How much caffeine is in Red Bull (250 ml)?
of caffeine
Source: public manufacturer data and USDA FoodData Central. Values are estimates, not exact or medical measurements.
Red Bull's original 250 ml (8.4 fl oz) can is engineered around a single, repeatable dose of caffeine — and that consistency is the whole point. Unlike a coffee, where the strength swings with the beans, the grind and the barista, every standard Red Bull delivers the same 80 mg. That puts one can a little below a typical mug of drip coffee (about 96 mg) and well under a Grande brewed coffee from a chain, which can clear 300 mg.
Where Red Bull differs from coffee is concentration. At 32 mg per 100 ml it is a moderate-strength drink by volume — roughly the same caffeine density as a Monster or a Rockstar, and three times that of a cola. The 80 mg is paired with about 27 g of sugar in the regular version (the sugarfree can keeps the caffeine and drops the sugar), so the lift you feel early on is part caffeine, part sugar spike.
The more useful question is usually not how much is in the can, but how long it stays with you. Caffeine follows first-order decay with a population-average half-life of about 5.7 hours, so that 80 mg does not simply switch off when the can is empty.
How long it stays in your system
Starting from one serving, here is roughly how much caffeine is left as the hours pass (population-average half-life of 5.7 hours).
Starting from 80 mg, here is roughly what remains as the hours pass — a calculation most caffeine pages skip. After about 5.7 hours you are down to ~40 mg; by the 12-hour mark only ~18 mg is left. That long tail is why an afternoon can can still be measurable at bedtime, even when you no longer feel it.
| Time | Caffeine left | % left |
|---|---|---|
| At serving | 80 mg | 100% |
| After 1 h | 71 mg | 89% |
| After 3 h | 56 mg | 70% |
| After 6 h | 39 mg | 49% |
| After 9 h | 27 mg | 34% |
| After 12 h | 19 mg | 24% |
Your personal caffeine curve
Estimates for general information, not medical advice.
How it compares
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Red Bull (250 ml) | 250 ml | 80 mg |
| Bang | 473 ml | 300 mg |
| Reign | 473 ml | 300 mg |
| Celsius | 355 ml | 200 mg |
| Prime Energy | 355 ml | 200 mg |
| 5-Hour Energy | 57 ml | 200 mg |
| Monster Energy | 473 ml | 160 mg |
Frequently asked questions
How much caffeine is in a 250 ml Red Bull?
A standard 250 ml (8.4 fl oz) can of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine. The sugarfree version has the same 80 mg. The larger 355 ml can holds about 114 mg.
Is 80 mg of caffeine a lot?
No. 80 mg is a moderate single dose — less than a typical cup of drip coffee (~96 mg). The FDA considers up to 400 mg per day safe for most healthy adults, so one can is well within that limit.
Does Red Bull have more caffeine than coffee?
Per can, no. A 250 ml Red Bull (80 mg) has less caffeine than an 8 oz cup of brewed coffee (~96 mg). Red Bull only feels stronger because of the sugar and carbonation, not the caffeine.
How long does the caffeine in a Red Bull last?
Caffeine has a half-life of roughly 5.7 hours, so about half of the 80 mg is gone after ~6 hours and a quarter remains after ~12 hours. Effects usually peak within 30–60 minutes.
Will a Red Bull keep me awake at night?
It can if you drink it late. From 80 mg, around 18 mg may still be in your system 12 hours later. To protect sleep, finish caffeine well before bedtime — the calculator above shows your personal cutoff.
Track this automatically with CoffeeLog
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Related
TrackCaffeine provides general reference information about caffeine. It is not medical advice. Caffeine values are public-source estimates, not exact measurements.