Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco) vs 5-hour Energy (regular): which has more caffeine?

5-hour Energy (regular) has more caffeine than Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco) on both counts: 200mg per 1.93 oz shot against 180mg per 2 oz shot, and about 104mg per fluid ounce against 90. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.

Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco) vs 5-hour Energy (regular): the numbers

Sources: Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco)'s figure is verified in our Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); 5-hour Energy (regular)'s figure is verified in our 5-hour Energy (regular) guide against 5-hour Energy facts page (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco) when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and 5-hour Energy (regular) 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

• Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco): the full caffeine guide
• 5-hour Energy (regular): the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database
• Every drink compared: the comparisons index
• Compare any two of 120+ drinks

FAQ

Does Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco) or 5-hour Energy (regular) have more caffeine? 5-hour Energy (regular): 200mg per 1.93 oz shot versus 180mg per 2 oz shot for Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco).

Which is stronger per ounce? 5-hour Energy (regular), at about 103.6mg per fluid ounce versus 90.0mg for Kirkland Energy Shot (Costco).