Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Pepsi vs Sun Drop: which has more caffeine?

Sun Drop has more caffeine than Pepsi: 64mg vs 38mg in the same 12 oz can. That is a 26mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

Pepsi vs Sun Drop: the numbers

Pepsi Sun Drop
Caffeine per serving 38mg per 12 oz can 64mg per 12 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 3.2mg 5.3mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 10.5 6.2

Sources: Pepsi's figure is verified in our Pepsi caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Sun Drop's figure is verified in our Sun Drop guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Pepsi when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Sun Drop 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

FAQ

Does Pepsi or Sun Drop have more caffeine? Sun Drop: 64mg per 12 oz can versus 38mg per 12 oz can for Pepsi.

Which is stronger per ounce? Sun Drop, at about 5.3mg per fluid ounce versus 3.2mg for Pepsi.

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