How Much Caffeine Is in Soda? Chart for Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew & More

Soda is an easy caffeine source to underestimate: it doesn't taste like coffee, it comes in big sizes, and the diet versions don't always have less. Below is a chart built from Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr Pepper's published figures, what changes with bottle size, how soda compares with coffee and energy drinks, and how many cans fit within common daily limits.

How Much Caffeine Is in Soda? Chart by Brand

Per 12 fl oz (355 mL) can, as published by each manufacturer.

Dr Pepper's figure is its published 28 mg per 8 fl oz scaled to 12 oz; the current label may differ slightly. Other values are as listed on the manufacturers' sites when we checked in October 2026. Recipes change, so the label on your can is the final word.

For comparison, Health Canada lists a 355 mL (12 oz) can of regular cola at 36 to 46 mg and diet cola at 39 to 50 mg on average (Health Canada). In the U.S., FDA rules recognize caffeine as safe in cola-type drinks at up to 0.02% (21 CFR 182.1180), which works out to about 71 mg in a 12 oz can.

Does Diet Soda Have More Caffeine Than Regular?

Sometimes. Diet Coke has 46 mg per can versus 34 mg in Coca-Cola Original, about 35% more, and Mountain Dew Zero Sugar has 68 mg versus 54 mg in regular Mountain Dew. But it isn't a rule: Coke Zero Sugar matches regular Coke at 34 mg, Pepsi Zero Sugar matches Pepsi at 38 mg, and Diet Pepsi (34 mg) has a little less than Pepsi. If you switched to diet to cut sugar, check whether you also added caffeine.

How Much Caffeine Is in a 20 oz Bottle or a Big Fountain Drink?

Caffeine scales with volume, so a bottle or a large fountain cup can hold far more than a can. Estimates below multiply each brand's 12 oz figure by size; they are our calculations, not manufacturer numbers, and fountain drinks also vary with ice.

A 32 oz fountain Mountain Dew can carry more caffeine than a 12 oz coffee. Bottle and fountain sizes listed on the PepsiCo and Coca-Cola sites include 16, 16.9, 20 and 24 oz and up, so it's worth checking what size you actually drink.

Soda vs Coffee vs Energy Drinks: Which Has More Caffeine?

Coca-Cola itself points out that a 12 oz coffee has 140 mg or more, three to four times a can of Coke (Coca-Cola). PepsiCo's caffeine reference table lists cola soft drinks at about 25 mg per 8 oz (range 20–40 mg). Many popular energy drinks contain considerably more per can; see our energy drink caffeine comparison, and for coffee and tea, caffeine in coffee and caffeine in tea.

How Many Cans of Soda Is Too Much Caffeine?

The FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects for most healthy adults (FDA). ACOG advises under 200 mg a day during pregnancy (ACOG), and Health Canada recommends no more than 2.5 mg per kg of body weight a day for children and teens. Counting caffeine only:

For kids, one can can be a full day's limit. Under Health Canada's 2.5 mg/kg guidance, a 25 kg (55 lb) child's maximum is about 62 mg, so a single Mountain Dew (54 mg) or a 20 oz Coke (about 57 mg) gets close to it. The sugar in regular soda is a separate concern on top of the caffeine. For more on limits by age and body weight, read how much caffeine is too much.

Can Soda Keep You Awake or Cause Withdrawal?

Yes, both. Caffeine's effects last for hours, so an evening soda can still be in your system at bedtime; see how long caffeine stays in your system. And if you drink several cans a day and stop suddenly, you can get the same withdrawal headaches, tiredness and irritability that coffee drinkers get. Tapering helps; see how to quit caffeine without headaches.

How to Cut Back on Caffeine From Soda

• Know your real total. Count bottles and fountain cups at their true size, not as "one soda."
• Swap to the caffeine-free twin. Caffeine-Free Coke, Diet Coke and Coke Zero Sugar and caffeine-free Dr Pepper keep the taste with 0 mg.
• Move to naturally caffeine-free sodas such as Sprite, Fanta or ginger ale, or to sparkling water.
• Taper instead of quitting cold turkey. Drop one can every few days, or replace the afternoon can first to help your sleep.
• Watch the diet switch. Going from Coke to Diet Coke adds about 12 mg per can; going from Mountain Dew to Mountain Dew Zero Sugar adds about 14 mg.
• Track it. Logging every drink shows where your caffeine really comes from. Our coffee alternatives list works for soda drinkers too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much caffeine is in a can of Coke?

A 12 fl oz can of Coca-Cola Original has 34 mg of caffeine, according to Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar also has 34 mg, Diet Coke has 46 mg, and the caffeine-free versions have none.

Does Diet Coke have more caffeine than regular Coke?

Yes. Coca-Cola lists Diet Coke at 46 mg per 12 oz can versus 34 mg for Coca-Cola Original and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. That is about 35% more caffeine in Diet Coke.

Which soda has the most caffeine?

Of the major sodas in our chart, Mountain Dew Zero Sugar has the most, at 68 mg per 12 oz according to PepsiCo, followed by regular Mountain Dew at 54 mg. Diet Coke (46 mg) and Dr Pepper (about 42 mg) come next. Some specialty and energy-style sodas contain more, so check the label.

How much caffeine is in Dr Pepper?

Dr Pepper's own FAQ has listed regular and Diet Dr Pepper at 28 mg of caffeine per 8 fl oz, which works out to about 42 mg in a 12 oz can. Caffeine-free Dr Pepper has 0 mg.

Does Sprite have caffeine?

No. Coca-Cola lists Sprite and Sprite Zero as caffeine-free, along with Fanta, Seagram's ginger ale and the caffeine-free versions of Coke, Diet Coke and Coke Zero Sugar.

Is soda or coffee higher in caffeine?

Coffee, by a wide margin. An 8 oz cup of brewed coffee averages about 96 mg, while a 12 oz cola has 34 to 46 mg. Coca-Cola itself notes that a 12 oz coffee has 140 mg or more.

How many cans of soda is too much caffeine?

For most healthy adults, the FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally linked to negative effects. That is roughly 11 cans of Coke, 8 of Diet Coke or 7 of Mountain Dew, but caffeine from coffee, tea and other sources counts too, and sugar is a separate concern. Pregnant people should stay under 200 mg a day (ACOG), and Health Canada advises no more than 2.5 mg per kg of body weight for children and teens.

Sources

• The Coca-Cola Company. What is caffeine? (Coke 34 mg and Diet Coke 46 mg per 12 oz; caffeine-free brands; 12 oz coffee 140 mg or more); Diet Coke products; Coca-Cola Zero Sugar products.
• PepsiCo Product Facts: Pepsi 12 fl oz; Pepsi Zero Sugar 12 fl oz; Diet Pepsi 12 fl oz; Mountain Dew 12 fl oz; Mountain Dew Zero Sugar 12 fl oz; Caffeine reference table.
• Dr Pepper. Frequently Asked Questions (archived Nov. 2015: 28 mg per 8 fl oz for regular and Diet Dr Pepper; 0 mg caffeine-free).
• Health Canada. Caffeine in Foods (regular cola 36–46 mg, diet cola 39–50 mg per 355 mL; recommended maximum daily intakes).
• U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 182.1180, Caffeine (GRAS in cola-type beverages, tolerance 0.02%).
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? (400 mg/day for most healthy adults).
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Moderate Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy (Committee Opinion No. 462).
• Coffee and tea averages: see the sources in our coffee and tea caffeine guides (USDA FoodData Central, Mayo Clinic, FDA).