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Freedom251 › Blog › Caffeine

Does Coke or Pepsi Have More Caffeine? A 12-Ounce Comparison

By Freedom251 Team · · 6 min read

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Regular Pepsi has slightly more caffeine than regular Coke in the United States: a 12-fluid-ounce Pepsi contains 38 milligrams (mg), while a 12-fluid-ounce Coca-Cola contains 34 mg. That is a 4 mg difference per can. The result reverses for diet versions: Diet Coke has 46 mg per 12 ounces, compared with 35 mg in Diet Pepsi.

The short answer

When the serving size is the same, regular Pepsi is higher in caffeine than regular Coke. Pepsi lists 38 mg per 12-fluid-ounce serving in the United States; Coca-Cola lists 34 mg for the same volume. The gap is small—4 mg, or roughly one-tenth of the caffeine in the Pepsi serving.

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Diet formulas produce a different ranking. Diet Coke lists 46 mg per 12 ounces, while Diet Pepsi lists 35 mg. Therefore, the answer depends on both the brand and whether you are comparing regular or diet soda.

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Caffeine in Coke and Pepsi at a glance

Product Serving size Caffeine Published source
Coca-Cola, regular 12 fl oz 34 mg The Coca-Cola Company FAQ
Pepsi, regular (U.S.) 12 fl oz 38 mg Pepsi U.S. FAQ
Diet Coke 12 fl oz 46 mg The Coca-Cola Company FAQ
Diet Pepsi 12 fl oz 35 mg Pepsi U.S. FAQ

These figures are for the listed products and serving sizes, not a universal value for every Coke- or Pepsi-branded drink. Zero-sugar, caffeine-free, fountain and regional versions can have different specifications.

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Regular Coke versus regular Pepsi

Pepsi is higher, but only slightly

For an equal 12-ounce serving, Pepsi’s 38 mg exceeds Coke’s 34 mg by 4 mg. In practical terms, both are in the same general caffeine range. Choosing Pepsi instead of Coke does not turn a low-caffeine soft drink into a high-caffeine beverage; it adds the equivalent of only a few milligrams.

The companies’ statements are consistent with an independent laboratory study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology in 2007. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, the researchers measured Coca-Cola at 33.9 mg per 12 ounces and Pepsi at 38.9 mg per 12 ounces. Those measured values closely match the companies’ published numbers, although a laboratory result from 2007 should not be treated as a guarantee for every later reformulation or market.

Why equal serving sizes matter

A 12-ounce can is a useful comparison point because it holds the same volume for both products. Comparing a 20-ounce bottle of one brand with a 12-ounce can of the other answers a different question: which package contains more total caffeine. The larger package will generally contain more caffeine simply because it contains more beverage, but the exact amount depends on the product’s formulation and the label for that package.

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Diet Coke versus Diet Pepsi

The diet ranking reverses

Diet Coke contains 46 mg per 12 ounces, compared with 35 mg in Diet Pepsi. Diet Coke therefore has 11 mg more caffeine per equal serving. The same 2007 laboratory study found a similar pattern: 46.3 mg for Diet Coke and 36.7 mg for Diet Pepsi per 12 ounces.

This reversal is a reminder that caffeine content is not determined by whether a drink contains sugar. Regular and diet recipes use different formulations, and each brand sets its own caffeine level. A drink with fewer calories or no sugar is not automatically lower in caffeine.

Do zero-sugar products match diet products?

Not necessarily. “Diet,” “zero sugar” and “regular” describe different product lines, and a country may sell several versions with separate recipes. The Center for Science in the Public Interest’s May/June 2025 chart lists Pepsi—diet, zero sugar or regular—at 35 to 38 mg per 12 ounces, while Coca-Cola regular or zero sugar is listed at 34 mg. Because that chart groups some variants and reports a range for Pepsi, the package label remains the most precise reference for the can or bottle in your hand.

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How much caffeine is in a can?

Use the labeled serving, not the container name

A “can” is not a single size. The figures above apply to 12 fluid ounces. A mini can, large can, bottle or fountain cup may contain a different volume, and sometimes the nutrition panel defines a serving that is smaller than the entire container. Read both the serving size and the number of servings per package before estimating your total.

