Caffeine in Dr Pepper and Pepsi: What You Need to Know

A 355 ml can of Dr Pepper contains 42 mg of caffeine, while a 355 ml can of Pepsi contains 38 mg of caffeine.

• Dr Pepper (355 ml) = 42 mg caffeine per can.
• Pepsi (355 ml) = 38 mg caffeine per can; Diet Pepsi (355 ml) = 35 mg.
• Mountain Dew (355 ml) is higher among sodas at 54 mg per can.
• By contrast, a 240 ml cup of drip coffee has 96 mg and cold brew 240 ml has 200 mg.

Caffeine in Dr Pepper: regular and what’s available

According to the dataset, a standard 355 ml (12 fl oz) can of Dr Pepper contains 42 mg of caffeine (11.8 mg/100 ml). That places it slightly above Pepsi and Coke but well below energy drinks and coffee. There is no separate Diet Dr Pepper entry in this dataset; formulation and caffeine can vary by country, so check the label or company nutrition facts for exact numbers where you buy it.

Pepsi and Pepsi variants explained

The dataset reports Pepsi (355 ml) at 38 mg (10.7 mg/100 ml). Diet Pepsi (355 ml) is listed at 35 mg. Coke variants differ: Diet Coke (355 ml) is 46 mg, Coke Zero (355 ml) is 34 mg — demonstrating that "diet" does not reliably predict higher or lower caffeine.

How caffeine scales by serving size and common comparisons

Soda caffeine scales roughly linearly with volume because manufacturers label per-can or per-bottle amounts. Below is a quick comparison of common sodas and nearby beverages from the dataset so you can see where Dr Pepper and Pepsi sit.

Drink (serving)	Serving size	Caffeine (mg)
Dr Pepper	355 ml	42 mg
Pepsi	355 ml	38 mg
Diet Pepsi	355 ml	35 mg
Diet Coke	355 ml	46 mg
Coke Zero	355 ml	34 mg
Mountain Dew	355 ml	54 mg
Barq's Root Beer	355 ml	22 mg
Sunkist Orange	355 ml	41 mg
Red Bull (250 ml)	250 ml	80 mg
Drip coffee	240 ml	96 mg

Caffeine decay: how much remains from a soda can over time

Caffeine clears from the body with a population-average half-life of about 5.7 hours. Using the dataset doses, here are concrete remaining amounts at standard intervals for a single can dose.

Original dose	After 3 h (~69% remain)	After 6 h (~48% remain)	After 9 h (~33% remain)	After 12 h (~23% remain)
Dr Pepper (42 mg)	~29 mg	~20 mg	~14 mg	~10 mg
Pepsi (38 mg)	~26 mg	~18 mg	~13 mg	~9 mg

These are population averages; individual metabolism varies with age, smoking, medications, liver function, and pregnancy. For example, smoking shortens caffeine half‑life, while some medications lengthen it.

What affects soda caffeine content

Formulation is the primary factor: the recipe the manufacturer uses determines mg per 100 ml. Country-specific recipes can change caffeine (check the label). Serving size accounts for most variance between bottles and fountain pours. Other factors like temperature or pouring speed don't materially change caffeine amount.

Health context and safe intake

Regulatory and medical guidance give practical limits: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests up to 400 mg/day for most healthy adults; many authorities advise limiting caffeine to about 200 mg/day during pregnancy. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages caffeine for adolescents. One 355 ml can of Dr Pepper (42 mg) is a small fraction of the 400 mg limit, but multiple sodas, coffee, energy drinks, and pills add up quickly.

Watch for concentrated sources: the dataset lists energy drinks and brewed coffee with much higher amounts (e.g., cold brew 240 ml = 200 mg, Starbucks Pike Place Grande 473 ml = 310 mg). If you track total intake, an app like CoffeeLog automates sums across beverages and shows remaining caffeine by time of day.

Practical recommendations

• Read labels: use the mg on the nutrition facts panel when available.
• Limit late-afternoon soda or combine with coffee cautiously: after 6 hours a Dr Pepper still leaves ~20 mg of caffeine.
• Pregnant people, adolescents, and those sensitive to anxiety or arrhythmia should consult a clinician and follow the stricter limits from Mayo Clinic, FDA, and AAP guidance.

This guide uses dataset values and public guidance from the FDA, Mayo Clinic, EFSA, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. For personal tracking and quick conversions between cans and coffee shots, consider using CoffeeLog to log drinks and calculate remaining caffeine automatically.