Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Red Bull vs Mountain Dew Baja Blast: which has more caffeine?

Red Bull has more caffeine than Mountain Dew Baja Blast on both counts: 80mg per 8.4 oz can against 59mg per 12 oz can, and about 10mg per fluid ounce against 5. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.

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.

Red Bull vs Mountain Dew Baja Blast: the numbers

Red Bull Mountain Dew Baja Blast
Caffeine per serving 80mg per 8.4 oz can 59mg per 12 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 9.5mg 4.9mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 5.0 6.8

Sources: Red Bull's figure is verified in our Red Bull caffeine guide against Red Bull label / Caffeine Informer (source); Mountain Dew Baja Blast's figure is verified in our Mountain Dew Baja Blast guide against PepsiCo product facts (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Mountain Dew Baja Blast when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Red Bull 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 Red Bull or Mountain Dew Baja Blast have more caffeine? Red Bull: 80mg per 8.4 oz can versus 59mg per 12 oz can for Mountain Dew Baja Blast.

Which is stronger per ounce? Red Bull, at about 9.5mg per fluid ounce versus 4.9mg for Mountain Dew Baja Blast.

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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