Mountain Dew has more caffeine than Coca-Cola Zero Sugar: 54mg vs 34mg in the same 12 oz can. That is a 20mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar vs Mountain Dew: the numbers
| Coca-Cola Zero Sugar | Mountain Dew | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 34mg per 12 oz can | 54mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 2.8mg | 4.5mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 11.8 | 7.4 |
Sources: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar's figure is verified in our Coca-Cola Zero Sugar caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Mountain Dew's figure is verified in our Mountain Dew guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Coca-Cola Zero Sugar when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Mountain Dew when you actually need the bigger hit and know your tolerance. If you are stacking either with other caffeinated drinks through the day, run the math against the 400mg reference rather than guessing.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
Related reading
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar: the full caffeine guide
- Mountain Dew: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
FAQ
Does Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Mountain Dew have more caffeine? Mountain Dew: 54mg per 12 oz can versus 34mg per 12 oz can for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
Which is stronger per ounce? Mountain Dew, at about 4.5mg per fluid ounce versus 2.8mg for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
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