Best Mass Gainers UK 2023 – Your Ultimate Guide
Picking the best mass gainer can make a big difference in helping to support your body goals. Here's everything you need to know
As a naturally skinnier guy, it can sometimes be difficult to gain weight and add muscle mass – no matter how hard you’re working in the gym.
If you’re what’s considered to be a ‘hard-gainer’, you may feel like you need to be constantly eating to support your muscle-building goals. It can sometimes feel like whenever you’ve just finished one huge meal, it’s already time for the next one.
We all know that protein contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass, but it’s also important to ensure that you’re hitting your overall calorie goals per day too.
‘Weight gainers’ (also known as ‘mass gainers’) are powder-form supplements which pack in a larger portion of calories than the average protein shake to help support your training goals.
Essentially, they are designed to be a convenient way to help you to reach your calorie and macronutrient targets, as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
We always recommend choosing real food over supplements. And it’s important to remember that supplements are not intended to replace a varied diet and healthy overall lifestyle.
But when time is at a premium, and you’re already sticking to a healthy diet, then adding in supplements from time to time can help to support you as you look to smash your fitness goals.
If you’re looking to build more lean muscle and have struggled to bulk up in the past, it’s definitely worth considering trying a mass gainer to see if it’ll help you.
They are certainly not for everyone – but when the right product is used correctly, mass gainers can be a convenient addition to your regimen to support your goals.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. Our articles and the products featured in them are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. Always speak with a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, and/or taking any supplements.
So, with the main introduction out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of taking a modern mass gainer and how they can help to support your fitness goals.
Best Mass Gainers UK – Top Three Picks
The product information show below was correct as of time of writing. Be sure to check the official manufacturer website to view the latest formulas and ingredients before making a purchase.
| Rating | Summary | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myprotein Impact Weight Gainer |
 
|
• Great Value • 31g Protein • 50g Carbs • 388 Calories | Buy Now | |
| Form Nutrition Peakblend |
 
|
• Vegan Friendly • 34g Protein • 37g Carbs • 355 Calories | Buy Now | |
| Protein Works Total Mass Matrix |
 
|
• 31g Protein • 63g Carbs • 477 Calories • Multiple Flavours | Buy Now | |
| Huel Powder v3.0 |
 
|
• Vegan Friendly • 29g Protein • 37g Carbs • 400 Calories | Buy Now | |
| Bulk Informed Mass Gainer |
 
