Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon) vs Sunkist Zero Sugar: which has more caffeine?

Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon) carries more total caffeine per serving (21mg per 16.9 oz bottle vs 19mg per 12 oz can), but ounce for ounce Sunkist Zero Sugar is actually the stronger drink at about 2mg per fluid ounce against 1. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.

These are different categories of drink, which changes how the caffeine arrives. Energy drinks and sodas list an exact number because caffeine is a measured additive; brewed drinks vary with the beans and the brew, so their figures are compiled averages. The numbers here are the standard published values for each.

Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon) vs Sunkist Zero Sugar: the numbers

Sources: Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon)'s figure is verified in our Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon) caffeine guide against PepsiCo product facts (source); Sunkist Zero Sugar's figure is verified in our Sunkist Zero Sugar guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Sunkist Zero Sugar when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon) 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

• Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon): the full caffeine guide
• Sunkist Zero Sugar: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database

FAQ

Does Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon) or Sunkist Zero Sugar have more caffeine? Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon): 21mg per 16.9 oz bottle versus 19mg per 12 oz can for Sunkist Zero Sugar.

Which is stronger per ounce? Sunkist Zero Sugar, at about 1.6mg per fluid ounce versus 1.2mg for Lipton Iced Tea (Lemon).