Only Coca-Cola Classic carries caffeine here: 34mg per 12 oz can. Sprite and 7UP are caffeine-free, so the answer to which of the three keeps you up is not close.
Sprite vs 7UP vs Coca-Cola Classic: the numbers
| Sprite | 7UP | Coca-Cola Classic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 0mg per 12 oz can | 0mg per 12 oz can | 34mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 0mg | 0mg | 2.8mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | n/a (caffeine-free) | n/a (caffeine-free) | 11.8 |
Sources: Sprite is 0mg per 12 oz can per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Sprite guide; 7UP is 0mg per 12 oz can per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database; Coca-Cola Classic is 34mg per 12 oz can per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Coca-Cola Classic guide.
Why one of these has caffeine and the others do not
None of the three gets caffeine from the recipe by accident. Caffeine is an added ingredient in this category, so a brand either puts it in or it does not, and the label says which. Coca-Cola Classic lists 34mg per 12 oz can; Sprite and 7UP list none. Flavors and zero-sugar versions of the same brand can differ, so read the panel rather than assuming the line is consistent.
The three head-to-head pages
Each pairing has its own page with the full math:
Which one should you pick?
If the goal is avoiding caffeine, Sprite and 7UP do that at 0mg. If you want the caffeine, Coca-Cola Classic is the only real option of the three at 34mg per 12 oz can. Check the label anyway when a brand runs limited flavors, since caffeine sometimes appears in one variant of a caffeine-free line.
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
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Which has the most caffeine, Sprite, 7UP or Coca-Cola Classic? Coca-Cola Classic, at 34mg per 12 oz can. Sprite has 0mg per 12 oz can and 7UP has 0mg per 12 oz can.
Which of the three is strongest per ounce? Coca-Cola Classic, at about 2.8mg per fluid ounce, ahead of Sprite at 0mg and 7UP at 0mg.
How many Coca-Cola Classic servings reach the FDA 400mg reference? About 11.8 of them, at 12 oz can each. The FDA cites 400mg a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. This is information, not advice.
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