How Much Caffeine Is In A Monster? (Yes, It Sounds Scary)

Monster Energy has some intense branding. The almost dripping “M” on the sides of the cans kind of looks like it’s shaking from too much caffeine.

But does the branding match the insides? Just how much caffeine is in a Monster energy drink? And does that match the caffeine content of regular old coffee? The answers might actually surprise you. Monster drinks have much less caffeine than the branding makes it seem.

This article is all about breaking down the caffeine content of Monster Energy drinks, so let’s dive straight in.

What Is A Monster?

Monster is one of the most recognizable brands of energy drinks on the market today (1). You can find Monster Energy drinks at just about every convenience store and gas station.

Monster Energy drinks are a range of energy drinks that combine sugar, caffeine, and carbonation to create an energizing and delicious soda with an extra energy boost.

In short, Monster drinks are just another soda that advertises a quick energy boost through caffeine and sugar. But don’t be fooled, all energy drinks are pretty bad for you, and we don’t recommend relying on them for energy (2).

Types of Monster Drinks

There are a ton of Monsters in the lineup. But they can be broken down into a few categories:

• Original Monster. These are the classics, what Monster started with back in the day. These flavors have all the sugar and all the caffeine.
• Monster Ultra. The Ultra lineup is the sugar-free version of the originals. They have similar amounts of caffeine but without any sugar.
• Java Monster. It’s what it sounds like a blend of coffee and Monster energy. Recommended for the adventurous only.
• Juice Monster. These are combinations of fruit juices and Monster energy blends. Not carbonated.
• Rehab Monster. Monster drinks for when you need electrolytes and energy at the same time.
• Monster Iced Tea. Less caffeine than other Monsters, but even black tea, has some caffeine, so you’ll still get a boost.
• Hydro Monster. More electrolyte drinks and energy drinks are probably the healthiest in the lineup.

Pretty much all Monster drinks have at least some caffeine. And the serving of caffeine is certainly different from the per-can amount of caffeine.

How Much Caffeine Is In A Monster Energy Drink?

Your run-of-the-mill, classic 16 oz Monster Energy drink has 160 mg of caffeine (3). That’s quite a bit of caffeine. If you’re not used to it or not expecting it, you’ll probably be left feeling jittery or anxious. Kind of like taking caffeine pills instead of getting caffeine through a drink.

But there are other types of Monster drinks out there, so let’s dive into a few of them and look at how much caffeine each of them has.

How Much Caffeine In Monster Zero

Monster Zero is the no-sugar version of the classic Monster drink. But does having no sugar also mean less caffeine?

Yes, by a little bit.

A Monster Zero has 20 mg less caffeine than the regular Monster. That means Monster Zero has 140 mg of caffeine. That’s still pretty high, but not nearly as high as the 160 mg in a regular Monster. But that’s actually not too much.

The amount of caffeine in a Monster Zero is well within the safe amount of caffeine per day. But there’s another type of Monster Zero: Monster Zero Ultra. Does that have a different amount of caffeine?

How Much Caffeine Is In A Monster Zero Ultra

Monster Zero Ultra is another of the Monster zero-sugar lineup, but with a slightly different flavor profile.

The Monster Zero Ultra has a little bit less caffeine than the regular Monster but a little more than the Monster Zero. The Zero Ultra has 150 mg of caffeine. That’s right in the middle of the regular and the Zero Monsters.

The best recommendation is to choose the three based on flavor rather than caffeine content. The caffeine content isn’t enough to make a huge difference.

How Much Caffeine Is In A 24 Oz Monster Energy Drink

We’ve talked about 16 oz Monster drinks for a while, but there are other sizes. One of the most common sizes is the 24 oz Monster.

That’s a ton of caffeine. Someone who drinks a few cups of coffee daily might still feel jittery if they had a 20 oz Monster Energy drink instead. But it all comes down to the coffee vs soda debate about the caffeine content.

But that begs another question: how much caffeine is in coffee vs Monster Energy drinks?

Caffeine In A Monster Energy Drink Vs Coffee

Let’s look at the most standard Monster Energy drink: the regular 16 oz can. That regular can has 160 mg of caffeine. That’s pretty high, but what amount of caffeine is in a standard cup of coffee?
A 16 oz cup of black coffee actually comes in slightly higher than the Monster, at about 182 mg of caffeine. Keep in mind, however, that the type of bean, roast, and origin will slightly alter that caffeine content, so it’s not an exact number. For example, one of the world’s strongest coffees has over 700 mg per 12 oz serving.

An espresso is a much better option if you’re looking for a low-caffeine alternative to Monster drinks. Espresso has only about 60 mg of coffee per shot.

The bottom line is that coffee and Monster have a similar amount of caffeine, but coffee is a better option for your health.

Final Thoughts

Monster Energy drinks don’t have quite as much caffeine as it might seem just by looking at the branding. But that doesn’t mean they don’t pack a punch.

On average, Monster Energy drinks have about 150 mg of caffeine per 16 oz can. That’s about the same as drinking two cups of coffee.

The truth is that Monster Energy drinks are harmful simply for the amount of caffeine they contain. And as with anything, moderation is key.