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If a package lists the same caffeine concentration and a larger volume, its total caffeine will be higher in proportion to the amount consumed. That is a useful approximation, not a substitute for the exact label, because recipes, bottling markets and product variants can differ.

Fountain drinks and mixed servings

Fountain beverages can be dispensed in several cup sizes and may use a local syrup or dispensing calibration. Do not assume that a fountain Coke or Pepsi has exactly the same caffeine amount as a factory-sealed 12-ounce can. Ask for the serving information or choose a labeled package when an exact value matters.

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What changes the caffeine number?

Product formulation

Regular, diet, zero-sugar and caffeine-free versions are separate products. Caffeine-free Coke or Pepsi is intended to contain no added caffeine, but consumers should still verify the wording on the package because availability and labeling vary by market.

Country and market

The published 38 mg figure for Pepsi is specifically for the United States. Companies can adjust recipes, package labels and permitted ingredients for another country. A figure found on a U.S. website should not be presented as the value for every international version.

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Serving size and labeling conventions

Caffeine can be printed near the Nutrition Facts panel or in the ingredient and product-label information. The Coca-Cola Company says its caffeine information appears near the Nutrition Facts label. Pepsi says caffeine is listed in the ingredient statement and on the product label. Check the package rather than relying on a generic online chart when you are tracking intake.

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How these amounts compare with daily guidance

Health Canada’s 2025 guidance reports average caffeine ranges of 36–46 mg for a 12-ounce regular cola and 39–50 mg for a 12-ounce diet cola. Those ranges encompass the Coke and Pepsi figures above, although an individual product can sit near the lower or upper end.

Health Canada lists 400 mg per day as the recommended maximum caffeine intake for adults aged 18 and over. One 12-ounce regular Coke (34 mg), regular Pepsi (38 mg), Diet Coke (46 mg) or Diet Pepsi (35 mg) is far below that amount. The 400 mg figure is a population guideline, not a promise that every person will feel no effects at that intake. Sensitivity, medications, pregnancy, sleep needs and other sources of caffeine can change what is appropriate for an individual.

When adding up intake, include coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate, caffeine-containing medicines and any additional sodas. Four 12-ounce regular Pepsi servings would total about 152 mg using the U.S. label value, while four Diet Coke servings would total about 184 mg. Those calculations illustrate why the serving count matters; they are not recommendations to consume that amount.

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A reliable way to check your own drink

  1. Identify the exact product name. Note whether it is regular, diet, zero-sugar or caffeine-free, and record the country in which it was sold.
  2. Read the serving size. Confirm the fluid ounces or milliliters and whether the container has more than one serving.
  3. Find the caffeine statement. Look near the Nutrition Facts panel, ingredient statement or other product-label text.
  4. Convert only after checking the label. If you compare two products, use the same volume, such as 12 fluid ounces, before deciding which has more caffeine.
  5. Add the whole day’s sources. Include every caffeinated beverage, food and medicine rather than comparing one can in isolation.

Common comparison mistakes

  • Comparing unequal packages: A 20-ounce bottle naturally contains more liquid than a 12-ounce can, so total caffeine and caffeine concentration are different questions.
  • Assuming diet means less caffeine: Diet Coke is higher than Diet Pepsi and higher than regular Coke per 12 ounces.
  • Treating all variants as identical: Zero-sugar, fountain, regional and caffeine-free products may not match the standard U.S. can.
  • Using an old chart as a guarantee: The 2007 laboratory study is useful independent context, but current labels take priority if a formula has changed.
  • Ignoring the market: The 38 mg Pepsi statement is explicitly for the United States; another country’s package may differ.

Bottom line for choosing between them

For standard 12-ounce U.S. servings, choose regular Pepsi if you want the slightly higher caffeine amount: 38 mg versus Coke’s 34 mg. Choose Diet Coke over Diet Pepsi only if your comparison is between those diet products, because Diet Coke is the higher-caffeine option at 46 mg versus 35 mg. In either case, the difference is modest compared with the caffeine in coffee or many energy drinks, and the exact package label is the final authority.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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