘more complete’ protein intake than single-source formulas.
It contains 369 kcal per serving, which, compared to alternatives is pretty modest. However, if you’re on a gradual weight gain programme, it’ll still offers a significant boost to your daily calorie intake regardless.
Per 100g serving
Protein 31g Calories (kcal) 369 Carbohydrates 44g Fat 5.8g Potential Side Effects of Using a Mass Gainer
There are two main drawbacks to using a mass gainer powder, according to Fleming. ‘The first is that if you’re not being calculated with your energy intake, mass gainers can easily take you way over your calorie target and cause fat storage. So only include one if you struggle to meet your energy demands regularly and require enough calories equivalent to a main meal.
‘The second is gastrointestinal stress. In other words, stomach aches, cramps or discomfort. This isn’t exclusive to mass gainers, but rather any type of food or drink with a large amount of calories. When you consume a lot of calories fairly quickly, sometimes this can upset your stomach. If this is the case, be sure to exclude any potential ingredients or intolerances causing this, drink your shake more slowly, and even half the portion so you’re giving your stomach time to digest.’
Read more: This is How Much Protein You Need to Build Muscle
Luke is Men’s Health UK‘s senior ecommerce writer, specialising in reviewing the latest health and fitness products. Luke interviews some of the world’s most knowledgeable experts across menswear, grooming, fitness equipment and nutrition to help readers make smart decisions when shopping online. He has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has worked as a journalist for titles like The Recommended, Outdoor Swimmer magazine and B2B publications. When he’s not compiling round-ups of the best expert-verified products, Luke can be found training for running events, playing squash or swimming at one of London’s lidos.
Kate is a fitness writer for Men’s Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Men’s Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isn’t lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.
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