|
• 45g Protein • 75g Carbs • 566 Calories • Added Creatine | Buy Now |
Why Take A Mass Gainer?
You won’t need us to tell you that the health and fitness industry has blown up over the last few years – and that means there has never been a better selection of quality products on sale to help you achieve your goals.
There are many advantages of taking a high quality mass gainer, such as:
• Convenient source of protein for supporting muscle growth
• Can be used as a meal replacement when you’re short on time
• Convenient source of carbohydrates
• Can make it easier to reach daily calorie targets
• Convenience and speed
Mass gainers shouldn’t be used to replace real food – but they can be useful when you’re looking to top up your macronutrient intake as part of your healthy and balanced diet in certain circumstances.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
These types of supplements are not for everyone, however. You need to be brutally honest with yourself and assess your workout regime and diet as it stands before deciding to try one of the products listed below.
But when used properly, the right mass gainer can provide some excellent support on your health and fitness journey.
Editor's note: Any health claims about the ingredients mentioned in this article are listed as authorised on the EU Register at the time of publishing. Additionally, you should carefully check the ingredients information shown on the official website of any product you're considering purchasing, as formulas may change from time to time and therefore may differ from what's shown on this page.
Things To Look For In A Mass Gainer
As you’ve probably already realised, there are many different mass gainers on sale these days and comparing all of these products can be time-consuming and confusing. (Scroll down for our current UK favourites below).
Nevertheless, there are some key components that you should always look for when choosing a mass gainer. Here are some of the things to bear in mind.
• At least 20 grams of protein per serving – It goes without saying that if you’re looking to build lean muscle, you’re going to need to ensure you’re consuming the right amount of protein Many guys who are used to taking protein shakes after the gym often choose to replace that post-workout shake with a mass gainer because they find it works better for them. The way you integrate your mass gainer into your regime really comes down to your personal preference, but it’s worth making sure that your chosen product packs in more than 20 grams of protein per serving to help support the growth and maintenance of muscle mass.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
• Minimum of 350 calories per serving – If you’re looking to build extra muscle, you’re going to need to ensure you’re consuming enough calories for your goals. One of the main reasons mass gainers are so popular is because they are a convenient way of adding extra calories to your diet without very much effort. If you’re looking for a mass gainer, anything less than 350 calories per serving probably isn’t worthwhile.
• At least 35 grams of (quality) carbohydrates per serving – It’s easy to fall into the trap of eating sugary foods to meet your carb targets but you’re much better off consuming ‘good’ complex carbs, which are digested slowly. Some of the mass gainers in our list below use oats as their complex carb base.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Other Things To Consider
• Proprietary blends – This is when a supplement company only discloses the ‘blend’ totals on the label, rather than the individual ingredients. This means that you won’t have any idea about how much of each ingredient is in the total blend. This is not what you want, especially as you’re going to be forking over your hard-earned cash in return for your mass gainer, so it’s probably best to avoid products that use proprietary blends.
• Sugar content – Mass gainers are known for packing in as many calories as possible but unfortunately some supplements achieve their calorific targets by including excessive amounts of sugar. If you’re looking to take your shake post-workout, a reasonable amount of fast-digesting, high glycemic index carbs can help replenish glycogen stores. If you’re considering a meal replacement shake, it’s generally best to look for one with more complex carbs and less free sugar. Either way, keep an eye on sugar content.
• The brand – With so many products on the market these days it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the huge number of options. More than ever, it’s worth doing your research into the brand you’re buying from. Search the internet for reviews and find out a bit about the history of the brand. You’ll be thankful you did your research in the long run.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
When To Take A Mass Gainer
Mass gainer shakes can generally be taken at any time of day when you’re needing calories.
Some people opt to take shakes after their workout but they can really be consumed at any time. Don’t forget that you could use your new mass gainer to replace your current protein shake, although this will come down to your personal preference and needs.
It’s also worth reading each manufacturers’ instructions on when to consume their shakes and carefully checking the entire label. As we mentioned above, there’s absolutely no point in taking a mass gainer if your workout regime and diet are not on point – so make sure you get those sorted first.
As a rough guide, some of the best exercises for building muscle mass include: deadlifts, squats, bench press, pull-ups, rows. Generally, you want to be focusing on the large compound exercises that use the main muscle groups.
We always recommend speaking to your doctor or a certified medical professional before taking any new supplements or making any major lifestyle changes.
