How Much Caffeine is In Pepsi?
Pepsi brands itself as a new, exciting, and refreshing way to enjoy a satisfyingly crisp soda. Many celebrities have endorsed Pepsi, popularizing its products worldwide. Pepsi has only 38 mg of caffeine per 12 fluid oz. and it is even able to improve your digestion! What about other types of Pepsi?
This article answers: how much caffeine is in Pepsi and more.

What Is Pepsi?
Pepsi is a soft drink and product of PepsiCo, Inc. It was created in 1893 by Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist in New Bern, North Carolina, as “Brad’s Drink.” This initially featured a blend of caramel, kola nuts, lemon oil, nutmeg, sugar, water, and other additives. It was later renamed “Pepsi-Cola” and went from being sold solely out of Caleb’s pharmacy to expanding via other vendors and pharmacies across the state, country, and globe. (1)
Does Pepsi Have Caffeine?
Yes, Pepsi has caffeine. The full list of ingredients for 12 fluid oz. of Pepsi includes carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, sugar, phosphoric acid, caffeine, citric acid, and natural flavor, with 150 calories, 30 mg of sodium, and 41 g of added sugars.
It is recommended to limit your sugar intake to a max of one 12 fluid oz. can of soda daily.
It’s important to monitor your sugar intake, especially if you drink sodas (2).
The effects of added sugar intake – higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease – are all linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
It goes without saying that sugar is not the healthiest thing in the world, so take that into account when opting for drinks like this.
Pepsi With Coffee
You’ve probably heard of Coke with coffee, but did you know that there’s also Pepsi Café?
For a quick look, check out this YouTube video.
How Much Caffeine Is In Pepsi?
There is 38 mg of caffeine in 12 fluid oz. of Pepsi. Let’s take a look at how much caffeine is in a can, in 16 fluid oz., in a bottle, and in 20 fluid oz. of Pepsi. In terms of caffeine content, this is considerably less than how much you can take in a day, which is 400 mg. For the caffeine content of Pepsi in various amounts, see this list:
- There is 51 mg of caffeine in 16 fluid oz of Pepsi.
- A regular bottle of Pepsi, which has about 16.9 fluid oz, contains 53 mg of caffeine.
- There is 63 mg of caffeine in 20 fluid oz. of Pepsi.
Final Thoughts
So, what’s the caffeine content of a can of Pepsi? There is 38 mg of caffeine in 12 fluid oz. of Pepsi. This comes naturally from the addition of kola extract. Pepsi is a sweet, crisp, and refreshing soft drink that has skyrocketed into a worldwide sensation via numerous celebrity endorsements and mainstream enthusiasm.
FAQs
Pepsi is not healthy. It has a lot of sugar and calories without being a nutritious source of vitamins and minerals. Drinking too much soda can contribute to the development of cancer, dementia, diabetes, gout, heart disease, sugar addiction, tooth decay, and weight gain (3).
A cup of coffee, or 8 fluid oz., has 90 to 100 mg of caffeine. This is nearly four times the amount as in 8 fluid oz. of Pepsi, which has just 25 mg of caffeine. There is less caffeine in soft drinks vs coffee. For example, there is 28 mg of caffeine in Dr. Pepper and 23 mg in Coke Zero per 8 fluid oz. each. Even Mountain Dew has caffeine with 36 mg per 8 fluid oz.
There is 35 mg of caffeine in a 12 fluid oz. can of Diet Pepsi and 69 mg in a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar vs approximately 136 mg of caffeine in a traditional cup of coffee of the same amount.
References
- PepsiCo, Inc. (n.d.). History Of Pepsi-Cola Born In The Carolinas. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.pepsiborninthecarolinas.com/history
- Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. (2022, January 6). The sweet danger of sugar. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar
- Brennan, D. (2020, October 22). Drinking Cola: Is It Good for You? Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/drinking-cola-good-for-you