Surge vs Monster: which has more caffeine?

Monster has more caffeine than Surge: 160mg vs 69mg in the same 16 oz can. That is a 91mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

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.

Surge vs Monster: the numbers

Sources: Surge's figure is verified in our Surge caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Monster's figure is verified in our Monster guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Surge when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Monster 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

• Surge: the full caffeine guide
• Monster: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database
• Every drink compared: the comparisons index
• Compare any two of 120+ drinks

FAQ

Does Surge or Monster have more caffeine? Monster: 160mg per 16 oz can versus 69mg per 16 oz can for Surge.

Which is stronger per ounce? Monster, at about 10.0mg per fluid ounce versus 4.3mg for Surge.