Best Mass Gainers – Our Pick
OK, so now we’ve talked you through the various benefits of mass gainers and what to look for when selecting your product, let’s get to the list of some of the best mass gainers in the UK right now.
Editor's note: The writer of this article has not necessarily tried the products featured. All product information provided is purely research based.
1) Myprotein Impact Weight Gainer
Where to buy: www.myprotein.com
The first product on our list is the Impact Weight Gainer from Myprotein. Myprotein are one of the biggest names in the health and fitness supplements industry and they’re well-known for their excellent products and good value for money. The Impact Weight Gainer supplement comes in a number of different flavours, and offers decent value for money. Each serving contains 31g of protein, a 50g of carbs, and comes in at a total of 388 calories per serving. We especially like the fact that this supplement uses ground oats as its main carbohydrate source. At the time of writing, the Impact Weight Gainer came in two sizes, either a 1kg bag or a 5kg bag. The Impact Weight Gainer from Myprotein is a solid option that uses ground oats as its main carbohydrate source. It also boasts a low sugar content (2.6g per serving) and comes in a range of different flavours.
2) Form Nutrition Peakblend
Where to buy: www.formnutrition.com
Although this is technically not marketed as a traditional mass gainer, we’ve included Form Nutrition’s Peakblend on our list because it offers a great quality, vegan-friendly alternative option. We’re big fans of Form and their high-quality plant-based supplements, and their Peakblend product is a vegan meal replacement packed with 34g of protein and 37g of carbs. It has a total of 355 calories per serving and contains a range of added vitamins and minerals to support your intake from food sources. The carbs come mainly from gluten free oat powder, and this supplement is available in a range of flavours, including Banoffee and Chocolate Peanut. This is an excellent option if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly supplement as a great alternative to a more ‘traditional’ mass gainer.
3) Protein Works Total Mass Matrix
Where to buy: www.theproteinworks.com
Next on our list is Total Mass Matrix from Protein Works. Protein Works are a UK-based fitness supplements company that have been around for a while now and are well-known for their affordable products. Total Mass Matrix is their main mass gainer offering, and its impressive formula packs in 477 calories, 31g of protein and 63g of carbs per serving. We’re big fans of The Protein Works’ range of supplements and their Total Mass Matrix is certainly impressive. It comes in a wide range of different flavours, including chocolate mint, and was available in bags sized 2kg, 4kg and 8kg at the time of writing. This supplement offers good value for money and good amounts of protein and carbs per serving.
4) Huel Powder v3.0
Where to buy: www.huel.com
This is another vegan-friendly option that’s a slightly different to the traditional mass gainers. Huel Powder v3.0 is marketed as a plant-based, “nutritionally complete meal in powdered form”. It contains a range of ingredients, plus added vitamins and minerals to support your intake from your diet. Available in a wide range of flavours, this supplement contains 29g of protein and 37g of carbs per serving, and each serving is a total of 400 calories. Huel Powder v3.0 also contains 7.5g of fibre per serving. Each bag contains 17 servings and you can either buy a minimum of two at a time, or subscribe for a regular delivery on the official Huel website.
5) Bulk Informed Mass Gainer
Where to buy: www.bulk.com
The next mass gainer on our list is Informed Mass Gainer from Bulk. Bulk are well known in the supplements industry for offering excellent value for money and not compromising on quality. The Informed Mass Gainer certainly packs a punch. It contains 45g of protein, 75g of carbohydrates and a total of 566 calories per serving. What’s more, it’s available in a range of different flavours and offers pretty good value for money for what you get in each serving. Informed Mass only contains 2.9g of sugar per serving, and also packs in other ingredients such as Creatine and DigeZyme. It uses ‘Ultra Fine Scottish Oats’ as its main carbohydrate source and was only available in a 3kg bag at the time of writing. Bulk Pro’s Informed Mass Gainer is a great option if you’re looking for a mass gainer that also contains some added ingredients such as Creatine Monohydrate.
Anything Else To Consider?
As we have already mentioned a couple of times in this article, it’s very important to ensure that your diet and training regime are on point before considering any kind of supplementation.
It’s also important to remember that food supplements such as the ones featured on this page are not intended to replace a varied diet and an overall healthy lifestyle.
Supplements can be a great and useful addition to your regimen if you’re already training right and following a good diet.
As we also mentioned above, it’s always best to speak to your doctor or a certified medical professional before taking a new supplement or making any major lifestyle changes.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Conclusion – Our Final Thoughts
So, there you have our pick of some of the best mass gainers on the UK market if you’re looking to support your muscle-building goals.
We’ve walked you through the key things you need to know about mass gainers in general, and have also singled out our five top picks on the market at the moment in the UK.
You’re unlikely to go too far wrong by selecting any of the supplements on this list, but our favourite right now is Myprotein’s Impact Weight Gainer. That said, if you’re looking for a high-quality vegan-friendly choice, then Form Nutrition’s Peakblend is a great option.
