Coca-Cola vs Barq's Root Beer: caffeine compared
Coca-Cola (12 oz) has 34 mg of caffeine, 12 mg more than Barq's Root Beer (12 oz, 22 mg) — 1.5× as much per serving. Per fluid ounce, Coca-Cola is the stronger drink: 2.8 mg/oz versus 1.8 mg/oz.
| Coca-Cola | Barq's Root Beer | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 12 oz | 12 oz |
| Caffeine per serving | 34 mg | 22 mg |
| Per fl oz | 2.8 mg | 1.8 mg |
| Share of 400 mg/day | 8% | 6% |
| Servings to reach 400 mg | 11.8 | 18.2 |
| Hours until under 50 mg | already under | already under |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · standard (50 mg) | 11:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · sensitive (25 mg) | 8:47 PM | 11:00 PM |
| Share of the 200 mg pregnancy limit | 17% | 11% |
One serving of each, over 16 hours
Common questions
Which has more caffeine, Coca-Cola or Barq's Root Beer?
Coca-Cola (12 oz) has about 34 mg versus 22 mg in Barq's Root Beer (12 oz): 12 mg more, or 1.5× as much.
Which is stronger per ounce, Coca-Cola or Barq's Root Beer?
Coca-Cola: about 2.8 mg per fl oz versus 1.8 mg for Barq's Root Beer. Serving size decides the total you actually drink.
How many Barq's Root Beer servings equal one Coca-Cola?
About 1.5 servings of Barq's Root Beer (12 oz) match the caffeine in one Coca-Cola (12 oz).
When should I stop drinking Coca-Cola or Barq's Root Beer before bed?
For an 11 PM bedtime with a 50 mg limit and a 5-hour half-life: last Coca-Cola by 11:00 PM, last Barq's Root Beer by 11:00 PM. Half-life varies from about 1.5 to 9.5 hours between people.
Method
Caffeine per labeled serving, from the same drink table every calculator here uses (FDA/USDA reference amounts and manufacturer labels; see caffeine content of every drink). Brewed drinks vary batch to batch, so read these as typical values. Decay uses a 5-hour average half-life with a 45-minute absorption ramp; cutoff = bedtime − 5 h × log₂(dose ÷ limit). Percentages use the FDA's 400 mg/day figure for healthy adults and the 200 mg/day limit ACOG gives for pregnancy.
Source — Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola — What is caffeine? (FAQ), checked 2026-10-13.
Source — Barq's Root Beer: CSPI caffeine chart (Barq's Root Beer, 12 oz), checked 2026-10-13.