Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus) vs Diet Barq's root beer: which has more caffeine?

Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus) has more caffeine than Diet Barq's root beer on both counts: 92mg per 16 oz can against 0mg per 12 oz can, and about 6mg per fluid ounce against 0. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.

Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus) vs Diet Barq's root beer: the numbers

Sources: Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus)'s figure is verified in our Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus) caffeine guide against PepsiCo product facts (source); Diet Barq's root beer's figure is verified in our Diet Barq's root beer guide against Caffeine Informer / Coca-Cola brand data (source).

The concentration gap is the striking part: Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus) packs roughly 575 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 16 oz can finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.

Which one should you pick?

Pick Diet Barq's root beer when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus) 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

• Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus): the full caffeine guide
• Diet Barq's root beer: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database

FAQ

Does Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus) or Diet Barq's root beer have more caffeine? Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus): 92mg per 16 oz can versus 0mg per 12 oz can for Diet Barq's root beer.

Which is stronger per ounce? Mtn Dew Kickstart (Orange Citrus), at about 5.8mg per fluid ounce versus 0.0mg for Diet Barq's root beer.