Sun Drop has the most caffeine of the three at 64mg per 12 oz can, Mountain Dew sits in the middle at 54mg, and Mello Yello has the least at 51mg. The servings are identical, so the per-can numbers settle it outright: a 13mg spread from top to bottom.
Sun Drop vs Mello Yello vs Mountain Dew: the numbers
| Sun Drop | Mello Yello | Mountain Dew | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 64mg per 12 oz can | 51mg per 12 oz can | 54mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 5.3mg | 4.2mg | 4.5mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 6.2 | 7.8 | 7.4 |
Sources: Sun Drop is 64mg per 12 oz can per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Sun Drop guide; Mello Yello is 51mg per 12 oz can per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Mello Yello guide; Mountain Dew is 54mg per 12 oz can per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Mountain Dew guide.
What a 13mg spread actually feels like
All three come in the same 12 oz can, so the gap is the whole difference. 13mg is less than half a cup of brewed coffee, which is the easiest way to size it if you already know your coffee tolerance. Switching from Mello Yello to Sun Drop once a day changes your weekly intake by about 91mg.
The three head-to-head pages
Each pairing has its own page with the full math:
- Sun Drop vs Mello Yello, head to head
- Sun Drop vs Mountain Dew, head to head
- Mello Yello vs Mountain Dew, head to head
Which one should you pick?
Take Mello Yello when you want the smallest dose of the three, Mountain Dew when you want a middle number without thinking about it, and Sun Drop when you actually want the 64mg and know how you handle it. If you drink more than one caffeinated thing a day, the useful move is adding the day up against the 400mg reference rather than judging each drink alone.
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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FAQ
Which has the most caffeine, Sun Drop, Mello Yello or Mountain Dew? Sun Drop, at 64mg per 12 oz can. Mountain Dew has 54mg per 12 oz can and Mello Yello has 51mg per 12 oz can.
Which of the three is strongest per ounce? Sun Drop, at about 5.3mg per fluid ounce, ahead of Mountain Dew at 4.5mg and Mello Yello at 4.2mg.
How many Sun Drop servings reach the FDA 400mg reference? About 6.2 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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