Diet Mountain Dew has more caffeine than Pepsi Wild Cherry: 54mg vs 38mg in the same 12 oz can. That is a 16mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
Diet Mountain Dew vs Pepsi Wild Cherry: the numbers
| Diet Mountain Dew | Pepsi Wild Cherry | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 54mg per 12 oz can | 38mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 4.5mg | 3.2mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 7.4 | 10.5 |
Sources: Diet Mountain Dew's figure is verified in our Diet Mountain Dew caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Pepsi Wild Cherry's figure is verified in our Pepsi Wild Cherry guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Pepsi Wild Cherry when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Diet 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
- Diet Mountain Dew: the full caffeine guide
- Pepsi Wild Cherry: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does Diet Mountain Dew or Pepsi Wild Cherry have more caffeine? Diet Mountain Dew: 54mg per 12 oz can versus 38mg per 12 oz can for Pepsi Wild Cherry.
Which is stronger per ounce? Diet Mountain Dew, at about 4.5mg per fluid ounce versus 3.2mg for Pepsi Wild Cherry.
Comparing caffeine? The caffeine comparison tool puts hundreds of drinks side by side, and the caffeine curfew calculator can check your cutoff time for tonight.
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