23/05/2026
Film coated tablets are one of the most widely used formats across the supplement and nutraceutical industry, but they’re not always fully understood. You’ll find them in everything from everyday multivitamins to sports nutrition essentials, yet what the coating actually is and how it works is not really discussed.
In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what film coated tablets are, why the coating is there and what the benefits mean for both supplement brands and end consumers. As the leading supplement manufacturer in the UK, we produce film coated tablets as part of our broader range of supplement product formats, so this is a subject we know well.
Let’s start with the basics…
A film coated tablet is a standard compressed tablet that has been covered with a thin, smooth layer of polymer-based coating material. The coating is applied by spraying a liquid coating solution over the tablets as they tumble in a coating pan or drum. Once dry, the result is a coated tablet with a smooth finish.
The film coating itself is generally made from polymers like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or ethylcellulose, which are then combined with plasticisers, colourings and sometimes even flavours. These ingredients are approved for use in food supplement manufacturing and are selected based on the specific requirements of each bespoke product formulation.
It’s also worth distinguishing film coated tablets from enteric coated tablets here. Both are types of coated tablet, but an enteric coating is specifically designed to resist dissolution in the stomach and release its contents in the small intestine instead. Contrastingly, film coated tablets generally dissolve in the stomach just as a regular supplement tablet would.
Coating a supplement tablet isn’t just a cosmetic choice. The coating serves a number of practical purposes that benefit both the brand and the consumer.
Many nutraceutical and supplement ingredients have a strong or unpleasant taste or odour by nature. Many regular supplement ingredients can be quite bitter or earthy when taken as uncoated tablets. Film coating provides a barrier between the ingredient and the consumer’s taste buds, making the tablet far easier to swallow, far more likely to be taken consistently and far more likely to be purchased again. For brands, this is a real benefit in terms of customer satisfaction and retention.
The smooth, slick surface of a film coated tablet makes it significantly easier to swallow than a chalky or textured uncoated tablet. For consumers who may struggle taking tablets, this is a real selling point. A more comfortable swallowing experience generally leads to better compliance, better consumer outcomes and better customer retention.
Film coating also helps protect the active ingredients inside the tablet from moisture, oxygen and light during storage. This can be really helpful for formulations including sensitive ingredients like vitamins, probiotics and plant-based extracts that can degrade if exposed to the environment. Therefore, coating can extend the stability and shelf life of a supplement product, which brings obvious benefits to brands.
From both a consumer and brand perspective, the appearance of a film coated tablet is far more polished and attractive than an uncoated alternative. Coatings can be produced in a wide range of colours, which gives brands the flexibility to differentiate products visually, align with brand colour schemes or use colour coding across their product portfolio.
Film coating adds a degree of physical robustness to the tablet itself which can help reduce breakage and dust during handling, filling and packaging. This can improve production efficiency and reduce wastage, benefitting both manufacturers and brands over the long term.
Film coated tablets are used across almost all categories within the supplement and nutraceutical market. They’re a common format for vitamins and minerals, multivitamin complexes, botanical supplements, sports nutrition products and general health ranges.
For supplement brands developing supplement ranges, film coated tablets offer a practical combination of quality presentation, ingredient protection and consumer appeal. They’re just a few of the reasons why they’re a good choice for your product mix.
Here at Parkacre, we manufacture film coated tablets as part of our wider range of supplement tablet formats. Whether you’re developing a new nutraceutical product from scratch or want to use our private label or product adaptation services to quickly get to market, our experienced team can advise on whether film coating is the right choice for you. Find out more about our full range of supplement product formats on our services page.
Film coated tablets are a well-established and widely-used format in supplement and nutraceutical manufacturing. The thin polymer coating applied to the outside of each tablet improves taste, swallowability, appearance and shelf life, making it one of the most practical and appealing tablet formats in the supplement industry.
For consumers, film coated tablets mean a better experience. For brands, they mean a product that looks the part and performs consistently on shelf. If you’re weighing up your options for a new supplement product, film coated tablets are well worth considering.
